PMP Exam Guide

The PMBOK

It all starts with the PMBOK. The majority of what you will need to know to pass the exam is covered in the PMBOK, which is a survey of (or "a guide to") the project management body of knowledge.

Additional Books

You will need to do additional reading to supplement the PMBOK, and doing practice exams can give you a greater sense of confidence. I recommend these books in particular because Dr. Kerzner is the the father of Project Management, and his book covers a number of topics not covered by the PMBOK. Rita Mulcahy is the one of the best known PMP educators in the world, and her PMP Exam Prep book has helped thousands become PMPs. Of course, Amazon's Project Management section has many others for sale.

The Basics

Let's start with some basic definitions. First, a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result. Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities in order to meet project objectives. Project management is done through the use of project processes. Processes can be organized according to process group or by knowledge area. Organiziation by process group is roughly chronological, since process groups appear in a fixed order in the schedule. Organization by knowledge area reflects the specific expertise that is required to successfully perform the process.

Each process has a set of inputs and outputs, and a set of tools and techniques for performing it. The output of one process is frequently an input to another process.

Knowledge areas, process groups, processes, inputs, outputs and tools and techniques may be presented in a number of different ways, and looking at them in a number of ways will help you understand their significance and utility. Take a look at the Processes by Knowledge Area and Processes by Process Group to see the different ways of looking at processes. Then look at the individual Processes, to see their inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs. For another perspective, look at the processes according to which Inputs and Outputs they use.

Then when you're ready, drill down to the specifics of each Knowledge Area to get the highlights of each one.

Baselines

Performance is measured against baselines, which are created during the planning phase. Examples of baselines are:

• Scope baseline: project scope statement, WBS, WBS Dictionary. Output of Scope Definition, Create WBS.
• Schedule baseline: the approved project schedule. Output of Schedule Development.
• Cost baseline: a time-phased budget. Output of Cost Budgeting.
• Quality baseline: the quality objectives of the project. Output of Quality Planning.

Jargon

A common critique of the PMBOK (and PM in general) is that it is over-laden with jargon. Well - it is. The PMI's response to this criticism is that having a common argot serves the twin purposes of allowing project teams to communicate more precisely and banishing ambiguity in communication. Whether or not you believe this, it is incumbent upon you to master PMI-speak if you wish to pass the exam.

But fear not! To assist you in this preparation, we have developed the patented Wheel of PMI-Speak.

Math

The PMP mathematics requirements are not stringent; most computations are simple arithmetic. What makes the calculations difficult is that extraneous information is provided in the word problems, and some of the differences between the metrics are very subtle. Take a look at the Formulas page for help.

Studying

Read the PMBOK at least once, and twice if this was your first exposure to this material.

Once you've familiarized yourself with the material in the PMBOK, you'll want to focus on drilling using questions that will get you into a PMI mindset. The reason this is important is that many people do not use the PMI methodology in their day to day work. Here's an example:

You have been working on a very large software development project that has made use of over 230 people. Finally, all the scope is completed. It would be BEST to:

1. throw a party for the team members.
2. make sure the project is integrated with other projects.
3. begin to focus on your other projects.
4. analyze project success or failure.

Correct answer: (d). This question is from the PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy. In many organizations, you would actually be more likely to do (c), but this is not the correct answer.

Formal Project Management Training

You must have completed 36 hours of formal project management training prior to submitting your application. Some of the advertisers on this site are possible sources of training; your company may also provide training. Another option is to contact your local PMI chapter to see if they offer a training class.

Exam Application

You must apply (and be accepted) to take the PMP exam. The application form requires you to give a brief summary of the project management experience you already have in each of the five process groups. You are permitted to reference experience from the last eight years, but for each project, you must be able to supply contact information for someone who can corroborate your claim.

It is highly unlikely that you will be able to fill out the application in one sitting. Many people report spending as much as 20 hours gathering the necessary information. The Application Tips page provides a spreadsheet and some suggestions to speed up the application process.

Exam Day

Your application has been approved, you've done your homework, and now all you have to do is pass the exam. You're almost there! Be sure to check our tips on taking the PMP exam for a few last-minute pointers.

Good Luck!