Cleared PMP - Tips/tricks/points to ponder

Posted originally on pmhub forums and with permission of author on pmzilla 

I had been a silent observer and now it’s my turn to contribute to the forum. My thoughts about the exam are mixed – it’s not easy exam to crack, but hard work pays off! I passed with a good percentage.

My preparation span was around 3weeks or so. However, the last 2 weeks it was more intensive. I do have an MBA and PM experience; However in my opinion, it did give me an edge during preparation but NOT during exam.

Disclaimer: Mileage will vary. Questions below are just a sample to provoke your thinking! However, I think the tips below will help in steering your preparation in right direction

Exam Preparation:
In my opinion, the rescue during exam came from my recap of important points from my hand-written notes. I prepared notes based on 3 books – Mcgraw Hill , Andy Crowe and Newell. I also got 11concepts material. Tests were from Self-test software/Transcender. Most of the questions in the exam were 1 or 2 liners which is similar to SelfTest/Transcender. What I noticed when I was doing these tests is 2 things:
- The questions became tricky when I just studied the obvious but did not collate information. This is very important for the exam. For instance in Time chapter, I studied Precedence Diagram and Arrow Digram but didn’t pay much attention to the differences between those two! Similarly bar charts and Gnatt charts.
- Read all the 4 answers.
That’s it – Nothing more than that, not even PMBOK.

Tips/Tricks/points to ponder:

- DON’T PANIC. KEEP COOL. The exam seems to be designed in such a way that you will get questions which will knock your socks off even with the right amount of preparation. Remember passing # is 139/200 and that should be your aim first.
- You cannot stop the timer during exam. So keep that in mind if you want to go for restroom or something like that.
- If you are well prepared, 3. ½ hrs should be sufficient to go over questions twice (2nd pass is for Marked questions only)
- You have to start the Demo module first – it goes on for 15 minutes. You can exit out whenever you want to start the exam.
- When the Demo module starts, brain dump the following on the given papers
- Formulas for Cost equations, Float, LF/EF, PTA, Seller fees, PV on 1 page
- Cross chart of the knowledge Area & process group on 1 page
- Know AC, EV, EAC, EV, SV, CV, SPI, CPI very well. I almost had 10 numerical questions or so.
- Look at these below: Do you see an easy way to remember the CV/SV/CPI/SPI ?
- CV AC EV PV SV
- Develop Mnemonics to create the knowledge Area & process group on 1 page.
- If you can remember inputs, outputs, tools and techniques, that would be great but I could only remember few of them.
- There are questions on inputs/outputs. But if you look at the cross chart you have developed and understand them, you can narrow down the choices to 2. That means 50% probability of hitting the right answer.
- There were plenty of situational questions – PM should not do things with a knee jerk reaction. Don’t run to the customer/Sponsor FIRST. Evaluate options/impact FIRST.
- Read delegation.
- Know when WBS and scope statement is an tool/input.
- What changes in the project will impact which plans: For instance say there is an upgraded version (which fixes most of the bugs and conforms to other customer requirements) of a software available from the vendor; but due to the relationship with the vendor he/she is willing to give that version for free and it would make no difference in cost or schedule. However since this is a version which is of improved quality, which plans get impacted?
- Expected value calculations
- Probability ( Remember how dependent and independent events are evaluated)
- Read theory on NPV/IRR; not just higher the NPV select the project kind of thing.
- Problem Solving is the nirvana.
- Motivational Model –direct questions
- Which conflicts happen in which phases and why
- Risk response strategies
- Know the impact of resource leveling on the project.
- Understand Ethnocentrism, how multinational projects are managed to deal with cultural issues.
- Know quality control definition and understand it word by word!
- If you know direct and indirect costs, then read also about Fixed/Variable.
- Critical path – longest path, shortest time
- Administrative closure is not just at the end of the project. Really?
- Contract closeout is not just product verification. So what else?
- Which changes lead to re-baseline?
- Why is scope verification and control important?
- What are the functions of CCB?
- Why do you want to use value analysis or function analysis?
- Know staffing management plan and tools needed
- Know the components and importance of performance reporting.
- Know the use of control charts, scatter diagram and Pareto charts.
- Conformance = Prevention plus Appraisal
- What are the disadvantages of matrix structure’s?
- Secondary risks are from following a risk mitigation strategy.
- If a project is terminated due to starvation what would you do?
- Understand when you would use PERT vs CPM.


More to come……

Please post your questions and I will try to answer them.

Good Luck!!


Nagesh