CRACK ® PMP IN
45 DAYS A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
What is PMP®? PMP® (Project Management Professional) Certification is the most in-demand professional credential in project management offered by PMI® (Project Management Institute) to professionals who successfully clear the PMP® Exam.
Preparing for PMP® The PMP® exam is known to be challenging; so candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly before making their first attempt. Effectiveness of any PMP®-prep plan depends on candidate’s individual experience and capability and this eBook can be used as a reference when creating your own study plan. Your PMP preparation can be completed in a month, but we recommend all professionals to take at least 45 days for thorough preparation. This guide was prepared after carefully analyzing the study patterns of 19000+PMP® aspirants trained by Simplilearn and consulting our trainers. Following instructions presented in this guide will help you create your own study plan and prepare you for the certification exam in the most effective way.
Table of Contents
Important Information
Week 1 - 2: PMBOK®
Week 3 - 4: PMP® Prep-course & Additional Resources
Week 5: Mock Tests
Week 6: Refresh
The Actual Exam
Important Information PMI® requires that all candidates mandatorily undergo Project Management training and have a 35 PDU Project Management training certificate (PDU - Professional Development Units; 1 PDU is 1 Contact Hour of education). This can be obtained by enrolling for a PMP®-prep course from an REP (Registered Education Provider) such as Simplilearn. For a detailed outline of PMP® Certification course, please watch this video.
If you do not have time to attend classroom sessions, you can opt for Online or Virtual Class which will give you the required Contact Hours and enable you to prepare as per your convenience. For more details on eligibility, exam format, application tips and other specifics, please visit Simplilearn’s PMP® page here. In addition to PMP®, Simplilearn also provides certification training for many related courses such as PRINCE2®, PMI® ACP, CBAP, MSP®, PgMP®, RMP® and Software Estimation which are bundled together as the All-in-one Project Management Suite for your convenience. These courses will complement your PMP® certification and focus on other aspects of Project Management such as Risk, Programme Management, Business Analysis and so on.
Week 1 - 2: PMBOK® Project Management Body of Knowledge (also known as PMBOK®, now 5th Edition) is a guide that contains set of processes and knowledge areas which are widely accepted as best-practices in project management. The PMBOK® is not industry-specific and all principles, processes and knowledge areas are applicable to any project.
We recommend that all professionals appearing for PMP® certification exam become PMI® members as the cost of application is lower and there are added benefits such as free PMBOK® download, insightful publications on PM Network®, exclusive online resources, and access to communities. In addition to this, you receive discounts on the cost of credential exams, educational and networking events, professional development courses and special members’ only pricing when purchasing books, papers and other items at the PMI® Marketplace. During the course of your preparation you can refer other PMP® materials such as those provided by your REP if you have enrolled for a prep-course. Do not rely on too many reference books and more than just reading, it is vital that you clearly understand the concepts to be prepared for situational questions. Although the PMBOK® can look a bit intimidating for the first-time reader, the book as a whole stresses on important project management topics which any experienced Project Manager should be familiar with. Depending on your reading and comprehension capability you can pace reading the PMBOK® but it is important that all concepts are understood well. On an average, you should spend 2-3 hours for reading or 1 chapter per day. Study material provided by Simplilearn with the PMP®-prep course is a condensed version of the PMBOK® containing important topics, ITTOs, formulas and other relevant information with live examples so that you can understand PMBOK® concepts better. This study material is designed to complement your reading of PMBOK® and even has exercises at the end of every chapter for self-evaluation. As you progress with your preparation, it is equally important that you are able to evaluate your understanding of PMBOK®.
It is advisable that all candidates taking up the PMP® exam must have read the complete PMBOK® at least twice. To prepare yourself for the exam in 45 days, you should be able to read through the book in 2-3 weeks’ time reading 1 chapter each day. While reading, take notes and some of the more important sections on PMBOK® you should focus on are: ITTOs Process Definitions Definitions mentioned in Glossary Study material provided by Simplilearn focuses on all of these important sections, you can view the sample material here.
Checklist for Week 1 - 2 Read PMBOK® everyday - not less than two hours Refer additional reading materials Research about ATOs for Contact Hours
Week 3 - 4: PMP®-Prep Course & Additional Resources By this time, you should have finalized a PMP® prep-course from an ATO to provide you with the mandatory Contact Hours and reference materials to aid your preparation. The Contact Hours certificate will have to be presented along with your application; hence it should be procured as soon as you finish your training. Simplilearn’s blended model course provides an optimum mix of classroom and online sessions to help you understand and learn various PMBOK® concepts as per your schedule/convenience. The condensed, exam-specific study materials will focus on important topics and aid in quicker preparation. In addition to study materials, Free Resources section of Simplilearn has a cohesive collection of resources that can aid your preparation. This phase (Week 3-4) is the best time to start focusing on ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, Techniques and Outputs). Study material from Simplilearn has all ITTOs listed for your ready-reference. Since there are lots of ITTOs, memorizing all of them would be difficult. The right approach would be to understand each process and also make it a habit to refer to the ITTO sheet regularly till your actual exam. Once the second phase of your study plan is complete, start with the application process so that you will be able to take up the exam as soon as you are done with your preparation. For more information on the PMP® Exam application process, click here.
Additional tips Memorize formulae by writing them down. Interact & ask questions to your trainer. Practice dumping information like ITTOs, formulae, key terminologies on paper (from memory) for the actual exam.
Checklist for Week 3 - 4 Ensure you receive the 35 PDU certificate Ensure multiple (ideally more than four) Mock tests are included with course Make sure your REP has doubt clearing sessions
Week 5: Mock Tests
As you may already know, PMP® Exam is a 4-hour, 175-Question test with 25 pre-test questions. Prior to your exam, it is important that you take up plenty of mock exams to get the actual feel of the exam and build up your stamina.
You can find lots of PMP® mock tests online but make sure you pick tests from reputable providers so that your preparedness is flawless. Ideally the mock tests you take up should have difficulty on par with the actual PMP® exam. As part of the course, Simplilearn provides five mock tests with detailed explanations for thorough preparation and these mock exams will give a comprehensive feedback on your understanding of the PMBOK® and point out if there are any weak areas. It is equally important that after each mock test, you evaluate the results with the right answers provided, and understand where you went wrong. You can also access Simplilearn’s free mock test here. If you are consistently scoring 80-85% in mock tests, you are ready for the real exam.
Checklist for Week 5 Practice Mock tests everyday Thoroughly evaluate right and wrong answers Practice timing yourself during mock tests Continue Mock tests till you are consistently scoring 80-85%
Week 6: Refresh
By week 6 you should have completed your study, mock tests and be mentally prepared to take your exam. Use this time to focus on weak areas, practice writing down ITTOs, brain dumps and important formulas ahead of the exam.
Simplilearn provides doubt-clearing sessions that can be used to interact with the trainer during this phase. Use these sessions to discuss weak areas with your trainer and clear any doubts that may have risen during your Mock test-evaluation. During the refresh phase, you can also go through other resources, tips and tricks and the Free Ebook on Essential PMP® Concepts and Formulas that would be useful during the certification exam but do not try to cram yourself with unnecessary information.
Checklist for Week 6 Ensure all weak areas have been covered Check your grasp of ITTOs Make sure you are able to memorize all important formulae Relax and rest well during the last few days up to your exam
The Actual Exam: Prior to, and on the day of the examination be calm, relax and prepare yourself to take up the exam. Reach the venue with a valid Identification proof at least half an hour before the exam. Once you are provided with blank sheets 15 minutes before the exam, write down ITTOs, brain dumps, important formulas and any other information you think should be written down (practiced in Week 2).
Additional Exam Tips: During the exam if you are unsure of any questions, mark and answer them later. Remember the answer that looks right as per your logic or experience might not be the right answer as per PMI® so for those four hours only focus on applicability of PMBOK® theory. During the exam, time yourself in such a way that you leave a window for checking all answers before submitting. Our PMP® training program, like this guide provides flexibility over the course of your preparation and if you follow these instructions you should be able to clear the PMP® in your first attempt. We have successfully trained over 19000+ professionals from 150 countries for their PMP® certification so if you have any queries regarding your PMP® certification, you can always write to us
[email protected]
PMP® training from Simplilearn gives you the right guidance and flexibility to prepare as per your convenience.
Classroom Sessions
14 hours of e-learning content
90 days e-learning access
35 PDUs
5 Mock Tests
Hardcopy of courseware
PMBOK®-based eBooks
Doubt clearing sessions
Also when you enroll for the PMP® course from Simplilearn, get a copy of Essential PMP® Concepts and Formulas eBook absolutely FREE! For more information on our PMP course, please click here or write to
[email protected]
Good Luck!
