So you wanna be a PMP?

[ashkir]

So, I hear that you want to be a PiMP, PMP. 'cause you know all the ladies, guys, and the non-binaries are very attracted to PMPs. A PMP stands for Project Management Professional. This is considered the gold-standard certification for a Project Manager. This is a highly attractive certification and the requirements are steep. This post is a guide on how to GET the PMP through a method I feel is the best way to pass. It's not about learning the proper way, etc. It is about passing. 

I am a certified PMP and this is how I would do it, if I had to do it all over again. 

How to Qualify
Two ways. 

No BA Degree - You need 5 years (60 months of experience), a high school diploma, and 35 PDU course. 

With BA Degree - You need 3 years (36 months of experience), and a 35 PDU course (or CAPM). 

How to get 35 PDUs / What to buy
Hands down Andrew Ramdayal's course is by far the best. The reason? The mindset section. Andrew's course is long, but, well worth it.  He's very thorough. He makes great metaphors and comparisons. His training is focused on making you a better project manager, and having you learn about the perfect world PMI thinks we live in. 

His course is on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/pmp-certifi...h-edition/

If you purchase his book, PMP Exam Prep Simplified: Based on PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition, you get the course for free! Perfect if you want literature. 

You may use other courses. However, I tried multiple and didn't connect to them. Joseph's course was the worst and unorganized. 

You can get this for around $20. 

Do I need a boot camp?
Don't waste your coin. I can bother you 10x a day asking about your Udemy training for that $2000 instead. 

Great! Andrew's course is done. What do I do next?
Now that you finished Andrew's course, purchased his exam simulator. Click here to be taken to that page. This costs $40. 

1. Take Mock 1. 
   
2. Review what you got RIGHT and WRONG. Each question has a video with Andrew explaining what you got right/wrong and how to come to the answer. 
   
3. If you score under 50% go back to Andrew's course and rewatch the MINDSET section. 
   
4. Take Mock 2. 
   
5. Review what you got RIGHT and WRONG with the videos again. 
   
6. Review the mindset again. 
   
7. If your score is above 60% take Mock 3. 
   

If after Mock 3 you are still scoring below 70% review the FREE material.

Review FREE PMP Material

• Ricardo Vargas' PMBOK 6 guide to ITTOs - FREE This video is legendary. This is a great video to watch once or twice. It explains the ITTOs well.
  
• PMP with Ray Situational Questions - FREE Highly recommend. It builds into Andrew's mindset well. Sometimes the mindset doesn't apply, and it's still situational. His tips are ON the dot.
  
• PMP with Ray Servant Leadership - FREE I liked this video on top of Andrew's. It was good practice as Andrew kind of glazes over Servant Leadership in his course. Joseph Phillip's didn't even cover it when I took his course.
  
• Andrew Ramdayal's YouTube videos. FREE Go over the last few weeks of his practice questions and him explaining it. I always miss his lives, but, they were super helpful. I'm making a list of the last few I used below, the link will take you to the CORRECT timestamp.
  
  • December 14, 2021
    
  • December 7, 2021
    
  • November 30, 2021
    
  • November 16, 2021
    
  • November 9, 2021
    
  • November 2, 2021
    
  • October 26, 2021
    
  • October 19, 2021
    
  • October 12, 2021
    
  • October 5, 2021
    

I finished the free material, what next?
Now go back to the TIA Exam Simulator and take MOCK 4. Keep reviewing the videos of what you got right and wrong to solidify the reasoning and rationale. 

Your goal here needs to be to score 65% or more. Again, watch what you got right and wrong. These videos will continue to help solidify the reasoning and the rationale of what you got right and wrong. You need to eventually finish all 6 mock exams. Once your average score is 65% and above (don't worry if your first mock or 2 is low) you are READY to take the exam. 

A 65% - 70% should get you a low AT/AT/AT pass. 70-75% a medium AT/AT/AT pass, 75-85% semi-high AT/AT/AT pass. 85% + Not gonna break a sweat.

Application
You should do your application sometime before the Mock exams, but probably right before you finish Andrew's course. He gives instructions on his course how to do the application. It takes 5 days to get approved. If you get audited you may need to get signed letters from former bosses to prove your experience, and the certificate from Andrew's course. 

PMI Membership
Since you're on this forum you likely have an edu email. Sign up for PMI's student membership. It's very cheap and it gives you a discount on the exam. 

The Exam
You can do it in person or online. I did it online with a proctor from Pearson OnVue i had a good experience. I finished with over an hour left, close to a hundred minutes left. This approach depends on your test taking style.

If you have scored well on Andrew's simulator, answer these questions similar to how you did the simulator and move on. I find reviewing questions to be distracting as I will talk myself out of the right answer. Maybe you need the review, I didn't because I know myself (and would talk myself into changing everything to a wrong answer trying to think how the "exam" might trick me versus listening to my gut). 

Don't Buy

• PMBOK
  
• Joseph Phillip's course. People who take this score worse than the ones who take Andrew's. Andrew's course is DEAD ON and it is the best for right now.
  
• Any boot camps.
  
• PMBOK or Agile books. 
  
• Prepcast - Really far off from the exam... like really off. 
  

[rachel83az]

I noticed a free 10-question exam thing linked to on the TIA exam simulator page: https://tiaexams.com/product/pmp-exam-si...al-course/

I'm not sure if it's seriously useful to anyone, but it might be handy for people who are considering dipping their toes into the subject but aren't sure about spending any money (yet).

[ashkir]

I noticed a free 10-question exam thing linked to on the TIA exam simulator page: https://tiaexams.com/product/pmp-exam-si...al-course/

I'm not sure if it's seriously useful to anyone, but it might be handy for people who are considering dipping their toes into the subject but aren't sure about spending any money (yet).

I just did those. Similar to his paid ones. Good introduction to his questions!

[vetvso]

So, I hear that you want to be a PiMP, PMP. 'cause you know all the ladies, guys, and the non-binaries are very attracted to PMPs. A PMP stands for Project Management Professional. This is considered the gold-standard certification for a Project Manager. This is a highly attractive certification and the requirements are steep. This post is a guide on how to GET the PMP through a method I feel is the best way to pass. It's not about learning the proper way, etc. It is about passing. 

I am a certified PMP and this is how I would do it, if I had to do it all over again. 

How to Qualify
Two ways. 

No BA Degree - You need 5 years (60 months of experience), a high school diploma, and 35 PDU course. 

With BA Degree - You need 3 years (36 months of experience), and a 35 PDU course (or CAPM). 

How to get 35 PDUs / What to buy
Hands down Andrew Ramdayal's course is by far the best. The reason? The mindset section. Andrew's course is long, but, well worth it.  He's very thorough. He makes great metaphors and comparisons. His training is focused on making you a better project manager, and having you learn about the perfect world PMI thinks we live in. 

His course is on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/pmp-certifi...h-edition/

If you purchase his book, PMP Exam Prep Simplified: Based on PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition, you get the course for free! Perfect if you want literature. 

You may use other courses. However, I tried multiple and didn't connect to them. Joseph's course was the worst and unorganized. 

You can get this for around $20. 

Do I need a boot camp?
Don't waste your coin. I can bother you 10x a day asking about your Udemy training for that $2000 instead. 

Great! Andrew's course is done. What do I do next?
Now that you finished Andrew's course, purchased his exam simulator. Click here to be taken to that page. This costs $40. 

1. Take Mock 1. 
   
2. Review what you got RIGHT and WRONG. Each question has a video with Andrew explaining what you got right/wrong and how to come to the answer. 
   
3. If you score under 50% go back to Andrew's course and rewatch the MINDSET section. 
   
4. Take Mock 2. 
   
5. Review what you got RIGHT and WRONG with the videos again. 
   
6. Review the mindset again. 
   
7. If your score is above 60% take Mock 3. 
   

If after Mock 3 you are still scoring below 70% review the FREE material.

Review FREE PMP Material

• Ricardo Vargas' PMBOK 6 guide to ITTOs - FREE This video is legendary. This is a great video to watch once or twice. It explains the ITTOs well.
  
• PMP with Ray Situational Questions - FREE Highly recommend. It builds into Andrew's mindset well. Sometimes the mindset doesn't apply, and it's still situational. His tips are ON the dot.
  
• PMP with Ray Servant Leadership - FREE I liked this video on top of Andrew's. It was good practice as Andrew kind of glazes over Servant Leadership in his course. Joseph Phillip's didn't even cover it when I took his course.
  
• Andrew Ramdayal's YouTube videos. FREE Go over the last few weeks of his practice questions and him explaining it. I always miss his lives, but, they were super helpful. I'm making a list of the last few I used below, the link will take you to the CORRECT timestamp.
  
  • December 14, 2021
    
  • December 7, 2021
    
  • November 30, 2021
    
  • November 16, 2021
    
  • November 9, 2021
    
  • November 2, 2021
    
  • October 26, 2021
    
  • October 19, 2021
    
  • October 12, 2021
    
  • October 5, 2021
    

I finished the free material, what next?
Now go back to the TIA Exam Simulator and take MOCK 4. Keep reviewing the videos of what you got right and wrong to solidify the reasoning and rationale. 

Your goal here needs to be to score 65% or more. Again, watch what you got right and wrong. These videos will continue to help solidify the reasoning and the rationale of what you got right and wrong. You need to eventually finish all 6 mock exams. Once your average score is 65% and above (don't worry if your first mock or 2 is low) you are READY to take the exam. 

A 65% - 70% should get you a low AT/AT/AT pass. 70-75% a medium AT/AT/AT pass, 75-85% semi-high AT/AT/AT pass. 85% + Not gonna break a sweat.

Application
You should do your application sometime before the Mock exams, but probably right before you finish Andrew's course. He gives instructions on his course how to do the application. It takes 5 days to get approved. If you get audited you may need to get signed letters from former bosses to prove your experience, and the certificate from Andrew's course. 

PMI Membership
Since you're on this forum you likely have an edu email. Sign up for PMI's student membership. It's very cheap and it gives you a discount on the exam. 

The Exam
You can do it in person or online. I did it online with a proctor from Pearson OnVue i had a good experience. I finished with over an hour left, close to a hundred minutes left. This approach depends on your test taking style.

If you have scored well on Andrew's simulator, answer these questions similar to how you did the simulator and move on. I find reviewing questions to be distracting as I will talk myself out of the right answer. Maybe you need the review, I didn't because I know myself (and would talk myself into changing everything to a wrong answer trying to think how the "exam" might trick me versus listening to my gut). 

Don't Buy

• PMBOK
  
• Joseph Phillip's course. People who take this score worse than the ones who take Andrew's. Andrew's course is DEAD ON and it is the best for right now.
  
• Any boot camps.
  
• PMBOK or Agile books. 
  
• Prepcast - Really far off from the exam... like really off. 
  

This is a very solid post, and I look forward to taking those tests soon. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

[ashkir]

Application tips:

Each description:

Stick to around 250-300 words. 

For best effect you need 7 sections for each description:

1 - Project Objective
2 - Project Role
3 - Initiating
4 - Planning
5 - Executing
6 - Monitoring and Controlling
7 - Closing

Each one, be concise in your words and use trigger terms.

Here's mine for example:

Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project.
Role: Project Coordinator
Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders.
Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget.
Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule.
Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met.
Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

Afterwards you MUST compress it into one paragraph like so:
Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project. Role: Project Coordinator Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders. Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget. Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule. Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met. Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

[vetvso]

Application tips:

Each description:

Stick to around 250-300 words. 

For best effect you need 7 sections for each description:

1 - Project Objective
2 - Project Role
3 - Initiating
4 - Planning
5 - Executing
6 - Monitoring and Controlling
7 - Closing

Each one, be concise in your words and use trigger terms.

Here's mine for example:

Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project.
Role: Project Coordinator
Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders.
Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget.
Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule.
Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met.
Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

Afterwards you MUST compress it into one paragraph like so:
Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project. Role: Project Coordinator Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders. Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget. Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule. Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met. Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

Was this for the written portion of the exam?

[jamshid666]

Application tips:

Each description:

Stick to around 250-300 words. 

For best effect you need 7 sections for each description:

1 - Project Objective
2 - Project Role
3 - Initiating
4 - Planning
5 - Executing
6 - Monitoring and Controlling
7 - Closing

Each one, be concise in your words and use trigger terms.

Here's mine for example:

Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project.
Role: Project Coordinator
Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders.
Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget.
Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule.
Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met.
Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

Afterwards you MUST compress it into one paragraph like so:
Project Objective: Take over the Credentialing Digitization Project for the client, Ronald Reagan Medical Center in order to digitize decades of backfile content by leading a team to complete the project. Role: Project Coordinator Initiating: Started morning reviews of project status with the team with the assumption, schedule, and cost. Delivered a high-level scope summary to the stakeholders on a daily basis as requested by the stakeholders. Planning: Reviewed the previous methodology and modified the methodology as per the stakeholder requests and once the physical content as been assessed. This allowed me to create an accurate scope and requirements to properly scale the team size to the project schedule while remaining within the budget. Executing: Trained members of the team personally and obtained new equipment for the team to use. This involved reaching out to a third-party vendor, Canon, to gain access to new scanning technology. Execute tasks and start delivery flow on schedule. Monitoring & Controlling: Accurately monitored metrics of employees and provided averages of work done. During this time checked how quality assurance team members were doing and ensuring the quality standards were met. Closing: Once final delivery was made of the digital content, the paper content was set aside and a project closing plan was sent out to the client for review. After a period of about 45 days, the client agreed to shred the physical paper. Assigned a team to handle the physical aspect, and certified the shredding. The client was pleased with the detail of the work. It ended up being the first profitable project of over a 60% KPI in my division, which was an impressive feat as it was my first led project

Was this for the written portion of the exam?

No, it's for the application that you have to fill out on PMI's website to document the hours of project management experience that you have. I'm not 100% sure whether you can sit for the exam if you don't have enough hours, but you definitely will not receive the certification without it. The application also asks for a code to document the training course you took, as well as a few other things. Note that everything is subject to random auditing, and lying about any portion will get you permanently banned from the PMI.