WHITE

PAPER

50 Secrets of
the
PMP
Exam

The Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from the

Project
Management Institute (PMI) is one of the top five in-demand
certifications for 2013.1
Its also one of the most challenging certification exams to pass. The
industry
is littered with tales of earnest PMP seekers who thought they
studied enough,
prepared enough and were experienced enough to pass the test,
but who failed
miserablysometimes more than once. Informal polls indicate that
as many as
40 percent dont pass on the first try.
You dont have to be one of the 40 percent. Kicking off with overall project
management concepts and
then organized by each of the 10 Knowledge Areas, weve compiled must-know
PMP Exam tips, tricks and strategies on everything from:
n

which pages of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge

(PMBOK Guide) matter most; n areas of the PMBOK Guide that merit a second
read;
n

various memory joggers and easy

to memorize formulas; n key terms,

confusing terms and terms to avoid;
and
n

much, much more!

Whether you are considering

taking the exam

for your first time

or youre going
back at it for
another try, these
50 Secrets of the
PMP Exam will
help you stay
ahead of the
curve and
Fast
Track
Your
Way to
PMP
SUCCE
SS!

50 Secrets to the PMP Exam

www.corpedgroup.com/fasttrack

What You Need to Know:

Project Management Concepts

questions
on

the

exam

regarding
organizational
structure,
be sure you know
which
structure

the

question is
related to. The right
answer will depend
on it.

When

you

see

Page 61 of the
PMBOK
Guide is critical.
The table
on this page shows
the
relationship
between each
process and its
associated
Knowledge
Area
and
Process Group. You
should memorize this
page. In
many cases, the

50 Secrets to the PMP Exam

majority of the
exam questions will
be related in some
way
to
having
knowledge about
the
Process
Groups
and
Knowledge Areas.

For the exam, you

must
assume proper
project
planning was done
before
the project work
began.
You need to get your
mind
around
the
critical
difference
planning makes and
assume the project
has been
properly planned as
you answer the
questions. It is
surprising how few
project managers
create a realistic
plan or get it
officially
approved. Thats a
huge
mistake, whether
on
the
exam or in the real
world.

You need to be
able to
identify what you
are not
doing, or what you are
doing
wrong in the real world
and
leave those practices
at the
door. You will be
penalized
in the exam if you
follow any
poor real-world
practices.
You want to keep the
words work to the
project
management plan,
be
proactive,
manage, and
guide, in mind as a
way
to summarize
executing
activities while you
take
the
exam. This frame of
mind
will ensure you have
your
PMI hat on when
taking
the exam.

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The First Knowledge Area:

Project
Integratio
n
Manageme
nt
5

Here is a trick to understanding the topic of management plans for the

exam. Know that management plans look
forward in time, and that there are
management plans for most knowledge areas:
n

Scope

S
c
h
e
d
u
l
e

C
o
s
t
n
n

Quality

H
u
m
a
n
R
e
s
o
u
r
c
e
s

C
o
m
m
u
n
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s

R
i
s
k

Pro
cur
em
ent
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
n

Sta
ke
hol
der
Ma
na
ge
me
nt

Take notice of these confusing terms. If the exam refers to Direct and Manage Project Work,
it
is
NOT
referencing
the
entire executing process group. Instead, it is just refering to the integration piece of
executing.

Integrated change control is an important topic to know. Approximately 10 percent of the

exam
questions
touch
on
this
one topic from different angles.

Be sure to remember that as project manager you always close out a project, no matter the
circumstances
under
which
it stops, is terminated or is completed.

Whenever the PMBOK Guide mentions Expert Judgment, do not assume it is referring to an
executive decision being
taken by the project manager. Expert judgment is usually obtained from the subject matter
experts and this may include
the project manager.

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The Second Knowledge Area:

Project Scope Management

q

The Define Scope process is

important on the exam for the
following reasons:
n

Project managers complain about unrealistic

schedule and do not realize the unrealistic

schedules are their fault because they have not
followed the iterations process described
previously.
n

Project managers spend a large portion of their time, while the work is being done,

looking

for

options

to

adjust

the

project and still meet the project schedule and budget. Therefore, all the tools used in
planning

to

come

up

with

realistic budget, such as negotiating scope and fast tracking, are also major activities
while the work is being done.

Project scope is the work that is required to be completed. Always remember; scope = work.

Always remember that the scope management plan doesnt contain the project scope. The
scope
management
plan
is
a project plan that tells how scope will be identified, managed and controlled.

There are many tools and techniques associated with the Collect Requirements process. The
PMBOK Guide does not
discuss these tools and techniques in great detail. While these tools and techniques may not
explicitly be mentioned in
the PMBOK Guide, it is valuable to familiarize yourself with them.

The Validate Scope process should be performed for every project deliverable, or a group of
deliverables,
presented
to
the customer or sponsor.

The Third Knowledge Area:

Project Time Management

y

You MUST memorize these formulas

and know that they can be

2
3
used for
estimates.
Expected

both

Activity

time

and

cost

Duration

(PERT) = (P + 4M+ O) / 6
Activity Standard Deviation =
(P-O)/6

Activity Variance = [(P-O)/6]2

You will frequently see a single-point estimate per activity used on the exam. This method is not
always best, but it is
an easier way to improve your understanding of finding critical paths and drawing network
diagrams. Using single-point estimates also allows for quick calculations and proof that you
understand those concepts.

The Plan Schedule Management process produces the projects schedule management
plan.
It
does
not
contain
the
projects schedule. It only describes how the projects schedule will be developed,
managed and controlled.

Although the PMBOK Guide does not mention it, Analogous Estimating is also referred to as
Top-Down Estimating.

Become very comfortable with the Critical Chain Method. While it may not explicitly be
mentioned
in
the
PMBOK
Guide,
it is valuable to familiarize yourself with examples.
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The Fourth Knowledge Area:

Project Cost Management

a

Make sure to MEMORIZE the following:

n

Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Estimate

- This type of estimate
is usually made during
the initiating process.
- A typical ROM estimate range is
from

-25%

to

+75%

from

actual, but this range can vary

depending on how much is
known about the project when
creating the estimates.
n

Budget Estimate
- This type of estimate is usually
made during the planning
phase and is in the range of
-10% to +25% from actual.

Definitive Estimate
- Later during the project, the estimate will become more
refined. Some project managers
use the range of +/- 10%
from actual, while others use
-5% to +10% from actual.

The ROM estimate, as defined by the current PMBOK Guide - Fifth Edition, is in the range of
-25% to +75%. The older
PMBOK Guide - Fourth Edition defined it to be in the range of -50% to +50%. Remember
the correct ROM is in the
range of -25% to +75%.

Be very careful when interpreting the SPI and CPI values. Although values greater than 1.0
are
desirable,
values
greater
than 1.5 mean the project was not properly estimated earlier.

Understand the concepts behind the EAC formulas. This will help you select the right
formula
to
crack
a
question
on
your exam.

Page 224 of the PMBOK Guide is critical; it summarizes all the earned value formulas.

Memorize
these
formulas
and
a brain-dump on a piece of paper before you begin your exam.

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do

The

Fifth

Knowledge
Area:

Project
Qualit
y
Manage
ment
h

Remembering the following phrases

about
Pareto
charts
should
help you on the exam:
n

Help focus attention on

the most critical issues.

n

Prioritize potential

causes of the
problems.
n

Separate the critical

few from the uncritical

many.

Remember the difference between grade and quality. Grade refers to the characteristics of a
product,
while
quality
refers
to conformance to customer requirements.

Precision is different than accuracy. Accuracy is the closeness of a measure against the
target,
while
precision
is
the
closeness of the repeated measurements with each other.

The PMBOK Guide lists many quality management techniques, but not all are covered in
great
detail.
While
these
techniques may not explicitly be mentioned in the PMBOK Guide, it is valuable to
familiarize yourself with them.

5
6

The Sixth Knowledge Area:

Project Human
Resource
Management
;

The following describes the seven sources of

conflict
in
order
of
frequency.
MEMORIZE the top four and remember that
Personality is last.

1. Schedule
2. Project priorities
3. Resources
4. Technical opinions

5. Administrative procedures
6. Cost
7. Personality

The PMBOK Guide doesnt discuss organizational theory in much detail. However, expect
some questions on this area.
While this may not explicitly be mentioned in the PMBOK Guide, it is valuable to familiarize
yourself with organizational
theory.

It is very important to understand Tuckmans Ladder or the Tuckmans Team Development

Stages.
There
will
almost
certainly be a question on the PMP exam around it.

Co-location and virtual teams are two totally opposite techniques. You must understand the
pros
and
cons
of
both,
and
be able to identify the most suitable option for any given situation.

Do not forget to read Appendix X3 in the PMBOK Guide where interpersonal skills are covered
in great detail.

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The Seventh Knowledge Area:

Project
Communication
s
Management
b

It is important to know the

communications channel formula:
N * (N-1) / 2
where
N=number of people.

Review the basic communication model

(Figure 10.4) and sequence

of steps involved in the model as outlined
in the Project
Communications Management section of
the PMBOK Guide.
Be aware that a new step,
acknowledgement of the message by the
receiver, has been included.

Dont forget that two processes, Manage Communications and Control Communications,
have
been
renamed
and
this
knowledge area has been split to create a new knowledge area named Project Stakeholder
Management.

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The Eigth Knowledge Area:

Project Risk Management

,

Avoid and/or be aware of the following

Risk
n

Management

Errors:

Risk identification is completed

without knowing enough about

the project.
Risk identification ends too soon,
resulting in a brief list rather than an
extensive list.
n

The processes of Identify Risks through Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis are blended,

resulting in risks that are evaluated or judged as they come to light. This decreases the
number of total risks identified and causes people to stop participating in risk identification.
n

The risks identified are general rather than specific.

Some things considered to be risks are not uncertain; they are facts,

and are therefore not risks.

Whole categories (technology, cultural,

marketplace, etc.) of risks are missed.

Only one method is used to identify risks rather than a combination of methods. A
combination helps ensure that more risks are identified.
n

The first risk response strategy identified is selected without looking at other options and

finding the best option or combination of options.

n

Risk management is not given enough attention during project executing.

Project managers do not explain the risk management process to their team during project
planning.
n

Notice that an updated risk register is the only output of several of the risk
management processes. Read exam
questions carefully, as the risk register contains different information depending on
when in the risk management
process the question is referencing.

Remember that the Delphi technique is preferred when influential stakeholders can introduce
bias into the risk data.

Remember that the Perform Qualitative Risks analysis is quicker, but less accurate than the
Perform
Quantitative
Risk
Analysis process.

8
W

Practice the expected monetary value analysis and decision tree analysis techniques. You
can
expect
to
see
questions
which cover these techniques on the exam.

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The Ninth Knowledge Area:

Project
Procuremen
t
Management
E

In practice, the company or person who provides services and/or

goods can be called a contractor, subcontractor, designer,
or other titles. The PMBOK Guide uses only one term, seller, but
the exam may use any of these terms to describe the seller.
The company or person who purchases the services is called the buyer.

There are three basic types of contracts. Each one has its place and use. You must
understand
the
differences
and
in
particular how different contract types determine the final costs of a contract.

Memorize the typical components of a procurement agreement.

Remember that the contract change control procedures are usually documented in the

procurement agreements.

Always remember that negotiation is the preferred

procurement conflict resolution technique.

The Tenth Knowledge Area:

Project
Stakehold
er
Managemen
t

9
10
I

The project stakeholders

influence is at its maximum during
the start of the project and
reduces gradually as the project
progresses.

The Identify Stakeholders

process is an initiating process.
However, it must be periodically
revisited to ensure that the
projects Stakeholder Register is
always up to date.

Memorize the Power/Interest Grid given in the PMBOK Guide

page 397. There will most certainly be questions that pertain to this grid on the exam.

Remember that the first step in stakeholder conflict management is to capture the issue in the
projects issue log.

50 Secrets to the PMP Exam

10

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Youve Got the Tips. Now What?

These invaluable insights into the PMP Exam are just one tool that you should leverage on your
journey towards becoming a Certified Project Management Professional. They will not help you
pass the exam on their own. To ensure your success on the first try, consider a dedicated prep
course designed to break down the PMBOK Guide and build on your real-world experience to
get you in a PMP frame of mind.
PMP Prep Fast Track from Corporate Education Group (CEG) is a five-day immersion course
that combines the proven project management training from one of our most popular and
longest-running courses with a fresh approach to exam preparation. PMP Prep Fast Track is
packed with exercises, practice exams and study aids to ensure you successfully earn the
industrys most sought-after credential.
As each of the 10 project management Knowledge Areas in the PMBOK Guide are presented,
you will learn professional standards (processes, inputs, tools and techniques, outputs), as
well as the practical benefits of using those standards to keep cost, schedule, scope and
other critical project factors under control throughout the project life cycle.
Course Highlights:
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Dozens and dozens more Exam Tips just like the ones shared here

A simple step-by-step process to successfully navigate the entire journey

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For

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oup.com/fasttrack

or

call

1.800.288.7246.
If you are serious about
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and are ready to earn on
average 16 percent
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contact CEG and
Fast Track Your Way to
PMP SUCCESS!

50 Secrets to the PMP Exam

11

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ABOUT CEG
Corporate Education Group (CEG) trains, consults and coaches individuals and teams to help
organizations unlock business
value by optimizing employee and organizational performance. Solutions in project management,
business analysis,
business process management, and leadership and management can be tailored to address
clients unique challenges
and delivered virtually, on demand or locally, fostering development for professionals everywhere.
Through our strategic
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backed by a renowned
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Member of PMIs Global
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(IIBA) and an APM
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1. Tech Republic, techrepublic.com, December 2012.

2. Click here for terms and conditions.
3. Project Management Institute, Project Management Talent Gap Report, March 2013.

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