The PMP certification exam is recognized by a large number of Fortune 1000 companies. The list includes AT&T, Citibank, Novartis and Microsoft! Therefore, if you have done well in the PMP exam prep enough to let you succeed in the certification exam, then you are at an advantage. You and your title will be sought by large international corporations.



What's in the Exam

The PMP certification exam is computer-based. You have to take this in locations authorized by the Project Management Institute or PMI.

Although the exam consists of 200 items (questions in multiple choice format), only 175 of these will be graded as the 25 are "pre-release" questions. Of course, it's but natural not to be graded for questions that you already have an answer to.

The PMP certification exam covers six (6) major areas, as follows: initiating, planning, executing, controlling, closing, and professional responsibility. A large portion of the exam is focused on the core areas of planning, execution and control. It's just proper for the exam to emphasize on these areas as project management is primarily about how you develop the plan and execute it to achieve results.

PMP training is also about responsibility - towards your profession and your social environment. This is why this leadership competency is given enough credit in the PMP certification exam.

In terms of percentages, the PMP certification exam is divided into the following:

* Initiating - 8%

* Planning - 23%

* Executing - 23%

* Controlling - 23%

* Closing -7%

* Professional responsibility - 14%

For you to pass the PMP certification exam, you need to answer at least 137 questions correctly or at least 68.5% of the whole material.

Time Consciousness as a Tip

As with any exam, the PMP certification exam has a time limit. You are only given four (4) hours to answer all 200 items. If you have to be strict about it, you have at most 72 seconds per item. Although some items can be responded to in less than 72 seconds, others need more time. Sometimes, choosing among options A to D can be very quick, at other times, it could be quite unnerving.

This is why in taking the exam, you must always be conscious of the time. After all, this is about project management - and project management has a great deal to do with time constraints. In effect, by simply taking the PMP certification exam, you are already exercising one of the principles of project management - and that is time management.

Of course, as the exam is computer-based, you can get the results right after completing the test. You don't have to wait for days or even days prior to knowing whether you've passed or failed. As such, you can take immediate action.

If you pass, you can go and celebrate with your loved ones. Otherwise, you need to prepare yourself once again for another bout of that 200-item exam. After all, life goes on - and the PMP certification exam is no exemption to this.