Summary With adequate planning and preparation, the PMP examination can be cleared. This article provides a detailed approach to crack the exam based on the author’s practical experience and common pitfalls one should avoid. Table of Contents • Introduction • Preliminary Preparation • During the 2 Week Training • Create a Roadmap to Clear the Exam • Taking the Mock Tests • Common Pitfalls to Avoid • History Introduction Clearing the PMP is like crossing the finish line in a marathon – it is a gruelling test of endurance.

Project Management Professional (PMP)® • Certified Associate in Project. Before you download, check for a FASTrack Cloud version of your software.

Having a clear goal, being consistent and persistent in your preparation will go a long way in helping you crack the same. Read on, as the author shares how he did it. Preliminary Preparation As you might already be aware, a candidate is required to attend a mandatory 35 hour training course to be eligible for attempting the exam. This training is usually provided by the local PMI chapter in your city or affiliated training partners. Before you actually attend the training, you can take up a series of proactive steps which will give you a head start. Action Steps Taken Up By Me I made it a point to read the entire PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge – a PMI publication) once from cover to cover before actually attending the training.

The following were the benefits: • Like most other candidates, I was not in “discovery mode” during the training. I already had a good grasp of the subject matter being discussed. • It also gave me a good idea of the entire span of topics I needed to get a good grip on to be able to crack the exam. • I also had my list of questions ready to ask the instructors about topics / points which I could not understand in the 1 st reading of the PMBOK. Remember, 35 hours is a very brief period – it is not possible to discuss all the 44 processes in the PMBOK in great detail and one cannot blame the instructors. Being proactive and reading the entire PMBOK in advance works as it did in my case and it will give you a head start in your preparation. As someone has said, “Well begun is half done.” During the 2 Week Training I attended the training conducted by the local PMI chapter.

More than the subject matter being discussed – the striking aspect of this training was the cross-section of practicing professionals who come together under one roof. The group had practicing project managers from diverse industries such as manufacturing, construction, nuclear energy, armed forces and of course, information technology. The sheer variety of experiences shared provides good food for thought and is one of the gains of participating in such training. Keep the following points in mind during the training: • Be alert and vigilant during all the discussions – this will help you in practical application of the skills learnt. • Ask questions – do not keep even a single doubt to be clarified later. • Network with other participants. • Make sure a study group of the participants is created on Yahoo / Google before the course is over.

This has great benefits which will be highlighted in the subsequent sections. • Always keep a flash drive handy – a lot of study material will be shared during the 2 weeks of training. Ensuring that you have access to all of it will save you hours of effort – this is synergy at its best. • During the mock tests, keep a track of where you stand in comparison with other participants. This will give you real time feedback on your state of preparation for the exam. • Switch off your cell phone and absorb the experience.

Taking a break from your busy professional duties and just doing something different for a good length of time will cause you to think in new directions and release your creativity. Just enjoy the experience. Create a Roadmap to Clear the Exam On the day following the last day of the training, do yourself a favor and take a break from work for 1 day if it is a working day. If it’s a holiday, lock yourself up in a room, cut out all the distractions, interruptions and start creating your roadmap – a blueprint which will lead you to sure success. Action Steps Taken up By Me The day following the last day of training was a Monday. I took leave from office and started preparing a plan. Step 1: Identify and Finalize All the Study Material to be Read List of stuff I used: • The PMBOK • Practice standard on EVM – a PMI publication • Practice standard on WBS – a PMI publication • PMP Exam Prep - Rita Mulcahy and mock test software • Study material provided by the local PMI chapter Tip The practice standard publications target specific areas and are self-sufficient, i.e., you will grasp the entire topic and will typically not need to refer to any other book.