PMP EXAM PANEL DISCUSSION
TODAY’S PANEL MEMBERS
• Mary Breon, PMP, Financial Information Systems
• Heather Dawson, PMP, Outreach Information Technology PMO
• Michelle Isham, PMP, Auxiliary & Business Services
CONTRIBUTORS:
• Ken Layng, PMP, ITS SaS
• Madelyn Wagner, PMP, ITS SaS
ABOUT TODAY’S SESSION
• Panel has prepared study tips and test taking strategies
• May ask questions at any time
• Raise your hand, facilitator will call on you
• Regarding changes to the test
MIND SET
•
Welcome to
•
Two musts:
Planet PMBOK
1. Have project management experience
2. Study (Boot Camp/Practice tests)
KEY AREAS TO KNOW
• Memorize processes
• Process Groups / Knowledge Areas (pg. 61 of PMBOK)
• Make sense of Inputs, Tools & Techniques, Outputs (ITTOs)
• Baselines and Documents (pg. 78 of PMBOK)
• Memorize charts and formulas
• Know purpose and where used
• Contracts, Change, Risk
KEY STUDY METHODS
• Read PMBOK
• Attend a boot camp
• Study groups
• Structured personal study time
• Take SEVERAL practice exams
OTHER STUDY METHODS
• Create a Brain Dump
• Use Flash Cards
• Head First PMP (book)
• Skillport / Lynda.com (not as helpful as expected)
ABOUT THE EXAM
• Less math than expected
• EEFs and OPAs used as distractors
• Common areas of confusion
• Brain dump
• Scoring
• Don’t leave questions blank
• 25 questions are experimental
• Weighting per Process Group
DAY OF EXAM
• Leave plenty of time to get there
• Camp out somewhere and study if you’re early
• Hydrate
• Eat well
• Take preventative OTC painkillers
• Earplugs/Headphones
• Bathroom Break
• Pace yourself
PMP Certification Prep Resources
Books:
Head First PMP by Jennifer Greene and Andrew Stellmanhttp://www.amazon.com/Head-First-PMP-JenniferGreene/dp/1449364918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441285906&sr=8-1&keywords=head+first+pmp
PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy - http://www.amazon.com/PMP-Exam-Prep-Eighth-Passing/dp/1932735658/
Flash Cards:
Hot Topics Flashcards for Passing the PMP and CAPM Exams by Rita Mulcahy http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932735674/
PM Pro (pmpro.org) - Audio & Video Materials:
http://www.pmpro.org/blog/where-to-find-audio-and-video-materials-for-pmp-exam-prep/
Project Management Institute - PMI.org:
Available to anyone:
Under Certifications – PMP: Exam Content Outline, PMP Exam Guidance
Members Only - eReads and References:
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
PMP Exam Prep: Questions, Answers & Explanations, 2013 Edition by Christopher Sicordo (2013) – includes Practice exams, Exam
Taking Tips, Exam Overview, PMP Formulas
Access to 250 books
Project Management Academy – projectmanagementacademy.net
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
Free Resources – 50 PMP questions
PMP Related Courses:
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PMBOK 5 Fundamentals ‘Video-on-demand’ course $695
PMP Bootcamp – instructor led
Course materials include: http://projectmanagementacademy.net/pmp-course-materials
PMP Formula Cheat Sheets – Google this – be careful of PMP Edition
CONTACT US!
• Mary Breon: mub15@psu.edu
• Heather Dawson: hmd13@psu.edu
• Michelle Isham: msi3@psu.edu
• Ken Layng: kml18@psu.edu
• Madelyn Wagner: msw21@psu.edu