Lessons learned in

PMP certification
Surender Kumar, PMP
Aircraft Industry Executive
HAL, INDIA
What’s in store for today ?
• The exam content
• “The plan” to earn your PMP certifications
• Project initiating and closing process groups
• Important highlights
• Additional topics +Mock Tests
• Examination environment
• Questions & Answer session

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

Disclaimer

“The following content is personal opinion and viewpoint of

the author. Audiences/recipients are required to make use of
their own discretion while arriving at any decision.”

18/05/2019
Surender Kumar PMP
 The exam content

• The exam is based on Initiating

Five performance
domains of project
management
Closing Planning
• Tests you on
Knowledge, Skills &
Tasks
Monitoring
& Executing
Controlling
Reference: PMI, PMP Exam content and outline

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 The exam content
The no.1 & Sufficient Choice

• Prepared by
conducting Role
Delineation Study
• Also tests you on
Cross-Cutting
Knowledge & Skills
Others

Reference: PMI, PMP Exam content and outline

Rita Mulcahy Green & Stellman Andy Crowe

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 The exam content

SN Process Group/Domain % of content

• More than 95%
in
content is
Examination
supported by
PMBOK Guide 6th 1 Initiating 13%
edition 2 Planning 24%

• Covers 10 3 Executing 31%

Knowledge areas & 4 Monitoring & controlling 25%
spread across 13
5 Closing 7%
chapters
Total no. of scored questions 175
Reference: PMI, PMP Exam content and outline Unscored Pre-test questions 25

Total no. of questions 200

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019
 The plan
Milestones Time frame Difficulty level

Read the Full 1st Reading,

2 months /100 Hrs.
Concepts/PMBOK Most Difficult

Assimilate the 2nd Reading,

1 month /50 Hrs.
concepts Simpler

3rd Reading along

Decision Period

Enhance your
15 Days /30 Hrs. with KA wise Q&A,
concepts
Medium Difficult
Take as many mock
Sharpen your tests and Full length
7 Days /20 Hrs.
concepts tests,
The Medium Difficult
Exam
Day
Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019
 Project initiating and closing process groups

• Exam contains 20% questions from

initiating (13%) and closing (7%)
process groups
• These area have less content and easy
to understand Vs other process groups
• Questions can be easily scored

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Project initiating

• Study project charter in details

• Project initiation context
• Needs assessment & benefits
management plan
• Kick-off meetings and their relevance
• Stakeholder identification and
information

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Project Closing

• Covered in Project integration

management
• Each item to be studied in details.
• What’s Phase Gate review and what
key decision is taken during such
meetings?
• Remember Project closure and vendor
contract closure are part of two
different processes.

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Important Highlights

• Accumulate key tools & techniques

like:
Affinity Diagrams
Affinity Diagram

Mind mapping
Focus Groups
Voting techniques
OBS,RBS,WBS
RACI chart
Cost of Quality
Risk & Conflict Strategies etc.

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Important Highlights

• Understand difference between

knowledge management &
information management
• Verse yourself in all three baselines viz.
Scope baseline, Schedule baseline and
Cost baseline
• Practice numerical from EVM and “A development cycle can not be
fast, cheap and good”
Critical Path technique

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Additional Topics

• The seven QC tools

A
• Power Interest Grid
• Additional formulas
B  C
• Opportunity Cost of choosing
Project A over B & C
Opportunity cost of choosing A over
B &indicating
Seven data points C is higher of B &orC observed on one side of
a pattern
mean are not random- Process is out of control

Surender Kumar PMP

18/05/2019
 The Mock Tests

• Help to build, sharpen and enforce

your concepts
• Build exhaustive list of concepts
• Boost your confidence
• Help you to take a decision

Their relevancy to actual exam is

only about 5-10%

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 The Mock Tests
Resource Web-Link Content

Free. 100 Q. free test with

https://www.oliverlehmann.com/home.html indication of results. Provides
sources of other free tests as well.
Paid. Online course material
http://kavitasharma.net/ comes free with Pass PMP in 21
days Vol-II Book.KA wise questions

Use One free full length test.

https://www.fabmarks.com/pmp/quiz/2083 In-depth results analysis is
provided. KA wise questions in
paid version

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.byteappstudio.PMPExamMentor&hl Free. For easy understanding
=en of concepts

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 Examination Environment
The Pattern

But• you need take

Scenario overview
Based questions Generate
of ITTOs of all process group. Q.1 As a projectChange
manager what should have
• Processes
Need sequence-logical flow Formula
not to memorize requests
been done to avoid
based questions
this schedule
are simple in nature
content of each column slippage/cost over run etc.?
• Formula based A. Creation of WBS
may be required to evaluate aEvaluate
----YouUpdate critical
B. Implement Strict Change Control
baselines
path the impact
• Definition based C. Risk management
---- Activity estimates using PERT of change
D. Follow Fast tracking
Description of a concept
• ITTO based will bewere
questions not
given and you need to choose the ---- Use of CPI/SPI to indicate performance
best asked
option. in the exam.
Approved Decide in
change CCB
requests
Reference: from PMBOK pg 190 meeting
Reference: from PMBOK pg 187

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

Examination Environment
Exam Rating Sheet

“Evaluates on a 4 scale
rating with a minimum
cut off score in all process
groups”

“Candidates scoring Below

target in few areas also
passed their exam but
they scored above target
in other areas”
Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019
 Examination Environment
How much is sufficient?

Decide on

1. How confident you are about

your preparation?

“If you are scoring above 70%

2. How consistently are you consistently in a random sample of 30
scoring in the mock tests? questions then it’s a good indication to
schedule your exam”

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 The Exam “Dos and Dont’s
Total Exam Duration= 4+ 0.5 Hrs

 Dos One week before

the exam Stop
 AvoidPre-examination
last minute 15 mins.
internet research
It and
will avoidfeedback.
source
dampeners
Information/Instructions Your–ve body will start
of conflict
Keep and
yourself
Reach Actual
early toExam
the (200 Q.) 4 wearing
Hrs. out afterout1 hour
“The stress.
is of You can
stress.
Post
Prometric Exam Feedback
Centre 15exam
ofmins.
exam. not
Takedifficult
break but
with
enduring also
andstart your
demanding”
Take break with light biscuits, chocos etc. to
exam earlier
regain
Useyour focus and
it for
snacks energies. Don’t avoid it.
Use strike-out feature option
elimination.

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

 The Exam “Dos and Dont’s
Total Exam Duration= 4+ 0.5 Hrs

When you are ready for the  Dont’s

exam, formulas should come  Memorizing/ writing
to your mind automatically.
Writing the formulas inquite
Pre- the formulas
“There Exam
is no negative is
examination  Loosing out your
atime
veryisrare
There is lengthy. not
Have
marking inallowed
the exam, so tick
chance
Takethat
a a mock
valid
patience, IDyou test
along
will patience
all questions
question
with will appear
you.pass it. in
Passport  Last minute mock tests
Exam.will
Stop mock
verify tests
your
2-3 identity
days prior to exam.
 Identity proof without
in shortest
time without any photo and sign
doubts

Surender Kumar PMP 18/05/2019

Questions & Answers Session

“Please feel free to raise your

concerns and queries”

18/05/2019
Surender Kumar PMP
 “Please feel free to reach me at
LinkedIn or via e-mail regarding
anything related to PMP. Will always be
happy to provide my support”

Thanks

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/Surender-Kumar-/
18/05/2019
Surender Kumar PMP