PMP® Exam Preparation - Pitfalls You Can Avoid
Project Management, PMP® Certification Training - PMP Exam Preparation - Pitfalls You Can Avoid and Why Some People Fail the PMP Exam. Updated 11/10/2020 for the exam starting 1-2-2021 and following.
Updated 11-10-2020 by Nereda Haque, PMP
From years of observation, this is what we would conclude as the biggest reasons people fail:
(a) Erratic Learning: Balance Your Study over all areas: Yes all of the areas were read but not properly absorbed or time was spent studying disproportionately. Usually too much time is spent on one or two areas such as math. Trainees may not even be tested on math. Pay attention to the checklists that you need to review before to take your PMP exam.
(b) They did not complete their Online Quiz practice which also increases the speed they can answer exam questions, so they ran out of time: Studying questions to pick out context is preferred. It will also help you identify the meaning of the question. There is no such thing as real PMP Exam Questions except in the Exam itself. So if your only study was to increase your percentage points in the Practice Exams you had in class or online, you have missed the mark. Understand "why you got a question wrong." The rest you already know.
(c) They spent too much time cramming, not enough time spent understanding: Learning without understanding is meaningless for the PMP(R) Exam.
(d) They had trouble applying the knowledge: Yes, the trainee needs to understand the application too; that is, how to apply new knowledge. Study the workflows and the book exercises. If the trainee is unable to apply it, that means he/she has not been relating the understanding so that it is unusable information. Relating what you learned is a very important key to passing. SmartPath LLC provides of examples as well as workflows so the trainee can relate what is learned and apply it at work as well as in the PMP exam.
(e) They had trouble analyzing and picking out the context, keywords or key phases or determining what the question was about: This is because they were too quick to see the layer of fluff as being important. Dig deeper beyond the fluff to find the answer to the actual question. I
(f) They lacked understanding of how project work typically flows:
(g) The person didnt understand how charts, diagrams and other tools are used so when a scenario is used the trainee didn't know how to answer the questions. You may not even have thought that this question was about a tool and technique. Again look at the answers. They may help you determine context if all else fails.
(h) The person did not understand Risk Management: Remember risk is about FUTURE.
(i) The person could not tell what area of Quality was being discussed from the questions so the answers looked confusing.
(l) The person was too exhausted. This is one reason it's good to take a day or two after preparing for the Exam and feel refreshed when you take the PMP Exam. If the trainee is a "morning person," that is, he/she typically awakes early and finds the brain is sharper in the morning, then by all means schedule your exam in the morning. A later riser should choose a later schedule.
Be prepared for synonyms or phrases that replace words that you are more familiar with. Sometimes if you look at the answers you will get clues. Solve the "puzzle," and "think outside the box."
In Summary
(1) Every PMP Exam is different. There may be some similarities but they are different. Some are harder than others. You need to prepare yourself properly for everything. And remember, there is no such thing as real Exam questions, unless you are doing the exam itself. Stay with SmartPath LLC's questions and do not mix yourself up with questions on the internet that may align to various PMBOK Guides or old versions of project management knowledge, or they have many questions which contradict each other or have lots of questions and answers that are just plain incorrect. This will only add to your confusion.
(2) Even so, with SmartPath LLCs exam focused certification training with exam prep, you can be prepared for everything.
(3) Keep up with your study each evening going over what you learned during the day in class and reinforcing the knowledge by doing the exercises in your book. Keeping up with the OTTIs + Roles daily will heighten your understanding throughout the training. We do this through "In Class Exercises," "Connectivity Exercises" and the "Processes 1 to 55 Exercise" (includes 8 role dependent processes). Don't stop escalating your knowledge until you take the Exam. Visualize the information. Play your own PM movie in your head. This is the best way to keep it fresh. When practicing, think "why" and associate the areas. Practice the Online Quizzes as these will both proportionately instruct you as well as test you. Do all of the practices quizzes interactively; and experience a time simulated exam when you do a "Final Practice Exam" of 200 questions. Practice all Online Quizzes before repeating them. Then focus on areas where you have having difficulty.
(4) Schedule your PMP Exam knowing that you did what it takes to avoid all of the pitfalls.
(5) Yes, even smart people can fail the PMP Exam but they will pass if they overcome the pitfalls and if they are not too proud to follow our proven methods.
Getting the highest quality training that is exam-focused (no information overload), based on understanding, with proven learning methods are a real plus. SmartPath LLC provides this type of training.
PMP DC; or Bellevue, WA ; or PMP Live Online; or Testimonials.
PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-SP, PMI, RMP, PMI, and PMBOK, are the registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Updated 11-10-2020 by Nereda Haque, PMP
From years of observation, this is what we would conclude as the biggest reasons people fail:
(a) Erratic Learning: Balance Your Study over all areas: Yes all of the areas were read but not properly absorbed or time was spent studying disproportionately. Usually too much time is spent on one or two areas such as math. Trainees may not even be tested on math. Pay attention to the checklists that you need to review before to take your PMP exam.
(b) They did not complete their Online Quiz practice which also increases the speed they can answer exam questions, so they ran out of time: Studying questions to pick out context is preferred. It will also help you identify the meaning of the question. There is no such thing as real PMP Exam Questions except in the Exam itself. So if your only study was to increase your percentage points in the Practice Exams you had in class or online, you have missed the mark. Understand "why you got a question wrong." The rest you already know.
(c) They spent too much time cramming, not enough time spent understanding: Learning without understanding is meaningless for the PMP(R) Exam.
(d) They had trouble applying the knowledge: Yes, the trainee needs to understand the application too; that is, how to apply new knowledge. Study the workflows and the book exercises. If the trainee is unable to apply it, that means he/she has not been relating the understanding so that it is unusable information. Relating what you learned is a very important key to passing. SmartPath LLC provides of examples as well as workflows so the trainee can relate what is learned and apply it at work as well as in the PMP exam.
(e) They had trouble analyzing and picking out the context, keywords or key phases or determining what the question was about: This is because they were too quick to see the layer of fluff as being important. Dig deeper beyond the fluff to find the answer to the actual question. I
(f) They lacked understanding of how project work typically flows:
(g) The person didnt understand how charts, diagrams and other tools are used so when a scenario is used the trainee didn't know how to answer the questions. You may not even have thought that this question was about a tool and technique. Again look at the answers. They may help you determine context if all else fails.
(h) The person did not understand Risk Management: Remember risk is about FUTURE.
(i) The person could not tell what area of Quality was being discussed from the questions so the answers looked confusing.
(l) The person was too exhausted. This is one reason it's good to take a day or two after preparing for the Exam and feel refreshed when you take the PMP Exam. If the trainee is a "morning person," that is, he/she typically awakes early and finds the brain is sharper in the morning, then by all means schedule your exam in the morning. A later riser should choose a later schedule.
Be prepared for synonyms or phrases that replace words that you are more familiar with. Sometimes if you look at the answers you will get clues. Solve the "puzzle," and "think outside the box."
In Summary
(1) Every PMP Exam is different. There may be some similarities but they are different. Some are harder than others. You need to prepare yourself properly for everything. And remember, there is no such thing as real Exam questions, unless you are doing the exam itself. Stay with SmartPath LLC's questions and do not mix yourself up with questions on the internet that may align to various PMBOK Guides or old versions of project management knowledge, or they have many questions which contradict each other or have lots of questions and answers that are just plain incorrect. This will only add to your confusion.
(2) Even so, with SmartPath LLCs exam focused certification training with exam prep, you can be prepared for everything.
(3) Keep up with your study each evening going over what you learned during the day in class and reinforcing the knowledge by doing the exercises in your book. Keeping up with the OTTIs + Roles daily will heighten your understanding throughout the training. We do this through "In Class Exercises," "Connectivity Exercises" and the "Processes 1 to 55 Exercise" (includes 8 role dependent processes). Don't stop escalating your knowledge until you take the Exam. Visualize the information. Play your own PM movie in your head. This is the best way to keep it fresh. When practicing, think "why" and associate the areas. Practice the Online Quizzes as these will both proportionately instruct you as well as test you. Do all of the practices quizzes interactively; and experience a time simulated exam when you do a "Final Practice Exam" of 200 questions. Practice all Online Quizzes before repeating them. Then focus on areas where you have having difficulty.
(4) Schedule your PMP Exam knowing that you did what it takes to avoid all of the pitfalls.
(5) Yes, even smart people can fail the PMP Exam but they will pass if they overcome the pitfalls and if they are not too proud to follow our proven methods.
Getting the highest quality training that is exam-focused (no information overload), based on understanding, with proven learning methods are a real plus. SmartPath LLC provides this type of training.
PMP DC; or Bellevue, WA ; or PMP Live Online; or Testimonials.
PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-SP, PMI, RMP, PMI, and PMBOK, are the registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.