Studying for PMP also means Vocabulary Drills
Student Success Story
The absolute key to my success: A good command of the glossary helped me get the easy questions on the exam.
Craig Arcuri, PMP
One of the attributes of the PMP Certification that gives it cachet and value across borders, technical disciplines, and industries is a foundational lexicon that provides a common vocabulary shared by project managers worldwide.
A lack of understanding of the PMBOK® Guide vocabulary is one of the most common causes of candidates not passing the exam on their first attempt. Therefore, it is doubly important that candidates thoroughly study and understand this vocabulary.
Learning a new vocabulary is very much like learning a new language, the same level of effort and, often frustration, commonly accompany this process.
Learning a new vocabulary takes time, discipline, and dedication – but, like any large project, it can be broken down into “bite-sized” pieces and systematically addressed.
Again, the type of learner you are will decide what method works best for your personal vocabulary development, only you can choose the best method for you. However, there are common traits to all successful vocabulary development techniques:
How to Study and Retain all Glossary Terms
- Regular (daily) practice and repetition. Work this part into your study plan. For instance, you can decide to work through one page of the glossary a day or at least several vocabularies. Or you will cover two or three letters per week or whatever works for you.
- Build your vocabulary in small bites; whether alphabetically or by topic
- Systematically add new words to your vocabulary and review older words so they are retained in your memory.
- Use the new vocabulary as part of your daily work to help them "sink in".