8 things the PMP exams changes means to the Potential PMP® Test Taker
8 things the PMP exams changes means to the Potential PMP® Test Taker
By now you must have heard that the PMP Exams will be changing and here is why?
Every five to seven years, the Project Management Institute (PMI)® performs a Role Delineation Study(Job Analysis) to determine authority (“the role”), responsibilities & duties of project managers today.
The findings are then used to update the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam. In this way, PMI ensures that the PMP Exam is a reflection of what project managers actually do in the field. If PMI didn’t regularly go through this process adding new elements and removing old ones, then you would still be tested on outdated methods that were used in the 1980s when the first PMP exam was given.
PMI completed their latest study at the end of 2010. The findings will lead to an update in the PMP Exam on 31 August 2011. . As a result, approximately 30% of the PMP exam will change.
PMI completed their latest study at the end of 2010. The findings will lead to an update in the PMP Exam on 31 August 2011. . As a result, approximately 30% of the PMP exam will change.
The Institute does this from time-to-time to maintain the quality and veracity of all its exams. And as a result of this study, it was determined that “PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is integrated into the work of project management…” and therefore “should be viewed as integrated into the day-to-day role of a project manager and important in each phase of the project lifecycle.”
Here is the direct statement about the RDS from PMI’s homepage: http://www.pmi.org/Certification/Project-Management-Professional-PMP/Updates-to-PMP-Certification-Exam/PMP-Role-Delineation-Study.aspx
8 things the PMP exams changes means to the Potential PMP® Test Taker:
1. The PMBOK® Guide Is Not Changing
First of all and most importantly: There is NO change to the PMBOK® Guide. The PMP Exam is currently based on the PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition. The 5th edition is scheduled for publication at the end of 2012. This means that the PMP Exam will continue to be largely based on the 4th edition until sometime in 2013. Therefore, everyone preparing for the PMP Exam can continue to do so using the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition until 2013.
2. The Exam Format Is Not Changing
The PMP Exam will continue to be a computer-based exam, and you have four hours to answer 200 multiple-choice questions.
3. The Score Report is Not Changing
PMI stated “At this time, PMI does not anticipate any changes will be made to the PMP score report”. This suggests that the way the passing score is determined will remain the same.
4. The Eligibility Requirements Are Not Changing
The education and experience eligibility requirements for the PMP Exam will remain the same. Please read the eligibility section of the PMP Credential Handbook for the details.
5. The Exam Changes on 31 August 2011
The new exam will be rolled out on 31 August 2011 and the last day on which you can take the exam under the current specifications is on 30 August 2011. No exceptions.
6. Professional & Social Responsibility Will Be Integrated
In the current exam format Professional and Social Responsibility is tested as a separate domain. The Role Delineation Study showed that Professional and Social Responsibility is integrated into all of the work of project management and cannot be seen as separate. The Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct should therefore be viewed and tested as an integrated part of a project manager’s day-to-day work.
For the new exam, students will have to understand the effects of Professional and Social Responsibility on their daily tasks. Exam questions will ask about ethical considerations during procurement, mix social responsibility with team management and test your application of professional responsibility in a written status report.
Studying, understanding and living the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in your daily work as a project manager will have a much higher importance for the exam.
For the new exam, students will have to understand the effects of Professional and Social Responsibility on their daily tasks. Exam questions will ask about ethical considerations during procurement, mix social responsibility with team management and test your application of professional responsibility in a written status report.
Studying, understanding and living the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in your daily work as a project manager will have a much higher importance for the exam.
7. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MAIN CHANGE?
In a nutshell, the big change is that starting August 31, 2011, instead of having six sections to the PMP® exam (one for each of the five PMI Process Groups®, plus one for Ethics & Social Responsibility), there will now only be five sections of the test (one for each of the Process Groups®). Ethics & Social Responsibility questions will be interspersed throughout the other five sections, instead of in their own section.
8. WHY DOES THIS CHANGE MAKE THE TEST HARDER?
It’s much easier to answer ethics questions “in context,” meaning when you are able to look at the questions specifically as ethics questions. This is because when you know which questions are ethics questions (as with the exam currently) you are able to think to yourself, “OK, this is an ethics question, what are they asking for, based on the PMI Code of Ethics And Professional Conduct?”) But after August 30th, test-takers will no longer have that luxury. A question, for example, testing a PM on “what is the most ethical cost management decision here?” will be thrown in as just one of the many questions in the Planning, Executing Monitoring and Controlling, etc. sections of the test. So the same question will become harder for most test-takers under the new test format, because it will need to be evaluated more as a “pure question,” and not specifically as an ethics question.
CHANGES TO APPLICATION PROCESS
In addition, for candidates who are getting ready to apply for the PMP, the application will be updated to reflect the current role of the project manager revealed in the new RDS.
· In the past, PMI has required candidates to track and report their hours of experience leading and directing projects for each task within the RDS.
· On 31 August, PMI will update the PMP application to require candidates to track and report their hours for each domain (Process Group) within the RDS.
· Any candidates who have an application in progress at the time the change is made will have their experience hours migrated to the new application, so that no data is lost.
Other details to note is that between 31 August and Mid October 2011,you will be sent your result via email 4-6 weeks after your test till PMI is assured that the test changes are effective instead of getting it immediately you finish the test taking process at the Prometric Testing centre. Please refer to the PMP Handbook on PMI.org for more detailed instructions. This assures me of PMI’s quality based certification.
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