How to Ace the PMP Exam

Project Management Professional Test

To become a certified PMP--Project Management Professional--you must pass a standardized test administered by PMI--the Project Management Institute. The PMP exam is a computer based assessment that has 200 multiple-choice questions. The questions cover all aspects of project management, from initiation to closing.

If you meet the requirements for obtaining a PMP credential from PMI, passing the exam is the only hurdle left to clear. While you study for the PMP exam, you may find it useful to think of your test preparation as a project, and yourself as the project manager.

Planning

Visit the website of PMI and read the PMP handbook. This handbook explains the structure of the test and shows the breakdown of question types by topic. You have four hours to answer 200 multiple-choice questions with four choices each. The questions will cover six core areas of project management:

planning (23%)
initiation (11%)
execution (27%)
monitoring (21%)
closing (9%)
professional responsibility (9%)

Initiation

Though the website of PMI has many sample questions for the PMP exam, you should invest in several PMP exam study guides. The three most popular and trusted study guides are PMP Exam Prep, 6th Ed.: Rita's Course for Passing the PMP Exam, The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try, and Head First PMP.

Devise a study schedule that you can stick to. Even if you are busy, you should make time for at least three hours of study a week. Studying in blocks of one or one and a half hours is best.

Execution

Use your study guides to make timed quizzes and practice tests for yourself. Since the real exam requires you to answer 200 questions in four hours (max), you should allot 1.2 minutes per question when you time yourself.

For every question you miss, you should review it several times until you understand the rationale behind the correct answer. You should also review your notes from past project management education courses. PMP exam questions are based on the standard body of knowledge that all candidates learn through their training courses.

Control

When you feel confident that you have mastered the material, take a full-length PMP practice test to measure your progress. Make sure to time yourself accurately and include a break halfway through.

If you are scoring at a level of "proficient" in most of the domains, you are on track to ace the test. If your scores are mostly "moderately proficient" or "below proficient," reevaluate how you study and make changes.

Closing

About a week before the exam, take another practice test. Be sure to get enough sleep and eat healthy in the week before your exam. Try to relax and visualize success.