Practice, Practice, Practice! ...is the key!
We strongly recommend you do as many high-quality sample questions/mock exams as you can because practice is the key!
Furthermore, you should try to SIMULATE the exam.
It is not an easy job to do 180 (most difficult and long wordy) situational questions in a time frame of almost 4 hours.
Those almost 4 hours (230 minutes to be precise) could seem long ...very long. But equally, you could run out of time if you spend too long on one very difficult or complex question.
So, you should practice! Not only the different question types (we will discuss that later) but also your time management for the exam.
Of course, you can try to do this with the tons of free sample questions available on the internet or elsewhere. But in my experience, a professional tool that provides you with an exact simulation of exam circumstances is MUCH better for this.
Yes, it may take an investment. But from my point of view and, more importantly, based on my experience, this is a priceless investment in yourself!My #1 recommendation here is the "PMP Exam Simulator" by Cornelius Fichtner (Creator of the famous PMPrepCast!).
I have used this on my own and it is still the best PMP Exam Simulator you can get.
To learn more about it and also, how to earn a community exclusive Discount, please click on the image below:
Exam Simulators and Sample Questions
There are three tiers of mock exams:
- Sample questions - great to enhance your learning - you can use them casually, even while traveling
- Timed quizzes - sequences of sample questions - often on a single topic or subject area. These raise the pressure.
- Full mock exams from purpose-built exam simulators. These are the best way to test your readiness and also prepare you for the real t thing, in terms of pressure and timing.
Many people find some of the languages in the exam to be deliberately vague - even ambiguous. All of these resources will help you interpret the questions through continual practice.
So, what are our conclusions about Exam Simulators and Sample Questions?
- They are hugely valuable and a worthwhile investment
- Do as many sample questions as you can. Practice. Practice. Practice.
- When you can consistently score over 70% there is a good chance you are ready for a pass.
- Do at least one full-length mock exam. Ideally, three or more. Doing more than one also starts to build your endurance. Perhaps one exam per week for the last three or four weeks of your preparation.
- Always do full practice exams to the PMI's 230-minute timing to get used to the pace and rhythm. With 180 questions, this means you have just over 75 seconds per question. That's not a lot.
- If you do too many mock exams, you will get diminishing returns. How many is too many depends on you, but notice when you are good enough to feel ready.
- Make notes of the questions you get wrong and look for areas of weakness to focus your revision and practice on Subject areas, Types of questions
- Review your answers after you do exam practices of any sort, and make notes.
- over the week or two before your exam, do one or two full simulated exams.
- There are lots of sources of questions around. Some may not simulate the PMIās questions well but will check your knowledge
What are your thoughts or experiences? Do you have any questions regarding this section?
Or any ideas on how to improve?
Just let us know in the comments below! Highly appreciated! Thanks!
Markus