Huuummm… Getting started on the right foot – and ending in good stead. Sounds like sage advice in so many arenas! Can this apply to preparing for the PMP® Exam? Certainly…
Maybe I AM as analytical as some folks have said. For example, in preparing for the PMP® Exam, let’s break it down – analyze it – get our arms around it – understand some details…
There are 200 questions given in a 4-hour limit. 175 of the questions are graded to provide an exam score; the other 25 are “pre-test” questions being evaluated by PMI. So, what are these 175 questions about?
The existing exam as well as the upcoming exam (August 31, 2011) are broken down as follows:
|
Process Group / Exam Section |
# Processes per Group |
Exam % |
# of Questions |
# Questions per Process |
|||
|
Now |
Aug. |
Now |
Aug. |
Now |
Aug. |
||
| Initiating |
2 |
11% |
13% |
19 |
23 |
9.5 |
11.5 |
| Planning |
20 |
23% |
24% |
40 |
42 |
2 |
2.1 |
| Executing |
8 |
27% |
30% |
47 |
52 |
5.9 |
6.5 |
| Monitoring and Controlling |
10 |
21% |
25% |
37 |
44 |
3.7 |
4.4 |
| Closing |
2 |
9% |
8% |
16 |
14 |
8 |
7 |
| Professional Responsibility |
N/A |
9% |
N/A |
16 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Note that starting on August 31, 2011, there will be no questions solely on Professional Responsibility. The PMI Code of Conduct proficiency will be tested by integrating the concepts into the questions on the five process groups.
“OK, Louis, so what? How should I interpret any meaningful information from this table of data?”
Let me direct your focus on the column “# of Questions per Process.” Whether sitting for the current exam or the exam after August 31st, the interpretation is the same. The highest numbers of questions per process are in the Initiating and the Closing process groups.
“So, get the first note and the last note right?” Exactly. As you study the process framework in preparation for the exam, don’t overlook the importance of the Initiating processes (Develop Project Charter and Identify Stakeholders). There are only two, but 9-12 questions each? You can gain a lot of points by being expert on these two processes!
Similarly, get the last note right… The Closing processes (Close Procurements and Close Project or Phase)are very important! Seven or eight questions about each process – getting them all correct can go a long way to boosting your final score!
Remember that the exam is also a solo performance. Just getting the first note and last note may not allow the audience to know what song you are playing! So, also learn to play the rest of the song for good reviews! Executing processes may seem mundane – but there are 5-7 questions about each of these 8 processes to be performed as well. Planning as well as Monitoring and Controlling processes are heavily represented on the exam, too. Know something about every process, but be expert at the Initiating and Closing processes.
Thank you, Mr. Moores, for the great lesson!