Project managers often pursue certification to advance their skills. However, before they can sit for the Project Management Professional certification exam, individuals must have 36 months of project management education and experience. How can a person prepare for this exam as they work to complete the prerequisites?
Test Structure
The test consists of 180 questions, divided into fill-in-the-blank, matching, hotspot, and multiple-choice or response sections. Students have three hours and 50 minutes to complete it and are provided with two ten-minute breaks during this period. Experts report that most students spend 35 hours on project management exam prep to ensure they are ready to take it. The test covers three project management domains: people, process, and business.
Study Strategies
Individuals who have taken this exam recommend that candidates enroll in a project management professional exam prep course. This course covers the exam materials and ensures that students understand the content. Free resources are also offered to help students understand what to expect when they sit for the test. Practice questions will also help students understand what to expect. Look for free exam practice questions and use them as a study guide. Rather than trying to cram information at the last minute, limit study sessions to two or three hours a day.
Taking the Test
When taking the exam at a local testing center, visit before the test date. Ensure the directions are correct, learn how long it will take to arrive, and figure out where to park and find the testing facility. This practice run will ensure there are no surprises on the day of the exam.
Men and women who plan to take the test virtually must find a quiet spot where they won’t be interrupted. Ensure this spot is free of distractions and that the technology can support the testing program. The proctor will require audio and video, so ensure that both connections work correctly.
Read questions carefully and filter out information that isn’t relevant to the answer. People who rush through reading the questions find they make more mistakes, which can mean the difference between passing and failing. Going slow reduces the risk of avoidable mistakes.
Pay attention to the clock. Staying on track is crucial, so you won’t need to rush as the test draws to a close. When answering questions, always go with your first instinct. Avoid changing answers, as doing so could be a mistake. If you have doubts, stick with the original answer.
Never make random guesses. Look for grammatical and linguistic clues to narrow the options. Clues to watch for include the words always and never. When one of the listed answers says all of the above, it’s often the right choice. Avoid overthinking the answers. Rely on the information presented and never assume anything.
Humorous responses are usually incorrect. If there is doubt, change the question to make it a true or statement false and eliminate false responses to narrow the choices. Before reading possible answers, try to answer the question. Once an answer has been developed, compare it to the choices. If the formulated answer matches one of the choices, it’s probably the right one.
Project managers should consider this certification. It is recognized globally and shows the person is committed to professional development. With the help of the tips outlined above, people can study for this test and do well.
