By Jacqueline Dennis, PMP®, PgMP®
Senior Instructor, International Institute for Learning (IIL)
Abstract
Many web pages and videos claim to have the secrets to passing the PMP® exam, but these can be misleading, leading to disappointment. In this article, we’ll debunk common myths, share important facts, and provide essential tips for exam preparation. This will help PMP® candidates identify credible information as they start their journey toward earning the PMP® credential.
If you are looking to advance your career as a project professional, obtaining a PMP certification is a great step. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report 2023 predicts growth in project management jobs, highlighting it as a key role for business transformation and improvement.
Additionally, as more knowledge work is managed through projects, project management is becoming an essential part of many day-to-day roles. The role of the project manager has evolved from simply tracking tasks on a Gantt chart to a strategic leadership position that drives organizational change and agile transformation.
Earning a project management certification is increasingly appealing, with the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) still considered the gold standard. However, the path to certification can be confusing, and has evolved over the years, leading to some myths. In this article, we will dispel the myths, provide the facts, and offer a clear and concise path to achieve PMP certification.
Dispelling the Myths
- Reference only the PMBOK® Guide
- Ignore the PMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO)
- Assume the “waterfall” way of working
- Exam readiness is immediate after training
- Guaranteed passing score Here’s why these are considered myths.
1) Myth: Reference only the PMBOK® Guide
Referencing only the PMBOK® Guide (PMBOK) when preparing for the PMP® Examination was more fact than myth in the not-too-distant past. This is because the PMBOK processes, Process Groups and Knowledge Areas were emphasized, from the PMBOK’s First through the Fifth editions.
During that time, PMP training and preparation proved that memorization of the following items led to success:
- Names of the 10 Knowledge Areas
- Names of the five (5) Process Groups
- Mapping of each process to its Knowledge Area and Process Group
- Names of each of the 49 processes Inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs for process
- Earned value formulas in the Project Cost Management section
Currently, when preparing for the exam, this is myth and no longer fact.
2) Myth: Ignore the PMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO)
Ignore the PMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO) when preparing for the PMP® Examination, like the previous myth, use to be more factual. This was because the ECOs issued in the past were a summary of the Knowledge Areas and Process Groups mapping.
The purpose of ECO, which was first published in 2000, addressed three essentials:
- The role and purpose of the assessment for the PMP® Certification
- The purpose of the PMP® Examination
- PMI’s validity of the PMP® Examination
These essentials still hold true, but ignoring it is now mythical, because the PMP® ECO is now the basis for examination questions.
3) Myth: Assume the “waterfall” way of working
Assume a “waterfall” way of working was factual, at one time, as well. However, after other ways of working started to gain in popularity, many PMP candidates unwittingly adopted mythical thinking regarding PMI® guides that changed significantly in the recent past.
To some degree, this thinking persists even though the Agile Practice Guide was made available in 2016 and the PMBOK® Guide, with the Sixth edition, included the content on “considerations for agile/adaptive environments” for each Knowledge Area.
4) Myth: Exam readiness immediately after training
5) Myth: Guaranteed passing score
A guaranteed passing score is surely a myth, for the following reasons: There is no “score” that must be attained by the candidate to be awarded the credential. The result provided to the candidate is either “pass” or “fail” without a numerical value.
A more detailed assessment of performance is provided to the candidate who demonstrates a proficiency level for each domain. For example:
- People – Proficient
- Process – Proficient
- Business Environment – Proficient
Getting the Facts on PMP® Exam Prep
Here are a few key facts for potential PMP® candidates on earning a PMP credential:
- Use the PMP® ECO as a basis for exam prep
- Incorporate an essential short list of references in exam prep
- Complete the 35-hour PMI Authorized PMP Exam Prep course
- Invest 2 – 3 months of exam prep
- Engage support for exam prep
1) Use the PMP® ECO as a basis for exam prep
The Project Management Professional (PMP®) Examination Content Outline (ECO), issued in January 2021, significantly changed the exam approach and perspectives of PMP candidates.
Clearly, the ECO is the basis for exam prep. It states, “All the questions on the examination have been written and extensively reviewed by subject matter experts who hold a valid PMP and tracked to at least two references. These questions are mapped to the PMP Examination Content Outline to ensure that an appropriate number of questions are in place for a valid examination.” (Project Management Institute, 2021)
2) Incorporate an essential short list of references in exam prep
The references alluded to under the previous item are published by PMI® as follows:
- Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, by Harold Kerzner, published by Wiley
- Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Hybrid, by Robert K. Wysocki, published by Wiley
- Fundamentals of Technology Project Management, 2nd Edition, by Colleen Garton with Erika McCulloch, published by MC Press
- Project Managers Portable Handbook, 3rd Edition, by David Cleland and Lewis Ireland, published by McGraw-Hill
- Information Technology Project Management, 7th Edition, by Kathy Schwalbe, published by Cengage Learning
- Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process, by Kenneth S. Rubin, published by Addison-Wesley
- Project Management: The Managerial Process, by Erik Larson, published by McGraw-Hill
- The Project Management Tool Kit: 100 Tips and Techniques for Getting the Job Done Right, by Tom Kendrick, published by AMACOM
- Agile Practice Guide by Project Management Institute, published by Project Management Institute
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) by Project Management Institute, published by Project Management Institute
The above list is provided as a courtesy and does not indicate an endorsement by PMI of non-PMI publications or warrant the accuracy of their content. (PMP Exam Preparation, n.d.)
Noteworthy is that the three ECO Domains–People, Process, and Business Environment — are aligned with the skills identified in the PMI® Talent Triangle®, as shown below. The ECO People Domain is aligned with the Power Skills; the Process Domain is aligned with Ways of Working; and the Business Environment Domain is aligned with Business Acumen.
The significance is that once a credential is earned, the holder must continue to demonstrate their worthiness, though continued learning. A minimum number of eight professional development units (PDUs) must be earned in each skill over the three-year credential cycle.
3) Complete the 35-hour PMI Authorized PMP Exam Prep Course
As noted on PMI’s website, before you apply, make sure you meet one of the following sets of PMP Certification requirements:
- Four-Year College / University Degree
- 36 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® certification
The PMP exam prep course is structured to incorporate the PMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO), so that you have a comprehensive review of what to expect on the exam. It could be delivered in a traditional classroom, virtually, or on-demand. If delivered in a traditional classroom, it could be completed in five days. A virtual setting with a live instructor could take up to four weeks, if meeting three hours per day for three days per week.
4) Invest 2 to 3 months for exam prep
As part of the aforementioned courses, PMI® includes several videos. One such video is titled, “Preparing for the PMP Exam”. The 2-plus minute video recommends “approximately 2 – 3 months of exam prep”, which could include the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course, within the timeframe.
During exam prep, the focus should be on enhancing the practice in each one of the exam domains, rather than memorizing reference content. This is accomplished via real-world exam practice questions that are part of the course. These practice tests familiarize you with the format of the PMP exam, allowing you to identify areas where you need improvement. These practice tests can help you build confidence, enhance time management skills and reduce stress.
5) Engage support for exam prep
Engaging support from superiors, peers, instructors, and / or a study group is best practice. The support from current or past superiors, such as an immediate manager, is needed for two reasons:
- As references for experience(s) documented on the PMP exam application
- For partnering with the PMP® candidate on their professional development plan
Support from peers, instructors and or study groups are needed as a “safety net” when taking practice exams. Joining a study group can provide valuable support, motivation, and diverse perspectives on exam content. Collaborative learning can enhance your understanding and retention of key concepts, helping you learn more effectively.
Keys for PMP® Exam Prep Success
With the myths and facts about the PMP® exam clarified, let’s explore a few essential steps for exam preparation:
- Identify PMP® exam milestone
- Assess strengths and weaknesses
- Complete the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course
- Learn PMP® terms and concepts
- Memorize formulas, models, methods, etc.
1) Identify PMP® exam milestone
Identify a milestone that aligns well with your current commitments and completion of the activities that follow:
- Apply for the PMP® Examination
- Complete the PMI® Authorized PMP Exam Prep course
- Study for the PMP Exam
Do not get discouraged if it seems as though the milestone is more than three months in the future. The important thing to keep in mind is that the milestone is realistic for you.
When preparing for the PMP, I established a milestone that was about three months from the time the training course concluded. Soon after, my commitments had changed, so I had to replan. My milestone changed from March to August. The result was that it took 12 months for me to complete all the activities with my commitments, but I earned the PMP®. As a wise person once said to me, “No hiring manager will ask how long it took, they will only ask if you have the credential.”
2) Assess strengths and weaknesses
To populate the template, ask a question regarding each item. For example, using the first one listed, “Am I able to interpret the source and stage of the conflict, given a real-life exam scenario?” After populating the worksheet, focus on the areas of weakness during training and practice questions.
3) Complete the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course
The 35-hour project management specific training requirement to apply for the exam is a valuable benefit. Even if you already have a CAPM® , the course goes deeper into the practice than what you learned at the CAPM® level.
The PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course is taught by PMI® Authorized Training Partner (ATP) badged instructors. These specialists are PMI® PMP® Credential holders, who are often multilingual, and serve as experienced guides on the path to project management mastery. The ATP® seal or badge give assurance to classroom participants that the training is not only in sync with well-versed skills, teaching methodologies and the latest PMI® Global Standards, but also that the trainer:
- Is a valid PMP certification holder and is current on learning methods, by continually working to enhance their project management skills.
- Provides an excellent learning environment with a group of like-minded peers.
- Sets expectations for the exam by practicing a prep routine that includes a relevant case study (sourced from Authorized Training Partner, n.d.)
4) Learn PMI® terms and definitions
On the first day of a PMI® Authorized PMP Exam Prep course that I am delivering, my recommendation is always, “Focus on the language of the profession!”
PMI® has more than 350 frequently used terms in the profession. These terms are often embedded into exam scenarios and questions to test a PMP® candidate’s command of the language. When the candidate can properly apply the language, then the correct choice, hotspot, match, or fill-in is the result.
Here is an example of how the language of the profession might appear in an exam question:
A project manager was hired to manage a new project in the aeronautical industry. The project’s outcome will be an aircraft simulator. The scope of work includes software that, once developed, could be integrated into existing simulators. In addition to the software, the scope includes a hydraulically powered physical asset and an operator’s manual. Which one of the following would not be a development approach to consider for this project?
- a) Predictive
- b) Adaptive
- c) Waterfall
- d) Hybrid
In the example question, the term that is most important for understanding is “development approach”. According to PMI, “c. Waterfall” would be the correct response because “waterfall” is not a development approach.
According to PMI® Process Groups: A Practice Guide, the PMBOK® Guide and the Agile Practice Guide glossaries, a development approach is a method used to create and evolve the product, service, or result during a project life cycle, such as predictive, agile, iterative, incremental, or hybrid method. Waterfall is a life cycle – not a development approach. Anyone who practices portfolio, program, and project management and uses the PMI® Lexicon as an essential resource, will foster an understanding that is consistent with professional terminology. The application of a standardized language promotes better communications among project teams and is an essential component of any profession. (Adapted from PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms, n.d.)
5) Memorize exam formulas, models, methods, contract types and theories
Memorization is always part of an exam, and the PMP® exam is no exception. There are several formulas to commit to memory, mostly the earned value formulas found in Table 10-1 of the Process Groups: A Practice Guide (PGPG); yet the list is not exhaustive.
There are additional formulas to consider, such as:
- Number of communication channels = (N(N-1))/2, where N is the number of stakeholders, including yourself
- Net Present Value (NPV) = Σ PV – Initial Investment, where PV is present value
The models that must be given attention are:
- SIPOC Model (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer), sometimes called the COPIS Model (Customer, Output, Process, Input, Supplier)
- Communication model
- Plan-Do-Check-Act, sometimes referred to as Plan-Do-Study-Act
- Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI)
Along with the formulas and models, there are several methods identified in the PGPG that should be memorized:
- Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) and its precedence relationships
- Critical Path Method (CPM) starting with 1
- Communication methods
- Estimating methods
Contract types should be memorized, as well. In particular, the three categories, and variations with two of the three categories. These will not be elaborated on here, because
they are covered in the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course.
Perhaps theories are at the bottom of your list for “need to know”. Theories are important for understanding how to motivate others and how to manage quality. The most popular
motivational theories and quality management theories are explored in the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course, and you will need to memorize them and their
contributions.
This white paper explored the myths and facts about PMP® exam success, along with keys for exam preparation. While the journey to PMP® exam success is challenging, the rewards — both personally and professionally — are well worth the effort. I hope this white paper keeps you motivated and helps you identify credible information as you work towards earning your PMP® credential.
Bibliography
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Authorized Training Partner. (n.d.). Retrieved from PMI: https://www.pmi.org/learning/training-development/authorized-training-partners
Fact. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact
Myth. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth
Oxford Online Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from OED Fact: https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=fact
PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved from PMI: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/lexicon
PMP Exam Preparation. (n.d.). Retrieved from PMI: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp/pmp-exam-preparation
Project Management Insitute. (2021, January). Project Management Professional (PMP)® Examination Content Outline. Newtown, PA, USA: Project Management Institute, Inc.
Schoenherr, N. (2006, July 17). Newsroom Discovering why study groups are more effective. Retrieved from WashU The Source: https://source.washu.edu/2006/07/discovering-why-study-groups-are-more-effective/
The Project Management Institute. (2023). Project Management Professional (PMP)®. Retrieved from Project Management Institute: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp
Jacqueline Dennis is a Senior Consultant with International Institute for Learning (IIL), a role held since 2008. Jacqueline has practiced project, program, and portfolio management, and brings over 30 years of experience in the project management profession. Her experience encompasses industries such as Services (R&D, consulting, educational, and technical); Manufacturing (telecommunications); and Construction (building masonry and mechanicals). She holds both a PgMP Credential and PMP Credential, since 2009 and 2002, respectively.
