Sanket wanted to become a PMP(r), to be able to transition from an engineering role to project management. He was able to get his PMP(r), in just six weeks after he discovered ExamsPM’s prep course. He says that the most important thing is to learn (not memorize!) the ITTO flow and practice as many questions as possible.
We had the pleasure of meeting him recently and he shared with us his journey to PMP(r).
1. Why did you decide to become PMP(r).
2. What is your current job? What were your past roles? I have held various engineering positions in the past, including system engineer, controls engineer, and project engineer.
3. How long did it take to become PMP(r). I started studying at the beginning of this year, but had to move during that time due to a job change. I was unable to appear for the exam. I had to start over in September 2018 because of my relocation. I studied for approximately 6-7 weeks from September to October. Finally, appeared for the exam on 10/19/2018.
4. What did your study plan look like? What was your average study time per day? Is it per week? I had 6-7 weeks to prepare for my PMP(r). I had prepared a time table to cover different topics, quizzes, and mock exams. To complete the study material, I studied for 1-2 hours each day on weekdays and 5-10 on weekends. I took four practice exams from ExamsPM before taking the actual PMP(r). These helped me greatly to determine my weak points.
5. What study material did your use? I used ExamsPM PMP(r), which was my primary preparation material.
6. What tips and tricks can you offer someone who is going through this certification process?
The PMP(r), 4 hour test, is complete without breaks. Time management is crucial. You should practice focusing for at least 4 hours with no breaks or shorter breaks. You can’t bring food or water into the test center so you need to follow the test schedule. You might run out on test day if you don’t. Before the exam starts, eat/drink something light like Gatorade or energy bars.
Practice mock tests is a key component of preparation. It will prepare you for a 4 hour test with the required focus and pace. Practice at least three to four mock exams before you take the real thing.
I realized rather that spending too much time listening/reading theory for various PMP(r) topics one should spend more time learning/understanding glossary of key terms that is available in ExamPM course. This will allow you to be familiar with the lingo used in different knowledge area topics. You would spend less time learning/understanding key terms glossary rather than going through all video lectures. You can watch all videos if you have the time, but I am certain you won’t be able to remember everything by just watching video lectures.
Once you have mastered the key terminology, complete quizzes for each chapter.
ITTOs should refer to the ExamPM course spreadsheet and have a good understanding of key process flows.
ExamPM course contains 49 process groups that you can practice to help you remember the tricks.
Practice formula-based questions with ExamPM course. This is more than enough to be able to answer real exam questions.
To memorize formulas and other key concepts, create a formula/memory page and review it every other day.
7. Let us know when you took the exam. How did you find the actual exam date?
I was asked a lot of questions on real exam topics, including contract management, risk management, and situation-based questions for ‘Manage.