Here's my experience:

Passed the PMP exam on the first try 7/26/14

Took the PMP course online at: www.pmcampus.com the course was $199 and I decided to buy their practice tests (3 total) for $39. I found that these practice tests were the closest to the real exam compared to all the other free sites I practiced on. With PM Campus I read the rationales and made sure I understood them.

The Exam:

99% scenario based questions. MOST questions were 3 to 4 sentences long. I did not have any: “what would you NOT do…” type questions. But a lot of questions did start off describing the scenario with information that had nothing to do with the question. You MUST read the full question, understand what they are asking and be comfortable ignoring the useless information. They especially like to do this to you on the math questions. Also, once you understand the question, make sure you know what process group and/or knowledge area you are in. The answers will trick you if you jump down without knowing this.

I found it very easy to narrow down the answers to 2 right off the bat. At this point you have a 50/50 chance. I kept track of my own progress and confidence level as I went through the exam. I found that I knew 100 questions with complete confidence. 60 I felt that I was “pretty sure” I had them right. And the rest I really didn’t know if I chose right or not.

Lots of EV and project health questions. (25-30) Make sure your brain dump includes writing down all the formulas. I came in with 16 to write down and I felt there were questions related to all of them one way or another. Some I did not need a formula to answer, others I did. Don’t think you can just read a question, fill in the formula blanks and get the answer. You will have to use some moderate math skills. There were several questions were I was doing a couple calculations or having to use algebra skills to get the answer. For example, a question might ask for the EV but they only give you Actual Costs and CPI. With just that information you can compute EV and then move on to calculating what the question asks. Revert to your math skills and you will get it! (Note: never assume that SPI is bad just because CPI is. Be thorough checking both if the question is asking about cost and schedule)

Tuckman 5 to 8 questions. They will describe how your team is acting and you will need to know where they are in the ladder.

Motivation theories, 3 to 4 questions.

Be able to calculate critical path and float ~10 questions

There were 5 to 7 questions on project selection and which you would select. (NPV, IRR, Opportunity, etc)

There were roughly 30-35 questions that specifically asked what an input or output of a process was.

There were 5-7 questions related to project termination. Reasons for termination and the process

RACI, 1 question

What makes up a cost baseline and how and who updates it - 5 questions

15 quality type questions. Know the process groups! What quality functions are performed and where/when.

Know the difference between Statement of work and Project Scope Statement, ie: when are they used and for what. Received at least 7 questions in various ways.

Had what seemed to be 10 questions on the Project Charter. Know the inputs and outputs of this area very well.

Scope baseline and integrated change control was hit pretty hard. Who’s authorized to make changes, the process for approved changes and how that’s incorporated into the baseline. Easily 30 questions around these two areas. I realize these are two different knowledge areas, but the exam combined them to make sure you understood how it’s all interconnected.

Several questions on control charts. Several questions on the other charts. Know when you should use which and what it tells you. 10 questions.

Several questions on functional and matrix organizations. The question might be combined with checking your ability to know what type is being described but then how you act within in. ie: training team members, assigning work, evaluating work, etc. they were testing the knowledge of what a PM does verses a functional manager. 6-7 questions.

Communication channels. Had to calculate 3 to 4 questions. READ carefully. I found these to be tricky. Read the scenario.

Risk was it pretty hard. Know the inputs and outputs to these processes and know when you need to update and evaluate risks and how you go about that. Easily 12-15 questions here.

Stakeholders – ~10 questions on stakeholders and how you interact with them and keep them updated, etc. know the categorizations and their authority over a project and you as the PM!