PMP Exam Tips: Schedule your PMP Exam as Early as Possible

One of the more important steps in preparing for the PMP exam is to schedule you exam date as soon as you meet all the eligibility requirements. This will give you a specific date toward which you can work. Now you have deadline – a big red “X” on your calendar – and this will motivate you in your studies. If you don’t have the date scheduled you can always find excuses for not studying and delaying things. But having the date in your mind and calendar will drive you to study regularly.

Now that you see your exam approaching, here are a few good study activities:

Read the PMBOK. Read it twice. Because the PMP Exam is largely based on the PMBOK contents, it makes sense to know what it says. However, the PMP exam requires far more than just recounting facts. You can’t just memorize the PMBOK and pass the exam.  You must understand how each of the Pod MBOK’s processes, along with their inputs, outputs, and tools and techniques would be applied in real live project situations. So a good way to enhance your studies is to apply the concepts you learn from the PMBOK Guide on your projects right away.

Next, read the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and as with the PMBOK, read it at least twice. Think of project scenarios for each topic that will be more meaningful and help you remember the concepts as you study the Code. Learn how each section in the Code is different and why each one is necessary for the project management profession.

And lastly, don’t forget to discuss project management topics with others to really learn the material. Find a local or online study group and meet with them as you study for the exam.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP

This article is from The Project Management Prepcast , one of the best online resource for preparing for the PMP exam