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In this issue... |
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 Hi ,
The Project Management exam is the hottest certifications
exam today. This is because most of those thinking about
taking this exam are at the stage of their career when they are already
working full time and then they try to find the time to study for their
certification.
I understand that preparing for the PMP exams is a very challenging exam to prepare for that's why the PM Exam Tips Newsletter is here to provide you with all relevant information that will help you prepare for the PMP exams.
Are you ready to enjoy the best of both worlds while studying for the PMP exams? I am referring to Training Camp's PMP Certification Training. Each participant of this course also receives a copy of
our very own PM PrepCast. In this way you receive the best of both
worlds: You will first be able to study for the exam in a self-paced
fashion at home and then follow it up with a top of the line classroom
review, allowing you to clarify concepts and identify weak areas. Read more about it below..
Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
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Recommended Study Materials
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PMP Certification Training by Training Camp
Training Camp is a comprehensive training program for both the Project Management Professional (PMP) and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certification that focuses on preparing you in the skills required to pass the certification exams. Training Camp is recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as a Global Registered Education Provider, and a market leader in delivering the critical details for a successful accelerated learning experience.
The Training Camp course includes a pre-class digital overview to fully prepare you for the course and enabling you to schedule the exam prior to the course. This is a very important aspect especially for those taking certification exams for the first time. You will also get a copy of "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge Fourth Edition" (PMBOK Guide). The program also includes a Training Camp Proprietary and PMI Accredited Curriculum taught by PMP certified subject matter experts and a step by step video tutorial instruction for PMI application.
After you attended the Training Camp program, you'll get Post Class extra lessons. You will get an E-Certificate from Training Camp for 35 contact hours of PMP Exam Preparation, an Exam preparation software with 800 plus questions and a post-class Schedule Development and Control "Meeting in a Box" to facilitate a session with Project Team Members worth 10 PDUs towards maintaining your certification.
Learn more about the Training Camp Certification Courses by visiting the following link: http://www.trainingcamp.com/global/itandmanagement/management/projectmanagement/pmp4.aspx
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PMP Exam Question Styles |
Here is a question that I receive a lot from my PMP and CAPM students:
"I have purchased the PMP preparation book from Author X and it helps me a lot in my studies. There are also a lot of sample questions in the book. But I was wondering this: How close are these questions in the book to the real exam questions? Are the real ones written in a similar style? Will the real ones be more difficult?"
Let me first of all say that as a PMP I am not allowed to discuss any specific questions that I have seen on my own exam. This is one of the terms and conditions that we all agree to as we sign up for the exam. But I can discuss this question in general terms. So here are my thoughts:
One of the volunteer positions that any PMI member can apply for is to become an author for PMP exam questions. And there are hundreds of PMI volunteers throughout the world who are helping out in this capacity. These volunteers come from many industries and they all have their own areas of interest. They each have their separate careers, experience or training in project management. Therefore, the "real" PMP exam questions are going to reflect this diversity. You can expect to see easy questions, moderate questions and difficult questions. You will see questions that have a "good" writing style and you will see questions that have a "bad" writing style even though all questions undoubtedly go through an editorial process by the PMI.
For you this means that you should also not just focus on "one book" or "one style" as you prepare for the PMP exam. There are dozens and dozens of inexpensive and free resources available on the web. Some are good, some are bad and some are really ugly. Nevertheless, each one of them will show you a possible, different aspect of what question styles and difficulty levels you can expect. I always recommend the following approach:
- Read the PMBOK Guide. Twice.
- Listen to The Project Management PrepCast
- Buy at least 1 PMP Exam prep Book
- Search for the many free PMP exam overviews on the web and read them.
- Use an online exam simulator and pay for their questions
- Search for all the free PMP exam sample questions on the web and answer them all.
With this approach, you will be exposed to a variety of styles, ideas and difficulty levels as you prepare for the exam. And that will help you pass the exam.
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Manage The Time During Your PMP Exam
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 Manage your time properly when answering questions during the PMP Exam.
Watch this video we have prepared for you: http://bit.ly/hWG1Dw
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Sample PMP Exam Question
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 You are considering using WBS templates to create your project's WBS. Where would you most likely find these templates?
A.) PMI's Practice Standard for WBS
B.) Microsoft Project Web Site
C.) Organizational Process Assets
D.) All of the above
Hint: Get your mind out of the PMBOK Guide and think freely for this question.
All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.
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Exam Tip: Create a "Battle Plan" for the exam
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The Project Management exam is the hottest certifications exam today. It is the most challenging project management certification exams to prepare for. This is because most of those thinking about taking this exam are at the stage of their career when they are already working full time and then they try to find the time to study for their certification.
If you think that the PMP Certification exam is your average college test where you can cram yet still get high marks, then think again. The PMP exam is anything but easy. It is an experience-based exam in a 200-question, four-hour computerized format. When you are studying for the exam, you could answer the sample questions easily enough in the comfort of your own room with no ticking clocks, no distractions and no security cameras pointing at you. However, during the actual examination, you will find yourself in a radically different setting.
Think of it as the battleground and you as the soldier. And any good soldier would create a battle plan before the exam. He knows that planning can spell the difference between passing and failing. You have to formulate strategies in terms of how to answer and review the questions, how to ease the tension from your body and how to replenish your energy. Your battle plan will seve as your guide during the exam and will help you focus on the task ahead of you. With a battle plan, you will be able to breeze through your exams knowing that you have everything under control and and can maximize the time allotted for you to finish the exam within the allowable period.
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Answer and Explanation
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 The correct answer is D
Explanation: This question isn't asking about "inputs" to the Create WBS process. The question is simply asking: Where could you find templates to help you build a WBS? All of the answer choices are possible sources for WBS templates.
Reference: PMI Practice Standard for WBS 2nd Edition, Appendices
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Lessons Learned from Trevor Plankenhorn |
I'm happy to report that I received my score report yesterday (10/13) and have passed the PMP exam on my first try. I took the exam on 10/3 and had to wait agonizingly until now to know whether I passed. I started this process on August 10th and was able to complete it in less than 2 months. I'll summarize my study plan below, as I feel that it utilizes the best of the best of what's out there:
1. The PM PrepCast. I can't say enough good things about this product. Not only did it give me the 35 contact hours, but I felt that it explained the concepts and terms in a way that the PMBOK Guide alone cannot do. Most of the terminology was new to me, so this was extremely helpful. I watched 2-3 hours/day until I had completed the videos. After that, I listened to them in my car when driving, etc.
2. PMBOK Guide. I read this cover to cover twice. I read the first 3 chapters 3 times. It's not supposed to be entertaining, but it is important. The first time I read it concurrent with the PM PrepCast videos (usually after I would watch the videos for an area, I would read the corresponding chapter). I also read the glossary twice.
3. Rita Mulcahy's 7th Edition. I read this cover to cover, twice. Took all the practice exams after the first pass, did all the exercises on the second pass. Great resource to use in conjunction with the PMBOK guide.
4. PM Exam Simulator. I took (7) full 4-hour exams. This may seem like a lot, but there is no better way to prepare for the mental drain of a 4 hour exam than using the PMP Exam Simulator. I did take a few quizzes when I had spare time, but I found that practicing staying focused in the last hour of a 4-hour exam was much more important than taking the learning quizzes. By this point, it's all a mental challenge. Hopefully you know the material, but are you prepared to answer 200 questions without stopping. That was the hardest part for me. I would be drained after taking a practice exam, but doing this was the most important step in the process (provided you know the material). Also, the cost of the PM Exam Simulator is a fraction of what you'll pay anywhere else. Great product.
Don't stress about the formulas. Read and re-read the material and the formulas will become intuitive. Also, the RMC book has quite a few good mnemonics for memorizing the formulas. I did a brain dump sheet prior to the exam, but I didn't practice doing it until the day before the exam. By this point, it's going to be second nature hopefully.
I hope this helps someone study and prepare.
Read more success stories here...
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