Project Management Professional Study Strategy Part 2

PMP CERTIFICATION STUDY STRATEGY PART 2[Continued from the previous PMP blog]


Now if you map this as a graph, you will be getting the Bell Curve shape.

Hence, you will begin to understand the mindset of the examiners. I bet you, it has been one of my
best wisdom of getting away with any exam – finding out what the mindset of the examiner is. This
help me map the exam framework and hence focus my energies where they matter most while leaving
the “ less weightier matters of the law”

My prognosis and diagnosis of the CAUSE of failure revealed to me as it will reveal to you that my
energies were focused at the wrong places , so while I scored high at those less weightier areas my
cumulative average ended me being below the “Average” or “Proficient” scale. I quickly realised that
if I needed to PASS the exam all I needed was to dimension my study time so that I will put 30% of
my PM FASTrack revision time on Executing which became my number 1 area of focus; 25% on
M & C which became my number 2; 24% on Planning which became my number 3 and I must have
acquired sufficient confidence level or score level on these domains before I could then lastly touch
Initiating, number 4 and Closing number last.

The PM FASTrack tool was cool for me as it gave an option to test myself using the DOMAIN areas.
See the snapshot below


[To insert picture here]

All I did was put in more test time for Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Planning as my
priority and tada! I made it very well at my second and last attempt!
Why is this so? Because , the Bell Curve of PMP exam questions frequency histogram showed
me that the highest number of questions would come from Executing, next M & C, Planning and
Initiating while Closing will be very few. They even have made you know that your success is based
on the more questions you answer accurately!
Now follow me...let’s do a simple math. So PMI says that total number of questions would be 200
abi? And about 25 questions will be diagnostic and wouldn’t count towards your score.
What are they testing you on? 200 minus 75 = 175 Questions

That means that, for Executing,
30% of 175 = approx. 53 Questions!
For Monitoring & Controlling
25% of 175 = approx 44 Questions!
For Planning,
24% of 175 = approx. 42 Questions
For Initiating,
13% of 175 = approx. 23 Questions
For Closing Process Group,
8% of 175 = approx. 14 Questions

Now, if your final score is an average of everything you answered correctly, then will notice that
Executing plus M & C plus Planning = 139 Questions
Let’s assume you answered Ex + M&C + P = 130 Questions right,
130 divided by 175 and multiplied by 100 equals 74.28% which already is above 67% which is the
PMI benchmark or “Proficient” level.
I believe you have seen the trick to pass your PMP exam on first attempt.

If this piece of information was useful to you then, drop me a few lines or comments.