Just like a soldier going to war, you need to arm yourself with the necessary materials to excel in your PMI exam. Oftentimes, people get overexcited about the possibility of earning a PMP certification that they fail to realize the hurdle that is facing them. A PMP exam prep method or course is never successful without these effective tools to keep you company.

Even project management training or courses utilize tools that serve as medium for knowledge acquisition. There are five basic sources of theory and information that is a must-have during your PMP exam prep.

Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK)

If in search of information related to project management, there is no better place to turn to than the PMBOK. It is internationally recognized to contain the basic concepts, processes, and knowledge areas important in the field of project management. It features a massive collection of information that are fundamental to the field, including new updates to the information system.

It covers the nine knowledge areas of project management, which are essential information you need to learn during your PMP exam prep:

* integration

* scope

* time

* cost

* quality

* human resource

* communications

* risk

* procurement

Training Manuals

If you are to use training manuals in your project management training efforts or as tools to use in your PMP exam prep, then opt for the latest edition. This will ensure that you get the most updated information that will prepare you for the exam. Especially in times wherein information are gradually evolving, project management techniques are easily overlapped by new and developing ones. Also, it is best to opt for manuals that give focus not just on theoretical knowledge but also practical application.

Audio Tutorials

Here is another innovative way to learn the concepts about project management. If you are an employed individual who wish to take the PMI exam in the hopes of expanding your career horizons, then you can use this material as an ingenious way to acquire the necessary knowledge. The best thing about audio materials is that you can pop it into your music player and you can listen to it. Hence, it proves to be quite a time-saver!

Project Management Software Simulation

As the name implies, the project management software simulation acts like a mock PMI exam. It works like the actual exam does, so it helps not only as a PMP exam prep but in reducing the amount of stress that has been plaguing you as the date of your PMP exam is fast approaching. Not only that, the questions featured in the database are almost similar to the questions that you'd have to answer during the actual PMI exam. You won't have to sacrifice your project management training with this one since it is guaranteed as a legitimate PMP exam prep tool, made by certified PMP experts and instructors. This type of PMP exam prep method works best for most individuals since it recreates the atmosphere of the exam and creates some level of familiarity, especially for first-time takers.

If you want a more comprehensive and efficient PMP exam prep system, then it is best to combine all your resources. This will ensure that you are able to cover all aspects that cater to the acquisition of knowledge needed to gear up for the PMI exam.