PMP EXAM OVERVIEW
© Kanabar &
Warburton 2009
PMP Exam Overview
2-2
o How to become certified.
o Application Process
o Sample Exam questions.
Professional Responsibility (Ethics)
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Are You Eligible?
2-3
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Review the eligibility requirements for taking the
PMP® Certification Exam online.
For students considering the PMP credential, we
recommend the following approach. First, to be
eligible to earn the PMP you must pre-qualify:
High School/Equivalent – Path 1
Bachelors Degree – Path 2
Path 2
2-4
 4,500
hours of experience in project
management within the 5 process groups
 At least 3 years (36 months) experience
within the 6 year period prior to application
Forms
2-5
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Experience verification forms
Project Management Education form
Complete examination application with the
appropriate application fee
for PMI® members
 $555 for non-members
 $405
Exam
2-6
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200 multiple choice questions to be answered in 4
hours.
Of these, 25 are test questions used to evaluate
future questions and are not counted in your score.
There is a 15 minute tutorial before the test, which
explains how everything works. PMI administers the
test through Computer Based Testing (CBT).
The entire process of application, payment, and
scheduling of the test is easily accomplished on line
through the PMI website.
Number of Questions: Break Down
2-7
Domains
I. Initiating the Project 11
II. Planning the Project
III. Executing the Project
IV. Monitoring and Controlling the
Project
V. Closing the Project
VI. Professional Responsibility
% of questions
11
23
27
21
9
9
Studying for the PMP Exam
2-8
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Questions on the test break down into 3 categories:
Definitional, Computational, and Scenario based
We have found that for our students (and ourselves!)
the best approach is:
 Take
a required course first.
 Read the PMBOK.
 Read recommended resources.
 Participate in a paced-workshop.
Rita Mulcahy
2-9
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PMP® Exam Prep, by Rita Mulcahy, PMP. © RMC
Publications, Inc., 2008.
Best choice.
Rita’s book takes a lot of time to master. Her
approach is based on memorizing a large process
chart, which allows you to figure out the inputs and
outputs to the 42 processes.
Other Choices
2-10
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PMP® Exam Practice Questions and Solutions, by
Aileen Ellis, PMP. © AME Group, 2005. This book
contains a series of questions that are well
organized into sections corresponding to the
PMBOK processes. This book will ensure that you
clearly understand the basics.
Note: Read a current edition.
PMP Head-First
2-11
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Head First PMP
Greene and Stellman
Friendly book. Make sure you have the current
edition.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
2-12
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Ensure integrity
Contribute to knowledge base
Apply professional knowledge
Balance stakeholder interests
Respect differences
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
2-13
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Adhere to the Project Management Professional
Code of Professional Conduct
Avoid all conflicts of interest
Personal gain should never be a consideration
Maintain Integrity: Be ethical and professional at all
times.
Whistle-blowing
Contribute to the Knowledgebase
2-14
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Share lessons learned, best practices, and research
Improve the quality of project management services
Build capabilities of colleagues through coaching,
mentoring, and training
This is encouraged even after certification.
Domain Questions: Initiating
2-15
Planning
2-16
Executing
2-17
Monitor and Control
2-18
Closing
2-19
Studying
2-20
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Make a spreadsheet with key concepts. Understand
key concepts well. Make a separate page for that.
See example on the next page.
Create cards with terminology
Practice questions (see book)
Concepts (example)
2-21
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Crashing and fast tracking are two techniques for shortening
project schedules. Which is more risky?
Critical chain scheduling is an application of the Theory of
Constraints (TOC) that uses critical path analysis, resource
constraints, and buffers to help meet project completion
dates.
The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a
network analysis technique used to estimate project duration
when there is a high degree of uncertainty about the
individual activity duration estimates.
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It uses optimistic, most likely, pessimistic estimates of activity durations.
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
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It applies the critical path method (CPM) to a weighted average duration estimate.
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PERT uses probabilistic time estimates: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic (three point estimate)
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A network analysis technique used to estimate project duration when there is a high degree of uncertainty
about the individual activity duration estimates.
PERT weighted average =
optimistic time + 4 * most likely time + pessimistic time
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6
By using the PERT weighted average for each activity duration estimate, the total project duration estimate
takes into account the risk or uncertainty in the individual activity estimates.
Advantage: It attempts to address the risk associated with duration estimates. Since many projects exceed
schedule estimates, PERT may help in developing schedules that are more realistic.
Disadvantage: It involves more work than CPM since it requires several duration estimates, and there are
better probabilistic methods for assessing schedule risk. (i.e. Monte Carlo Analysis)
Exam Cram Handout
2-23
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Please study the color printed cram card given to
you separately.
Thank You!
2-24
We know you will do well. Call us when
you graduate! We will be there to celebrate