How Hard is the PMP Certification Exam & How to Crack it?

Before answering these major questions, we need to understand the PMP Certification exam completely.

What is the PMP Certification Exam?

The PMP, or the Project Management Professional certification, is a certification for project management that has garnered global recognition. This examination tests your ability to manage the processes, people, and priorities that come with a project. And after this examination, many certification holders have secured project managers job

The PMP certification has a few requirements that require you to validate your project first. These requirements include -

1. A four-year degree

2. 36 months of experience in project management

3. An associate's degree or high school diploma

4. A CAPM certification

5. 35 hours of project management training or education

Challenges of the PMP Exam and How to Crack Them

Incomplete Understanding of PMBOK

Most candidates find this examination challenging, but understanding the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) can simplify it. To get the PMP certification, in the PMP examination, some of the most crucial standards are the 6th and 7th editions of the PMBOK. Whenever you attempt questions in the examination, it is necessary to follow the doctrines and principles of PMBOK.

Even though you may think a project should be managed in a certain way, in reality, it must follow the frameworks and principles of PMBOK. On the contrary, in reality, the processes given according to PMBOK are often skipped. Also, every company has a different way of leading its projects. If you believe that your present organization may be handling things in a specific way, it does not necessarily mean that the answer will be correct.

The PMBOK has some of the best practices for project management, but companies don't need to follow them. The PMP certification is only to test you on the reliability and efficiency that the processes of PMBOK provide.

Lack of Project Management Experience

Candidates may find the PMP certification exam challenging because sometimes they need the required project-leading experience, which would make the learning processes hands-on. As a result, one of the examination requirements is that you would need months of experience to apply your lessons learned in the examination. But when answering the questions in the examination, you would have to imagine yourself in the shoes of a project manager.

The questions in the examination are structured so you can have a good experience as a project manager. And if you have read the PMBOK in detail, you can provide the correct answer. In the written PMP examination, vast project management experience helps you process the scenarios in the questions.

Thought Process of a Project Manager

Based on the project manager's thinking, the PMP examination has become more challenging. Even the experience of an intern or an apprentice to a project manager can help handle the questions posed to an actual project manager. In the examination, there is continuous evaluation of your aptitude as an experienced project manager.

Sometimes some questions may require clarification on two kinds of answers and the thinking of a project manager instead of an intern or project coordinator. The difference in the thought process comes from handling situations between a project manager and a project coordinator. The biggest difference is that if a project coordinator came across a challenge in their work, they would seek assistance from the seniors; however, a project manager would instead use their skills to determine the best solution for a circumstance.

Ability to handle situations through question-solving.

Question-solving and handling situations is a significant part of any project management role and PMI training. In the PMP examination, most of the questions are in the form of scenario-based or situational questions. In the examination, it is important to read and understand the scenario the question may represent. This is how you can differ from the extra information provided that may not be useful in getting the answer to the asked question.

In these questions, the most efficient way is to decipher the situation correctly to have strong reasoning of whether to reject or accept an option. Generally, there would also be options that come close together, so it is necessary to be critical and analytical when answering a question.

Conclusion

As time and businesses progress, more and more employers will need project managers because of the discovery of new project-oriented roles. It would increase the demand for skilled project managers. As a result, PMP certification has been designed by experienced project

professionals themselves to validate some of the best project managers across the globe. Various benefits come with a PMP certification, including added value, a higher salary, and competency validation. So all the hard work is worth it!