Who Wants to Pass the PMP Exam? (No, you can t phone a friend) Richard Nerzig, PMP
Exam Taking Tips and Logistics Who should take the exam How to apply to take the exam What do I have to do to prepare Where do I take the exam When should I take the exam
Overview Who? Perhaps you How? The Application Process What? Preparing for the Exam Taking the Exam Where? Sylvan Learning Center When? Timing is everything Next Steps Questions
Who: Perhaps You Do you want to join a rapidly growing group of like minded professionals (currently 18,000+ worldwide)? increase your knowledge? enhance corporate qualifications? enhance personal career opportunities? spend the next two months locked in a room? If you answered yes to these questions.
How: The Application Process Minimum Requirements Minimum requirements (Category 1) undergraduate degree or equivalent plus 4500 hours project management experience experience must be within the past 3-6 years Alternate Minimum Req ts (Category 2) high school diploma or equivalent plus 7500 hours project management experience experience must be within past 5-8 years
How: The Application Process Application & Resume Application and Experience Verification forms are in the Certification & Standards booklet Resume must be included and coordinated with the Experience Verification forms I provided great detail under the theory that this minimizes being audited 15% of applications are rejected; most often due to insufficient PM experience
Sample Resume
How: The Application Process Submittal Timing & Cost It takes PMI approximately 2 weeks to review and disposition the application; if approved you will receive an Exam Eligibility Letter from PMI confirming your eligibility to take the exam and providing instructions for scheduling with Sylvan. You have three months from date of approval to schedule and take the exam, or you will have to re-apply Fee: $405 members; $555 nonmembers
What: Preparing for the Exam Overall Study Programs This class is one element in your overall Study Program. Read the PMBOK including glossary several times Read the other recommended textbooks; they are particularly helpful in HR, Communications, Quality and Risk areas Do multiple practice exams Form study groups to understand the broad concepts and relate management areas to process groups. You ve got to be able to apply the concepts to simulated project scenarios Flash cards can be useful for the inputs/tools/outputs stuff. You ve got to know these cold The exam is designed to be difficult
What: Preparing for the Exam Other Resources PMI NYC Chapter Website: www.pmi.org/chapters/ny/training PMI Website: www.pmi.org/certification/ Other commercial resources seminars, CD-ROM based study programs - see ads in PM Network magazine Observations from previous exam takers
What: Taking the Exam Cram right up to the last minute. Or take the day before off. You will take the exam in a small cubicle. Others will be taking other exams concurrently in the same room. You cannot bring ANYTHING into the room. You will be given a pencil and scrap paper. Gather yourself bring your knowledge to the very front of your brain. Stay focused. You have 4 1/2 hours (plenty of time). You can bookmark questions and return to them later. There is no penalty for wrong guesses. When you are finished, you mouse click and get your results immediately.
Where: Sylvan Learning Centers Eligibility letter from PMI will provide all details of scheduling the exam at Sylvan Call Sylvan Learning Center s phone number to schedule your exam 800-967-1100. See next slide for complete listing of locations. As of Jan 2000: ASI offers the exam. Tel: 877-244-1688 Various cancellation policies relating to refunds; read the fine print Bring photo identification There is a 15 minute tutorial on taking a computer based exam
Sylvan Testing Center Locations New York City Metro Area Sylvan Testing Centers Listing as of 02/01/2000 STATE SITE # CITY ADDRESS ZIP PHONE CT 2403 Hamden 1700 Dixwell Avenue Hamden Commons 06514-3147 (203) 287-9677 2411 Glastonbury 2839 Main Steet The Cambridge House 06033-1033 (860) 659-0400 2416 Norwalk 48 Westport Avenue 6851 (203) 847-0031 NJ 4103 Toms River 635 Bay Avenue Seacourt Pavillion 08753-3313 (732) 349-4609 4104 Hamilton 3635 Quakerbridge Road9065 University Office Plaza 08619-1247 (609) 631-9794 4108 East Brunswick 754 Route 18 Suite 106 08816-4909 (732) 390-0515 4110 Verona 155 Pompton Ave 07044-2919 (973) 857-5412 4119 Fair Lawn 33-00 Broadway 07410-4603 (201) 475-1670 9064 Philadelphia/Deptford 1800 Clements Bridge Road Building 2 Suite 15 08095-2022 (856) 384-4744 NY 19 Brooklyn Heights 175 Remsen Street, 6th Floor Brooklyn-Downtown 11201-4300 (718) 222-1277 4202 White Plains 180 South Broadway 10605-1818 (914) 289-0437 4215 Garden City 320 Old Country Road 11530-1703 (516) 746-7367 4225 Manhasset 1447 Northern Boulevard 11030-3003 (516) 869-1236 4226 Albany Washington Avenue Extension Pine West Plaza, Bldg. 1A 12205-5600 (518) 869-6119 4228 Staten Island 1919 Hylan Boulevard 10305-2100 (718) 980-3079 4231 Queens/Rego Park 95-25 Queens Boulevard Suite 710 11379 (718) 997-6356 4240 Brooklyn Heights 175 Remsen Street, 6th Floor Brooklyn-Downtown 11201-4300 (718) 222-1277 5416 New York/Wall Street 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor Broad Financial Center 10004-2112
When: Timing is Everything Take advantage of the flexibility you can schedule the exam in a week or three months from now take it on the Tuesday after a holiday weekend factor in your own professional and personal schedules you will want to be able to devote most if not all of your free time to study in the weeks preceding your exam
Next Steps If you fail, you must apply to re-take the exam and pay the required fee If you pass, you will receive formal written notification from PMI begin accumulating PDU s to maintain your certification GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Tips Compiled by Charlene Huang and Mike Raboy 16 Tips for PMP Study and Test Taking Strategies 1. Be positive and be optimistic. How you think is everything. Your thoughts will greatly influence your exam preparation and actual exam experience. Having a positive and optimistic attitude will help you prepare for the PMP exam. 2. Decide the outcome of PMP exam is to pass the exam! In The Art of War, Sun Tzu said: A great warrior knows a victory is at hand before engaging a battle. Likewise, decide you WILL pass the PMP exam before taking the exam. 3. Set a target date for taking the PMP exam. It gives you a sense of urgency when you work towards a deadline. And you will get more out of your exam preparation. 4. Have a study plan. Like all the projects you have worked on, you need a study plan to guide your exam preparation. Be sure to include the followings on your plan: a. Design your plan according to the content of the exam. For example, focus your preparation heavily on three areas: project planning, projects execution, and project control. b. Review course outline (i.e. The PM Certificate Program by IIL or PMP review course outline) with PMBOK Guide side by side. c. Always conclude your review with sample exam. d. Spend extra time to review questions you have missed on sample exam. For example, if you have missed on the concept of BCWP, go back to course outline, PMBOK Guide, and Project Management: A System Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold Kerzner and review the BCWP concept for minimum of three times. 5. Stick to your study plan. Decide on your preferred study method and stick with it. Start your plan early and study often. 6. Make PMBOK Guide your best friend. a. Carry PMBOK Guide with you all the time. When you have a free moment (i.e. commuting), review it. b. Memorize the glossary. Memorize the glossary. And memorize the glossary. c. Memorize the chapter overview (i.e. inputs, tool/techniques, and outputs). d. Understand all examples and charts that are listed in PMBOK Guide. e. Review the content of PMBOK Guide over and over and over till you are ONE with PMBOK Guide. 1. Make PMIQ (ProjectManagementIQ by IIL) your best friend. a. Go over all subject areas in study mode. b. Go over all subject areas in exam mode. c. Go over sample tests. d. Test and retest until each subject area is at least 90% correct. 2. Use flash cards. PMP Review Flash Cards by: Project Mentors Inc. PMI'S BEST SELLER. Covers the definitions of PMBOK Guide in 500 self-study flash cards. 3. Create a sample exam binder. Print out all questions that you have missed from PMIQ. Sort them based on PMBOK Guide chapters and insert them into a binder. Review them at least three times before the exam. 4. Exercise and have plenty of sleep the night before the exam. The length of exam time is four and half-hour long. It takes tremendous amount of physical and mental strength to go through the entire exam. Exercise and plenty of sleep the night before will do wonder for you. 11. Take a PMP exam prep course. When completing the PMP exam prep course, it gives you a sense of confidence and readiness for taking the PMP exam. 12. Make your testing appointment as soon as you receive an approval letter for taking PMP exam. Testing centers tend to be booked very quickly. Be sure to make your testing appointment upon receiving the approval letter. 13. Bring a calculator on the day of exam. Bring a non-programmable calculator and make sure the battery works. 14. Draw scheduling diagram nicely and calculate it perfectly once during the exam. The same scheduling diagram will be appeared multiple times throughout the exam. By calculating it correctly the first time will save you time later on. 15. Be prepared to sit for a long time. The exam is four and half hour long and no break is allowed. Be prepared to sit for a while. 16. Bring hard candy and M&Ms. Sugar helps to keep your blood sugar and energy up; they will be very handy in a long exam situation.
Tips Compiled by Cablevision "The study experience is as valuable as taking the exam." -- Get to the exam early, but not too early or you'll just get nervous waiting -- Bring snacks and something to drink with you. You can't have these in the test room but can take a break. -- Bring a simple calculator, not a new one you haven't used before -- Once you begin the exam, write down the Earned Value formulas on the scratch paper that is provided once you are at the computer. Know the formulas cold. -- Read each question carefully. Sometimes the words "EXCEPT" and "NOT" are in upper case, other times it not. -- After reading each question, think of your own answer before looking at the choices provided on the exam. -- If you don't know the answers on one of the math problems, work backwards from the choices given. -- Be prepared for a random sequence of questions. They are NOT sorted by major process area. -- Also be prepared for situational questions, not just ones that require rote memory. -- The test offers you an option to mark questions for later review. You might want to jot down why you marked it, as you can accumulate quite a few questions by the end of the test. -- Four hours is plenty of time to take the test so don't feel like you have to rush. 2. A PMI member in Ohio sells software that described as electronic flashcards containing all of the terms in the PMBOK Glossary. He sells it for only $23, which includes shipping. If you would like to download a demo, check out his web site at www.pmprep.com