Need Help! - Failed my PMP exam 1st attempt

I am IT professional with over 10 years of project experience. Based upon my initial discussion with my friends who said PMP is not very difficult, I worked hard over 3 months using Rita Mulcachy - 8th edition book - scored 76%C in practice tests. I skimmed through the PMBOK couple of times and gave few practice tests and scored above 75% in each so assumed I am well prepared for the exam.

On Aug 23rd, I was so surprised to find the exam very tough. I was able to finish the test just in time hoping will pass since I had read each question atleast twice before answering it.

My results are as follows

Initiating - Below P
Planning - Below P
Executing - Below P
M&C - Moderately P
Closing - Proficient

I am very depressed and confused, Not sure if my below strategy will help me pass in next attempt. Since I find PMBOK very high level and not helpful in answering the situational questions on exam.

Going over PMBOK again and then giving a few practice tests.

I failed my first attempt too and I recommend to check following forum.
http://pmzilla.com/what-do-if-you-fail-pmp-exam-first-attempt

There are tons of resource available online.

Thanks for the inputs! I am looking for Abhishek version of Rajesh Nair's notes also. If you have and can email me that will be great.. Thanks again

http://pmzilla.com/comprehensive-pmp-notes

you can find the notes here...

And all the best for exam!!!

Attend a classroom boot camp if self study didn't work for you. This will help you master the concepts, interact with the trainer and other aspirants and discuss how they are preparing for the exam and sources they are using to study. Take some online practice tests - free or paid and test your knowledge. PMstudy.com offers a bunch of free and paid practice tests along with free videos on concepts. Visit http://www.pmstudy.com/PMP-Free-Resources.asp for more information. Check their classroom offerings and benefits offered with classroom training.

I passed the CAPM in February after attending a bootcamp and studying for about 4 weeks. Another PMP bootcamp was offered this month so I attending thinking I was primed since I already had my CAPM, no such thing. The exam was very difficult for me. My 3 below proficient were in Planning, M&C, and Closing. I studied hard but apparently did not study properly. My PMP exam had a ton of free and total float questions and there were some EV questions I could not answer. Need help in re-strategizing on what to study this next time around. Looking at retaking in November. I have Rita's book, and have attended 2 bootcamps. Any advice? I really need help on the equations.

I have created a new website that may help you. I passed the PMP in June this year. I think it helps to have a good mental map and overview. Maybe see if the website can help you. I agree the key is memorizing the processes and ITTO first. www.propm.org

Your post is really disturbing for me as I am almost having same scores as you have mentioned. However, I have RITA tests but haven't given them yet. My date is 15-sep.

PMPAspirant2014 & PMPHelp50,

PMPBOY willing to help you so please drop a line at
tuc_actc@yahoo.com

Thanks,
PMPBOY who earned his PMP in July 2011

Don't go into the exam doubting yourself and your abilities! Having a fear of failure only makes things worse. Having a respectful understanding that 40% of people don't pass the PMP Exam their first try should help motivate you to study harder but also help you recognize that you're not alone in the journey.  Hopefully you have a good PMP course to give you the self-confidence boost you need to do your best! Good luck!

Sorry to hear that your test was not successful. The truth is that with so many potential questions in the pool to choose from, we're all going to get unique tests. It sounds like you have done the right things and are testing well - that is great! You are testing just around where I was! I agree, the situational questions can be very challenging.

For me, a 4 day boot camp right before my PMP exam was perfect. I felt very confident in what I knew...but could also learn a lot of the small details I had missed and had some of my big questions clarified. I took a bootcamp last Mon-Thr, took Friday off from work, and passed on Saturday. If you are struggling, you deserve to have an instructor help guide you to the finish.

Best of luck and let us know how you do!

Sorry to hear you did not pass in your first attempt. I cleared it a week ago and I, too, was really surprised at the level of difficulty of the test, as well as the high percentage of math questions. Since in your question, you said you were thrown by the math questions, I would suggest purchasing a used copy of McGraw Hill's PMP Certification Math book.And, sign up for a boot camp so you know which math ones you are likely to see. The boot camp I attended pretty much narrowed it down. And, they were on target. Then during the first 15 minutes, do a brain dump on all of the relevant questions. So, go to boot camp first, then, work through problems in book mentioned above. It is a very difficult test. Dust yourself off, get back on "the horse." It's worth it.

That is sad but don't worry. You will have better luck next time.

You should start with determining what was the reason for not getting through. You must determine the root cause. I have written a post titled 15 Reasons Why People Failed the PMP Exam You should read this post. Give yourself some time and then write down what reasons are applicable to you. Next, you should revise your preparation strategy and work on your weak areas.
 

All the best.

michaelwarne's picture

Hi,
 
That's so sad but don't worry. and try next attempt.
 
Project Management Professional (PMP) is not an easy exam to attempt. Lasting for 4 hours, it has 200 multiple choice questions, of which one has to answer at least 106 correctly to qualify. The exam is designed to be extremely difficult so that only the best candidates can get the certification. This is the reason why PMP holds immense value and its certificate holders get paid handsomely.
 
If you could not pass the PMP exam then don't worry about it. You must try 2nd time with more preparation and I would like to recommend the best institute for PMP certification: Koenig Solutions will help you a lot to prepare exams in a good way. 
 
 
Good Luck for your next attempt.

That is sad but don't worry. You will have better luck next time.

It is important to find the root cause of failing. You exam prep & ultimate success depends on it. You should read 15 Reasons Why People Failed the PMP Exam.

This will help you in determining the root cause. After reading the post, give yourself some time and and think about each point. If required, you should change your study approach or take another training or study different books.

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