2009 HP Confidential

Quentin Hayes
DTO R&D
June 2010
PMP Exam Tips
What Can Help You to Pass..
Get organized
Eat a balanced diet
How about a quiz?
I dont have time to study today
Practice, practice, practice.
The 9 x 5 Matrix what does it mean?
Patterns in the Matrix
Know your definitions
Take Note.
Example of Study Plan


Get Organized
Make passing the exam your own personal project,
with you as the project manager
Set a target timeframe for the exam, finalize date as you get closer
Set up a study plan with specific study times and goals
Example: 2 -3 hours/day on weekdays, 5 hrs/day on weekends
If possible, schedule several days off prior to the exam
Join a PMP study group, or team up with other PMP
students.
Studying or learning together can be encouraging
Help fill gaps in each others knowledge

Eat a Balanced Diet
Just like we need a balanced diet for food, we need a
balanced diet of PMP exam tools
PMBOK Guide (main course); most of what you need is here
PMP Exam study guide #1 (side dish); will have additional info to PMBOK
PMP Exam study guide #2 (side dish); will have additional info to PMBOK
and study guide #1
Can get more side dishes if you see the need
Use more than one source for practice exams
PMP exam is 200 questions likely randomly selected from thousands; the
test questions can vary from test to test, so you need a variety of practice
tests as well
Use varying levels of difficulty; easy first, harder ones later
Rote learning vs. applying what you learned (need both)
How About a Quiz?
Take a practice quiz:
To prepare to take a 4 hour practice exam
When there isnt always time to take a 4 hour practice exam
To focus on a particular area or subject
Most SW based practice exams allow you to vary the number of
questions, so you can turn a practice exam into a shorter quiz
Example:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
2 hr study 50 pt quiz 50 pt quiz 50 pt quiz 50 pt quiz 200 pt
practice
exam
I Dont Have Time to Study Today
Yes, you do
Study in 5, 10, 15 minute bursts; practice time-slicing
Create and use flash cards, carry with you
If you have a smartphone, create a brain dump file and upload to the
phone, review whenever you have a few moments
Practice writing down key brain dump data on scrap pieces of paper
Remember the analogy of the jar full of rocks
The jar is full of rocks, but is not yet full
Now the jar is full of rocks and pebbles, but is not yet full
Now the jar is full of rocks, pebbles, and sand, but is not yet full
Now the jar is full of rocks, pebbles, sand, and water; now it is full

Practice, Practice, Practice.
PMP Exam is 200 questions and 4 hours long
When was the last time you took a test this long?
Taking practice exams helps you to go the distance
Builds confidence and increases learning
Take at least several practice exams prior to taking
the real thing
Helps you to pace yourself (avg. of 72 seconds/question)
Take notes during or after the practice exams to highlight areas of needed
improvement
Try taking the practice exams the same time of day you will take the real one

9 X 5 Matrix
Matrix covers the 9 knowledge areas and 5 process
groups
9 knowledge areas: Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR,
Communications, Risk, Procurement
5 Process Groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring &
Controlling, Closing
Need to become very familiar with the 9 x 5 Matrix
Understand how the 9 knowledge areas intersect with the 5 process
groups
Example: Integration has processes in all 5 process groups
Example: Closing Process Group includes Close Project/Phase Process
and Close Procurements Process
Patterns In the Matrix
Look for patterns in the 9 x 5 matrix
Example: Key input to all processes in the Monitoring & Controlling
Process Group is: Project Management Plan
Example: Key output to all processes in the Monitoring & Controlling
Process Group is: Change Requests
Example: common Tool/Technique for Control Scope, Control Costs, and
Control Schedule Processes is: Variance Analysis
Example: Scope Baseline is a key input for processes that involve money,
such as Estimate Costs, Develop Budget, and Plan Procurements
Use these patterns to help memorize key
inputs/outputs and tools/techniques of each
process
Know Your Definitions
PMBOK Guide has an excellent glossary; read
and remember
Most PMP study guides also have an excellent
glossary and may have additional terms not
covered in the PMBOK glossary
Take Note
Actually take lots of notes
Take notes after each quiz and practice test
Review and update notes as you continue to
learn more
Example below:
Study Plan Example*
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Rest &
review
2 hr study 2 hr study 2 hr study 2 hr study 2 hr study 5 hour study
Rest &
review
3 hr study 2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
200 pt practice
exam
Rest &
review
3 hr study 2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
200 pt practice
exam
Rest &
review
3 hr study 2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
200 pt practice
exam
Rest &
review
3 hr study 2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
2 hr study
50 pt quiz
200 pt practice
exam
Rest &
review
Review 8
10 hrs
Review 8 -
10 hrs
200 pt
practice
exam
Rest &
review
PMP
Exam
* Assumes you have already read the PMBOK and at least one other study guide
Next Steps
Go forth and study!!!