PMP Lessons Learned: Practising Mock Exams is Essential

As we review 2019 and look forward to 2020, we have another piece of good news coming! Just got the lessons learned from a PMP aspirant who has just passed the PMP Exam before the change in 2020. Congratulations!

The lessons learned by Chris on this PMP Exam prep project is detailed below:

Below is the approach I took.

Fully researched the PMI exam and requirements to pass.

Spent a couple of weeks researching other applicants experiences preparing for and taking the exam. This is where I came across your site. Throughout my exam prep I often returned to your site and eventually read all of the sections multiple times. I also read the PMBOK® Guide but not cover to cover. Instead I referred to sections as necessary during my studies.

Purchased Rita Mulcahy’s exam prep book and read it. Also continued researching the internet for exam prep advice/experiences and continued this throughout my studies.

Purchased the PM Simulator App (PMSimulatorApp.com). This was an excellent app I used daily to run through test questions and the process groups. When I finally took the exam I had completed over 70 mini exams (usually 20 questions at a time). I cannot stress enough the benefit from going through a lot of practice tests. I’m sure there are other good simulators available. This one was spot on and I would highly recommend it.

Took a few full length 200 question practice exams including Oliver Lehman’s. Scored in the 70’s and decided I needed more prep.

Purchased Andy Crowe’s exam prep book and studied it. Then took a few more full length tests. My scores had increased. I was scoring in the high 80’s and 90’s on the mini exams by now but still scoring in the mid 70’s for the practice exams. I realized my biggest problem was over analyzing the questions and not really getting to the root of the actual question. The last few weeks I focused almost exclusively on improving my understanding of what the question was actually asking.

When I took the actual exam I felt very prepared and comfortable with the questions. Many were hard but I was expecting this. Especially stopping myself from choosing the “obvious” answer unless I was certain it was correct.

My prep paid off and I scored 4 AT and 1 T.

And I can’t say thanks enough for your site and the invaluable knowledge and links you provided!

~ Chris, PMP

Thanks Chris for the PMP Exam lessons learned!