PMP Study Notes that Really Make a Difference
Student Success Story
I started noting down things and prepared my own notes for last minute revision. I updated this whenever I came across new material which helped me to understand things better. This is my secret of success.
Arumugam Periasamy, PMP
There are as many philosophies on how and what types of note taking is “best” when studying as there are subjects to study.
However, one methodology has proven very successful for exam candidates – being able to replicate a "data dump" of important facts, concepts, and formulas in the first few minutes after your exam has officially started. More specifically, being able to recall from memory and produce:
- The Project Management Process Group and Knowledge Area Mapping matrix (PMBOK® Guide, Page 25)
- The key equations from Project Management Knowledge Area: Project Cost Management (PMBOK® Guide, Chapter 7)
Being able to produce this information on two pages of paper while your mind is fresh at the start of the actual exam will save you a great deal of time and stress during the exam.
But in order to do this at that time requires you have successfully been able to do this exercise numerous times very quickly – during your study sessions well before you have entered the exam center. Successful exam candidates routinely state this is one of the most important skills needed to pass the exam for two reasons:
- If you drill this material enough to be able to replicate it at the start of the exam, you may be so well prepared you will not need to refer to it; or
- By writing down the data dump in the first few minutes of the exam you do not have to worry about remembering these facts when questions arise, you just “look up” the information and use it.
Either way, these study notes will make a big difference in being able to pass the exam.
We have created a dedicated Lesson to this "brain dump" thing which you can find here: