Ten weeks preparation for successfully passing a PMP certification exam

Liv Butler
Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Friday, August 13, 2021 - 06:53

The PMP certification exam is different from the exams launched by schools. To pass the exam, you cannot rely on reciting the exam content but understand the concepts listed in the textbook, PMBOK, the best practices, guidance, and the framework of project management. 

The target of candidates is to acquire a PMI PMP certificate. However, due to the lack of project management experience, candidates find it difficult to take a good PMP exam prep. Furthermore, many employees conducted irregular small-scaled projects and failed to form a systematic knowledge system of project management. The operation methods of domestic projects are largely different from those of foreign projects. Therefore, preparing for the PMI PMP exam, candidates face many challenges.

Confronted with these obstacles, you need to make a detailed, feasible and time-limited plan which is crucial for passing the exam.

The following is a PMP learning plan based on my teaching experience. The whole time of the plan is about 200 hours, 10 weeks counted by 20 hours every week. (2 hours every weekday and 10 hours every weekend)

  1. Read the PMBOK for the first time (20 hours)

Note: Do not treat it as mechanical reading. There must be something you can learn from PMBOK, which can arouse your interest.

You should focus on understanding the knowledge system of PMBOK instead of cramming up or caring too much about details. It is suggested to spend 1-3 hours on each chapter. You should know the five process groups, 42 processes, 9 knowledge domains and ITTO. You do not have to remember in detail, but you should spend several hours reading the terminologies which are important.

  1. Participate in PMI  certification training (40 hours)

You can choose E-training or face-to-face training and follow the course schedule.

  1. The first round of in-depth review (50 hours)

Project management framework (6 hours)

9 knowledge domains (27 hours)

Ethical code of conduct and others (9 hours)

Take a sample exam of 200 questions (8 hours). It is suggested to spend a whole day on the exam. Do the PMP exams questions in the morning and read the analysis in the afternoon. While you are doing the questions, keep the textbook close. After finishing the exam, write down your score.

E-learning candidates can review online. Some candidates use Rita or other materials to learn the content of PMP in accordance with PMBOK. Carefully take notes, mark out key knowledge points and do the relevant questions at the end of each part (at least 25 questions). Solve your problems in time by discussing with classmates or asking teachers. You can also ask in the discussion forum of E-learning platform or in pmpway.com.

 4. The second round of review to deepen understanding (50 hours)

15 hours: Spend at least half an hour a day memorizing knowledge points such as 42 processes and ITTO.

15 hours: Recite and understand the PMP formulas (download from pmpway.com), particularly the Earned Value Management that is a key point.

12 hours: Put focus on understanding the difficulties you find in the first round of review. You can seek help from teachers, classmates or online experts.

8 hours: Take a 200-question sample test and compare the result with that of the first time.

 5. Closing (40 hours)

22 hours: knowledge review (2 hours for framework, 2 hours for each knowledge domain, and 2 hours for others.)

8 hours: Take a 200-question sample test and compare the result with that of the second time.

10 hours: Work on the problems that you still do not understand.

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