My score below 70% - Mock exam guidance required

 Hi all,

My exam is scheduled on 18th and i am not scoring above 70% of marks. Below are my exam marks. I need some inputs and directions from all of you. I am not nervous as respected pawar sir has given me some giudance.  Since there are 4 days to go. I am thinking on reading PMBOK and cover all gaps. and then give another shot to mock test. What do you guys suggest. I want to crack this PMP in first try and looks like i am running out of time.

 

PMP Lite Mock Exam 11 Practice Questions (50 questions) Christopher Scordo" 70%

Rita Fast track - PMP 200 Questions - 72%

"PMP Lite Mock Exam 17 Practice Questions (50 questions) Christopher Scordo" - 58%

"PMP Lite Mock Exam 16 Practice Questions (50 questions) Christopher Scordo" 66%

Oliver 75 questions - 65.3%

Rita Fast track - PMP 200 Questions- 66%

PM Study Free test - 67%

 

 

 

I have been studying too and take the test in a few days.  I found the best way to raise the scores is to go thru the PMBOK again (I would start from the back since procurements were my weak spot).  It raised me from the 60s to the 70s on these mock test.   I also use the notes from this site to review along with the notes on here as to which ITTOs to memorize/understand.  I found if you understand what comes out of every process and where it goes..that really helps too.  

Good luck! 

The Scordo lite mocks get harder towards the end at #18 but if you progressed well [meaning -- you analyzed wrong answers, studied gaps from previous tests], you should be hitting Scordo's 70% passing score or higher.  The key is to study wrong answers and refer to the PMBok, understand why and how you got answers wrong [ITTO flow and logic].  Same deal with Oliver Lehmann's test or Farndale or Brainbok -- really tough practice tests.

Looking from your list, doesn't look like you're ready... Not trying to scare you but the real exam is like a twisted crossword puzzle sprinkled with logical dilemmas.  Aside from having to determine which process or process group the question is in, you will have to figure out what is the most effective tool/technique to use.  You might know both but the kick is:  there are two seeming right answers!  On many of the questions, you will have to either make assumptions [from a thorough understanding of the PMBok] or figure out constraints. 

Many folks here are so intent on having a dump sheet.  I prepared one [formulas as well as mnemonics for page 43] but at the test, I didn't "dump" any unto the scrap paper provided.  The test requires application of PMBok as a standard, use of best judgement [next best thing to do, what to do next] and thus you must know the logical flow of each process as well as corresponding tools/techniques.  Same deal with the formulas.  Memorizing will not be of much help if you don't know the derivation.  On my exam, there were half-dozen diagramming questions, about 20 math questions including impact/expected monetary value and PV.  On a CPI or SPI question for instance, you will have to find the EV first, AC or PV or all of them before you get to solve for what the question is asking for.  At the very least, you have to  know when and how to apply the formulas. 

I passed the exam.  I have extensive PM experience -- not invented solely for passing the exam just like some/many trying to get through PMP.  I developed, implemented, led or managed global projects for major organizations.  I passed with a combination of reading the PMBok, understanding how applied, PM experience and a truckload of practice tests.  Truckload, not just a handful!

Can share mnemonics for "recalling" page 43, shared by someone here actually.  Let me know.

I am starting to find the PMP Mock exams and practice exams demotivating.  I write on the 18th as well and I can do my brain dump in under 15 minutes.  (My plan during the online exam tutorial).  I will read and sleep with the PMBOK guide as well.  I have gone through the glossary with no questions that come out.  In reading on here it sounds like quality is a big focal point.  I'm feeling pretty low for the most part.  Did PM Study and scored also in the 60's.  It's so deflating when you spend 3 hours taking an exam and didn't do well.  At least I know where my weak spots are.  I have the PMP Prepcast by Cornielius.  I always find listening to him boosts my confidence because I am absolutely following concepts and I'm never surprised.  I also want to pass on the first try and I know that I am smart and work well under pressure.  I wonder if these practice exams just psych me out even worse.  The 18th is right around the corner...  It would be nice to take 1 mock exam and score 100-90% just so my confidence is up, but reading enough here on PMZilla some people can score that and still fail.  The exam anxiety seems to be my weakest point right now.  

 

 

 

 

 Hi,

First of all thank you for investing so much time on writing on this fourum trying to help others by sharing your thoughts. 

I am able to recall page 43. I am through with most of the concept but i know i need to little more preparation, Thanks for saying it straight that i am not prepared. My subconcious mind knows it but needed to remind my self.

today i am planning to stop giving test and concentrate on understanding of PMBOK again today. I have noticied that i am doing some silly mistakes.

I believe that in case you are scoring low do not get your moral down. learned from Mr Pawar. There is a growth area and u need to fix it. Once you fix it there will be more confidence.

That is one suggestion from foks whichi remember. Stop visiting forums and groups before your exam. Because some time it demotivate you. And looking at some others's score and getting your moral down is not done. 

Before 18th we have few more days. Lets concentrate on concepts one day, finding all gaps and then revisit the mock test again. I am sure we will pass with flying colors...................

Thanks all.

The Scordo mocks are structured differently from the real exam but about same level of difficulty.  I did all of them and consistently scored between 80-85%.  I scored lower on both the Brainbok and Farndale mocks which are really tough but I took them 2 weeks before my test date so had time to to dig into my wrong answers, understand the thought process and test structures [test styles]. 

Brainbok is a twister of a mock and offered a good preview of the real exam in which many questions are like twisted word puzzles.  Big kick is making assumptions and determining what process, tool/technique is being inferred and picking the "best thing to do," "what to do next," "what would you do."

Farndale for instance is Canadian/British English so it was a bit of language adjustment from American English.  The exam is international with test contributors from PMs around the world so also took practice tests from MYPMPie which is Irish/site based in Ireland, techfaq which is based in India and Oliver Lehmann in German-English.  I did the online Lehmann test in just over an hour [I was going for speed/timing test] and scored 78%.

I did all 1,000 questions on examcentral.net as well as mocks from Simplilearn and HeadFirst on the week of my test date but left the day before the exam free to go for a long walk and "present" page 43 along with corresponding ITTOs, e.g., what happens in each process, etc. 

Best of luck!

 

Thank you for the good advise, I am using PM Fasttrack and score 69%, how does it compare to the real exam? I am working through the PMBok on the grey area with Rita;s 7th addition to clarify if needed. 

 

Please advise?

There are folks here who say that questions on Rita's PM Fasttrack are similar to real exam.  I used Rita's materials in the first month of my study plan but abandoned because they didn't work for me.  In fact, read that people failed despite having read Rita's book 6 times! 

Didn't want to rely on just 1-2 study materials.  I read and followed this blurb from Cornelius Fitchner's blog or site:  be a planner and practice management in the process.  So I applied risk management strategies on my study plan -- mitigate risk of failing and exploit or enhance any opportunity.  I adjusted and rebaselined my study plan every week, examined prior assumptions and worked with constraints [other commitments].  There are posters in this forum who pretty much did the same thing.

I used Andy Crowe's book because it's plain and simple [not dense or scary like Rita's].  Then I moved to HeadFirst -- took off the pressure in digging into the formal wording of the PMBok.  Cartoonish but fun, out-of-the-box methodology.  I used Kim Heldman's books [guide and main] posted at the PMI web site after Crowe and HeadFirst. 

A month before my test date, I read everything in two blogs:  Passionate PM and deefriedbrain.com/Brainbok.  Both have challenging, immensely instructional/informational materials.  I didn't bother reading PMBok's glossary.  Instead, I studied the two column comparisons with examples on both blogs [verify scope vs. control scope, contingency vs. management reserve, etc.] -- differentiation and application were on the exam!  Their practice tests come close to the real exam, Passionate PM is relatively a composite.  Diagramming and math questions are close to those at HeadFirst [solve for missing variables to be able to solve for N formula question].  No PTA and SD although looking back there was one which seemed to resemble an SD question but didn't quite fit the PERT calc.  However, 20% of 100 can fall 10% or 1 sigma on either side of the bell curve [I answered 110 instead of 120 assuming 100 is the mean/normal distribution].  The exam has many questions with two seeming right methodology/solutions and answers.  That is, depending on right [or wrong] assumptions.

On the week of my test date, I revisited Kim Heldman's Guide at the PMI site -- easy read/outline format, takes half day.  I figured there's a good reason PMI has Kim's and Scordo's books in there.  And yeah, Initiating and Closing questions resonate with Kim's books including the PV calc.  I did 1 mock everyday from examcentral.net Monday-Friday, took off Saturday and sat for the exam on a Sunday.

 

There are folks here who say that questions on Rita's PM Fasttrack are similar to real exam.  I used Rita's materials in the first month of my study plan but abandoned because they didn't work for me.  In fact, read that people failed despite having read Rita's book 6 times! 

Didn't want to rely on just 1-2 study materials.  I read and followed this blurb from Cornelius Fitchner's blog or site:  be a planner and practice management in the process.  So I applied risk management strategies on my study plan -- mitigate risk of failing and exploit or enhance any opportunity.  I adjusted and rebaselined my study plan every week, examined prior assumptions and worked with constraints [other commitments].  There are posters in this forum who pretty much did the same thing.

I used Andy Crowe's book because it's plain and simple [not dense or scary like Rita's].  Then I moved to HeadFirst -- took off the pressure in digging into the formal wording of the PMBok.  Cartoonish but fun, out-of-the-box methodology.  I used Kim Heldman's books [guide and main] posted at the PMI web site after Crowe and HeadFirst. 

A month before my test date, I read everything in two blogs:  Passionate PM and deefriedbrain.com/Brainbok.  Both have challenging, immensely instructional/informational materials.  I didn't bother reading PMBok's glossary.  Instead, I studied the two column comparisons with examples on both blogs [verify scope vs. control scope, contingency vs. management reserve, etc.] -- differentiation and application were on the exam!  Their practice tests come close to the real exam, Passionate PM is relatively a composite.  Diagramming and math questions are close to those at HeadFirst [solve for missing variables to be able to solve for N formula question].  No PTA and SD although looking back there was one which seemed to resemble an SD question but didn't quite fit the PERT calc.  However, 20% of 100 can fall 10% or 1 sigma on either side of the bell curve [I answered110 instead of 120 assuming 100 is the mean/normal distribution].  The exam has many questions with two seeming right methodology/solutions and answers.  That is, depending on right [or wrong] assumptions.

On the week of my test date, I revisited Kim Heldman's Guide at the PMI site -- easy read/outline format, takes half day.  I figured there's a good reason PMI has Kim's and Scordo's books in there.  And yeah, Initiating and Closing questions resonates with Kim's books including the PV calc.  I did 1 mock everyday from examcentral.net Monday-Friday, took off Saturday and sat for the exam on a Sunday.

 

 Thanks for the response. I hope required person gort the answer. 

You're welcome.  I passed the exam partly by reading posts here so I'm gladly paying foward [so to speak].

By the way, your question on NPV, BCR, etc., see Kim Heldman's book posted at the PMI site, Initiating chapter, project selection.  There's going to be an NPV question as well as PV vs. FV calc.  You could trip with two answer choices that look alike [2345 and 2354]. 

For questions on float, see PMBok page 155 about using duration buffers [project and feeding buffers] "to manage uncertainty, protect target date from slippage along the critical chain."  There were 3 float/delay questions -- pure logic and using dependency determination [FS, SS, FF, no SF]. 

Regarding earned value practice tests, you can get them from either Brainbok for $15 or Prepcast $29 [minus discount if requested].  Didn't find it necessary to do additional practice from separate chapters dedicated to diagramming and earned value in both Andy Crowe and Head First books. 

You really just need to understand how the formulas are applied/derived as well as how to extrapolate AC, EV or PV and BAC if not given to solve for ETC, EAC, VAC [they are in the exam].  I remember a question containing just a base/estimated cost and % that can be be possibly applied to deriving both EV and PV [must read the question carefully].  You also need to understand why and how TCPI is used [>1 means tight, <1 is right on CPI level].  Get the logic instead of memorizing the formulas or practicing more -- TCPI question didn't require calculation, PTA question was more application/determination between seller an customer.

I suspect that the straight formula questions on CPI and SPI are dummies because they are way too easy, probably just to "nudge" you to mark the test question as formula/calc results reference to use in subsequent questions using same numbers!  Thus, you need to be alert and mark reference test questions with stars [***].

As I indicated previously, didn't "dump" anything unto the scrap paper provided.  You really can't memorize logic or the fact that you can use the test questions as references.  The test is more tricky than tough. 

Hope you make it!

 

One other thing, knowing what RACI stands for won't help much, you need to be able to interpret the chart [and goes without saying] what it is used for.  Accountable is the most important word in the chart [as delineated in the PMBok].

Make sure you understand business case vs. business need.  Same deal with contracts -- situation/when to use T&M or cost incentive fee.  Go over the comparisons at either deepfriedbrain or Passionate PM -- I'd say half of the exam is ability to distinguish which concept or tool/technique to use and when/how applied, how effective [PMBok theoretical application + logic + best judgement = certified PM]. 

The really tricky questions have to do with 1- either all the answer choices do not fit or 2- all of them could fit.  Many of the questions do not offer sequential steps in the choices but either missing step(s) or incomplete and ask what is "the next best thing to do."  Helps if you fully embrace the PM role and assume a matrix organizational structure [and thus must have outstanding communication, negotiating, influencing skills].

Read somewhere that the exam filters out wannabees as well as folks just skimming/memorizing through.  Makes sense since it's psychometric scoring.  You know you made it if able to get through 100 questions in the first hour and a half without struggling so much.  Meaning, you're not half-guessing but can actually justify or debate your answer choice.   4 hours is grueling so need a good strategy to manage your breath! 

Please write of your experience when done.  

 

 

Thank you very much, Halle!


You have pointed out many new things of PMP.


Regarding various books and writers, how they have defined the subjects, what type of English they are using, their writing style, impact on exam etc.


You wrote about Rita's book, some candidates read it 6 times but failed.


You wrote that don’t rely on one or two sources, better go for various many good sources.


You beautifully wrote - about Canadian, British, Irish, Indian Germen, American styles of English.


And you perhaps Germen -American, as you wrote Oliver Lehmann questions you completed within an hour and got 78%.


In very detailed way you explained various PMP topics.


Thanks a tone once again.


Regards


SSP


 

You must be the great Pawar everyone pays homage to.  I imagined you to be sitting under a Bo tree typing words of inspiration for pmp aspirants.

Somehow, found a "protege" with a seemingly helpless fellow scouring for tips and help on almost everything -- from gauging his practice test scores, finding pmp sources and even logging into pmp sites.  I know how tough and frustrating it can be so I've taken to sharing my research as "pay forward" gratitude for insights I've gained from this forum and other sites.  I think a big part of the pmp process is finding and evaluating study materials.  It took me at least a month of full research before I sat down to develop a 3-month study + practice test. 

Cheers!

I am mesmerized with your novelty.


Its so nice of you, I am really happy and reading it again and again.


Thanks for your kind words.


and this line I am repeating here:


I think a big part of the pmp process is finding and evaluating study materials.


Yes,  every aspirant should follow this golden words.


-


Cheers and Happy Christmus my friend !

 Thanks for your lines. 

I've read quite a few LLs recently which mention that they didnt have to face questions on ethics? if @sspawar or @halle can i request you if you have  got any insights based on their thorough participation on this forum.? i found myself tripping on some questions on "when to notify" questions especially from Scordo practice tests (from 13th Set onwards..)

 

I've read quite a few LLs recently which mention that they didnt have to face questions on ethics? if @sspawar or @halle can i request you if you have  got any insights based on their thorough participation on this forum.? i found myself tripping on some questions on "when to notify" questions especially from Scordo practice tests (from 13th Set onwards..)

 

No ethics questions but as someone in this forum pointed out, ethics is integrated in th exam as questions that will test "cross-cutting" skills.

Regarding the Scordo ethics questions, they are more practical application along the lines of trying to uphold high personal and professional standards, being a decent human being and applying common sense. 

Scordo peppered his mocks with stuff like "what do you do when you discover a team member taking home widgests [or whatever]?"  Hopefully, one will not only try remember PMI's code of ethics [responsibility, respect, fairness and honesty] but be a law-abiding citizen and call the police [not PMI] and not try to split the loot with the thieving team member!

Scordo has also a lot of possible ethical scenarios that one might encounter when managing teams [multi-cultural or not] -- what to do when someone pretends to be PMP-certified, offers PMP exam questions, etc.  At first, I was floored at how he seemed to be "training" PMP aspirants to be snitches because the answer is always "must report to PMI."  Later on, I took them more as "nudges" prodding me to stay awake because PMI/PMP registry is public on the Internet and it takes seconds to check PMP credentials.  It's also a reminder that one must obey laws, follow rules/do not take shortcuts no matter how tempting, respect other cultures.  All about being a true PM -- developing and managing teams, being a good example to others, being in an enriching team enviroment.  Pretty much application of all those HR motivation and leadership theories!

However, there was one PMP in this forum who was giving out/emailing PDF copies of books [Head First, Rita, Andy Crowe] -- requests were bursting and it was disconcerting not only for the outright illustration of copyright infringement but also Scordo's theme on common sense [no common sense] if not lack of diligence.  That is, there are reviewers posted for free at the PMI site, there are several good sites for free mocks as well as the fact that buying Andy Crowe's book will provide 1 week free access to Velociteach for virtual classroom training and about 800 practice questions.

@halle, totally agree with what you're saying and it should never be encouraged.

i was just trying to fill the gaps i've discovered through practice tests , and wanted to figure if its any worth spending during preparation of this test. has the weightage (% of total questions ) changed because of inclusion into cross cutting skils? would be helpful becuse i can put that amount of time elsewhere filling the gaps.

following ethics however, is something that we have to keep in our day-day practice post certification. 

@halle, totally agree with what you're saying and it should never be encouraged.

i was just trying to fill the gaps i've discovered through practice tests , and wanted to figure if its any worth spending during preparation of this test. has the weightage (% of total questions ) changed because of inclusion into cross cutting skils? would be helpful becuse i can put that amount of time elsewhere filling the gaps.

following ethics however, is something that we have to keep in our day-day practice post certification. 

Sanjay Kumar's picture

How much % in pactice Tests before go PMP Exam.