Lesson 47 in TSI’s Free PMP Exam Prep Lunchtime Lecture Series – Mastering Your PMP Exam

Watch the PMP Training Video

To be successful in passing your PMP Exam, knowing the material may not be enough. You must also develop some practical testtaking skills.

In this discussion, we present important fundamentals in test-taking, then present a proven test-taking strategy to help you achieve peak performance on Exam day.

Know How to Read Multiple Choice (MCQ) Questions

• Approach each MCQ as a mutually exclusive independent event. Read the MCQ carefully, looking to determine precisely what the question is really asking for:

1. • Identify the correct answer?
2. • Identify the best answer?
3. • Identify the first best action?
4. • Identify the least best action?
5. • Identify the exception?
6. • Identify the incorrect alternative?

• Many MCQs will be straightforward, but many will include irrelevant information and other distractors. Be thankful for the straightforward questions, but expect distractors.
• Be on the lookout for distinguishing terms. Directly in the wording of many MCQs, you will find some distinguishing term or phrase. For example, fast tracking may appear in a question. You should recognize fast tracking as a key project management term. It may be the distinguishing term in this particular MCQ. If you focus some attention on the distinguishing term, you may be able to identify the correct answer even before reviewing the answer options.
• If the MCQ is presented as a double-negative (i.e. All of the following are false, except:), then you may consider converting it to a positive before reviewing the answer options. In the example, All of the following statements are false, except:, logic tells us that all of the answer options are false except one. The correct answer is the one true statement. So, instead of identifying the false statements and eliminating them, look to identify the one true statement and selecting it.
• Before looking at the answer options, try to
• answer the question based on your recall and
• understanding. Many times, this will help you
• quickly identify the correct answer.

We’ve got other great exam preparation tips in the companion PDF.  You can access it by registering for TSI’s Free PMP Exam Prep Lunchtime Lecture Series.