HOW TO PREPARE FOR

© PMP – How to prepare? TuanTA 1

TuanTA - Hanoi, Feb-2009
 Content

1. Timeline for the PMP Credential Process

2. Knowledge preparing
3. Exam Registration
4. FSOFT Related Stuffs
5. Go to HCM and Taking Exam
6. Demo Questions

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 1 – Timeline for the PMP Process

But you can complete

this process with in
one day itself

Source:
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 2 – Knowledge preparing

» Book to read: hard copy is better

Rita
Head First

» Book to refer: soft copy is better when you need searching

McGraw Hill – PMP Study Guide
PMBOK

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 2 – Knowledge preparing
» Sample TEST: RITA chapters, FASTrack (Super PMP), Head First, 75
questions, 160 questions, 175 questions, FSOFT Test
 Should note all strange terms you meet and google their definitions because the
real test will contain many terms that are not mentioned in PMBOK and RITA
 Should be at least 100 questions per each test. 200 when exam’s coming.
 Some links:
 http://headfirstlabs.com/PMP/free_exam/HeadFirstPMP_PracticePMPExam.pdf
 http://www.oliverlehmann.com/contents/free-downloads/175_PMP_Sample_Questions.pdf
 http://www.pmstudy.com/enroll.asp#PMP
 PMP app on iPhone: http://appshopper.com/business/pmp-tests
 Many many other you can find with Google
Some questions will make you crazy with options and even answer
 PMP community???

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 2 – Knowledge preparing - Practices

» Interesting notes: all strange terms and interesting questions I’ve met. I’ve
read those notes several times.
» Everything you must know: come from “McGraw Hill – PMP Study Guide”
but you should maintain it yourself. It should be one hard-copy document
you bring to HCMC.
» Learn RITA chart by heart
» Confident to go? Head First once, Rita twice and >80% PM FasTrack.
Supper PMP is more difficult than real one, it’ll make you’re more confident
» Should have a file to track progress and files to store wrong and marked
answers
» How long should the preparation take? 4 months
Interesting Notes:----
- Tight matrix means co-location
- Contracts are risk mitigation tools. Contract's terms and condition are created
based on a risk analysis
- After the contract is signed is the BEST time to create a contract management plan
………
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 Some quotes from net
» “I remembered some questions from the test and still today I
haven't been able to find the correct answer after
searching google and the PMBOK”
» “Got moderately proficient in 3 areas and below proficient in 3 areas. Before
I submitted the exam for scoring I really though I'd passed, but no. The
answers are so close to each other and you may even have 4 correct
answers to choose from and need to pick the best one out of them.”
» “Keep trying. Remember to try as many practice tests as you can get your
hands on. They really helped me get used to the wording on this test”

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 3 – Exam Registration
» Eligibility Criteria for global equivalent university degree:
At least 36 unique (non-overlapping) months of project management experience
(including experience of team leader, not only PM)
Obtained 35 contact hours of project management education
» Online registration
Prepare an Excel file of project experience
 Project description, Start & End date
 Effort for Initiating, Planning, Execution, Control, Close processes (each has
around 5 detail sections) : take most of your time in registration steps

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 3 – Exam Registration
» Online registration
Other steps:
 PMI Membership (helpful in reducing [re-]examination fee)
 PMP Payment
 Prometric registration for time of exam
Credit Card: contact Kieu Anh (if you do not have one)
Time: 2 months before expected time because of available room that time

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 4 – FSOFT Related Stuffs
» FSOFT Training Application Form
» Charge fee:
Training fee: 250 USD (PMF course provided by PMC)
Exam fee: 405 USD
PMI Membership: 129 USD
Expenditure (ticket, taxi, hotel): ~290 USD
In case of failure, candidate can retake the exam at an additional fee ($ 275)
» There are many confirmation letters with PMI, remember to save to
liquidate with FSOFT later

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 5 – Go to HCM and Taking Exam
» Before the test
Should check Prometric about the room reservation before booking air ticket 
should taking exam on Thursday
Print PMI Confirmation letter and bring with you (there are many confirmation mails, please notice)

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 5 – Go to HCM and Taking Exam
» Right after entering test room and during the time for studying tutorial (about 10-
15min), write down all formulas you remember
» Should have at least one break during the test, suggest 2
» Generally you can eliminate two multiple choices easily but remaining two were
mostly identical, think as PMI
» Prepare yourself to meet totally strange questions and options. Don’t dwell on
any question too long.
» Don’t leave any questions un answered. You have to answer all of them.
» You can mark some questions to re-check later but in almost case, should not
change your answers after 4 hours stress
» Persons with lots of project management experience might fail this test and a
person with minimal project management experience and well acquainted with
PMBOK book might pass the test.
» Congratulation screen does not come right after you clicking “End Test”

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 6 – Demo Questions
» You are having lunch with one of your colleagues. He tells you in confidence
that he lied about having a PMP certification, and never actually passed the
exam. What is the BEST way to handle this situation?
A Report the person to PMI
PMI Code of Ethics and
B Report the person to his manager Professional Conduct

C Ask him to tell the truth to his manager

D Do nothing because you were told this in confidence

» What are the 4 stages of team development? - This Head First question
is similar to real one but …
A Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing. - Those terms were not
mentioned in PM BOK or
B Enthusiasm, Hope, Panic, Solution. RITA

C Assignment, Kickoff, Training, Communicating.

D Direction, Motivation, Cooperation, Collaboration.

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