PMP - Study Plan

Bhavik Shah, PMPProject Manager at Cornerstone OnDemand

I passed my PMP last week i.e. Feb 2015 on first attempt. It was certainly an awesome feeling to
see the word Congratulations.
The PMP exam is a four-hour test with 200 multiple-choice questions that cover concepts from the
Project Management Institute's Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK
Guide). The exam is grueling and it takes a considerable amount of studying to pass it successfully.
You need to study at least 10 hours a week and probably, on an average of, 10 to 12 weeks before
you can take the plunge.
If you are established in your career, it may have been years since you last had to study for any kind
of a test, let alone one as rigorous as the PMP exam, and your study skills may be rusty. However it
is possible to learn all of the material required to earn PMP certification, you just need to take a
systematic approach toward studying for the exam

Study Plan
Here's a list of essential study materials you'll need to be successful.
1. Read Ritas 8th edition (reviewed it twice)
2. Run through questions after every chapter in Ritas book.
3. Prepare a cheat sheet of calculations that you can refer to at any time.
4. Give a few mock tests. These mock tests dont have to be of complete 200 questions. Instead
start with 10 25 questions. This will help you to judge if there is any week module/concept that you
would want to concentrate/read on.
5. Give 2 full 200 questions 4 hour mock tests.

Resources - Concepts and Mock Tests:

http://www.passionatepm.com/blog/announcement-ppm-launching-pmp-conceptlearning-series
http://www.pmpnotes.com/
http://www.oliverlehmann.com/pmp-self-test/75-free-questions.htm
http://www.certchamp.com/pmp-sample-questions.jsp
http://www.headfirstlabs.com/PMP/pmp_exam/v2/quiz.html
http://206-free-pmp-exam-questions.blogspot.in/p/questions-1-20.html
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/pmp-exams/pmp_sample_questions.htm
http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com/
https://sites.google.com/site/pgmpguide/pmp-1-20
http://pmpcertificationtutorial.blogspot.in/
http://certification.about.com/od/projectmanagement/a/pmp_test_whiz.htm
http://www.izenbridge.com/pmp/free-exam/

Recommendation:

 Decide on a timeline and aim at a date to give your exam.

Attend some course to gain the required hours for your eligibility.
To motivate yourself, fill up the PMP exam form and pay the fees.
I have outlined a study plan and resources that will help you gear up for the exam.
Start giving mock tests whenever you think you are ready. However I would recommend not
overdoing and getting you exhausted. Ideally 1000 1500 questions are more than enough to take
the plunge.
Do not keep reading blog after blog. It will just make the matters worse.

On the day of Tests:

DO NOT stress out. You will more like than not clear the test if you are under stress. I strongly
recommend keep your cool and be calm.
I would recommend not touching any study material a day before the exam. You are probably not
going to learn anything new than what you know already.
Catch up on your sleep the night before your exam is very essential.
Reach half an hour early to clear security and other identification checks.
You can take as many breaks as you can afford to from your time allotted the clock keeps running
on your machine.
You have 200 questions to be answered in 4 hours.
Answer all questions even if you have to take a guess work at any. There is no negative marking
and hence answering each and every question makes more sense.
You can mark questions for review. These questions (along with non-marked ones as well) can be
reviewed at the end of the exam. Marking a question for review will not eliminate it from scoring i.e. it
will still be counted towards the score if you have answered the question.

Please reach out to me if you need any help. I will be more than happy to answer any queries.