Customer Reviews

The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

PASS. First time out. Any questions?

Seriously, I read the PMBOK cover to cover. DENSE. All the information is there, but it lacks several things that are crucial to a successful PMP exam preparation: intuitive organization, practice questions, and real-world applications.

Andy Crowe's book fills the gap. It presents the information in a structured, easy-to-understand format that guides you through the 39 discrete processes, their interaction, and most importantly, what you need to know about each one to pass the exam.

The final exam takes the concepts presented in the book and makes you think about them from yet another angle, and the fact that all the answers are there provides the last step in cementing the information in your head. My score on Andy's final and my score on the PMP exam were within 5 points of each other, so he obviously got it right.

The PMP exam is extremely situational. Some questions have four correct answers! What they want from you is the BEST answer. Many others focus on order of operations and ask what you, as the project manager, should do FIRST. These real-world situations are covered clinically in the PMBOK, but stressed in detail in this book.

Buy it. Read it. And Pass the PMP. I did.

Until you have actually sat for the PMP examination (a grueling 4 hour 200 question computer administered examination), it is really not possible to gauge the value of this book. After taking the test, I can say categorically, that it would not be possible for even the most experienced project manager to pass the test without having read Andy Crowe's book. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has defined a very robust set of processes and knowledge that comprises their view of project management. Often, however, this view is different than the experiences of many long time project managers.

Andy's book logically lays open PMI's view of project management and provides the reader with the understanding of PMI's approach and how it also relates to many of our actual real world experiences. In a carefully planned order, the book covers each process group explaining the key elements and important items that the reader must remember in order to do their very best on the examination. The reader learns the why of PMI's approach so that they (the reader) can apply the "why" to answering the test questions. So, instead of having to memorize answers, the reader understands the underlying philosophy and, therefore, can deduce the correct answer by applying the PMI approach to each question. Although titled as a how to pass book, it really provides a useful guide to applying the PMI processes to any project. Andy gives the reader more than a guide to passing the test - this book is a great reference that will be useful long after the reader takes and passes the PMP examination.

To help the reader with test preparation, the each chapter has review questions as well as a final examination. These questions are very similar to the kinds of questions and subject matter found in the examination that they really help to both assess the reader's readiness for the test as well as to provide an excellent practice tool. The book also provides insight as to the level of difficulty and approximate percentages of coverage each process group will represent in the actual exam. This helps the reader to focus their study time in order to maximize their study effectiveness.

Having never used a "pass the test" book in the past, I was a bit skeptical. This book certainly demonstrated that it is possible to create a book that can actually come through a promise to pass on the first try. I have and will recommend this book as a must to anyone that is planning on taking the PMP examination.

I passed the PMP exam this morning on my first try. Thanks to this book and Rita Mulcahy's Exam Prep, I passed it with a wide margin. This is my favorite of the two as it gets to the point and really focuses on the key concepts in each knowlege area. I would recommend that you start out with this book as it gives you a good foundation without drowning you with minutia! Then switch to Rita's book to add the polish and finer details.

The questions at the end of each chapter and the Final Exam in the book was a good representation of the actual exam. I really like the fact that Andy added a totally different final exam and didn't reuse any questions from the chapters. In this regard, this book was far above Rita's book.

Summary: No regrets at all about buying this book. Will keep it as a quick reference at work.

I cleared my pmp exam on my first try yesterday. As you know, PMBOK is a reference instead of a textbook. It is very useful, but definitely not a good starting point to learn about the PMI methodology. I knew I have to turn to other sources, which eventually lead to a procurement process. My requirement is very clear, I need some materials which can enable me to clear the exam ASAP (i.e. a short payback period). The specifications of the materials are as follows:

1. Explain everything straight-forward, so that I can capture the key points immediately
2. Light in weight, so that I can carry it around
3. Without lengthy-case to confuse me, so that I can focus on PMI methodology and principles, not the background information of other companies

According to the comments (expert judgements) here, I "procured" two text books, one by Andy Crowe and another by Rita Mulcahy, the two most popular reference books about PMP. Two books were studied instead of one as I'm not sure whether one book is adequate or not, two books can mitigate the risk, the "unknown-unknown".

I finished both within one month and was fully satisfied with their contents. Their only drawback is, the exercises provided are much easier than the actual exam. But I don't blame on the authors because the objective of these questions is let you verify your understanding (inspection). I checked the questions I missed and clarified my misunderstandings steadily (progressive elaboration). PMBOK is helpful in this stage to provide the official definition of key items. We all know that PMP means Project Management Professional, but it also means Practice Make Perfect. I passed my PMP exam (objectives achieved) as promised by Andy :) Based on the score sheet, I understand that I have some weak areas where I need "continuous improvement". Unlike PMI methodology, there is no closing process in learning. We have many similar idioms in Chinese.

I've cleared the PMP exam on first try with both books. But I still believe that, the critical success factor to pass the exam does not lie on the tools only, but also the methodology how you prepared the exam. There should be many other textbooks available which can help. I am just lucky enough to use some of them.

This valuable guide is worth its weight in gold! This was the only reference I used to study for the PMP exam and like the title says, I passed it on my first try in March 2003 - by a wide margin I might add.

The book reads as if the author were right by your side guiding you through the critical information needed to pass the exam. Instead of simply presenting a large volume of information as other reference guides do, Andy Crowe has ranked and rated all of the information he presents. He has organized the book in such a logical format that not only did I pass the PMP exam, but I really understand PMI's processes and why PMI does things the way they do. That's the real purpose of the PMP certification in the first place, right.

I can't recommend this book enough. If you are interested in passing the PMP the first time and shaving months off your study time, (who isn't) you have to read this book.

If your concern is to pass the PMP exam, as quickly and easily as possible, this is an excellent book. I've spent over a decade as a PM and had just come off a 4.5yr contract. I also spent two years teaching principals of Project Management in the professional certification program at Columbia using the PMBOK as the basis of my curriculum. I was comfortable with my understanding of the basic methodology and the knowledge areas.

My goal was to pass the PMP with the least amount of hassle. I didn't want to learn more about project management, additional theories or examples of excellent new approaches to the different knowledge areas, at least not as part of this process. I didn't want to spend the next six months attending a study group. I wanted to know the mindset of the PMI test developers. I wanted to know their prejudices and attitudes and how these very subjective positions were expressed through the answers they expected and the questions they designed. And since these attitudes and positions tend to change with time, I needed to know what was current right now.

For instance, I tend to solicit team feedback concerning major policy decisions. For the most part PMI doesn't consider that the team should be consulted outside of the estimation exercises. Just knowing this fact allowed me to correctly answer a number of questions on the exam. The issue here is not what approach is best or to debate the question. The issue is what is PMI's position and how does it show up in the test. This is the type of information "The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" provided along with the foundation concepts of the PMI methodology.

The book provides the material in an efficient, easy to understand presentation. In addition the book's graphics and memorization aids are both attractive and effective. More importantly they are organized by knowledge area. I read the book in the context of the class Andy teaches. I took a sample PMP test at the beginning of the class and scored in the 50 percentile. When I took the official exam a short time after the class, I scored 81%. The class is great but the book contains the class material and stands on its own.

Hi all, I just took and passed the PMP test this weekend. I used a few different sources to study. PMBOK, Mr. Crowe's book and another book by Michael Newell. The best source was Mr. Crowe's book. I would have liked a cd with the questions and some of the questions were a bit too easy but on the whole it was a great resource and the one that I recommend the most. I also found a good website that had some sample questions called www.pmboulevard.com.
The book focused on the knowledge you really need and I followed his instructions on what too do when you take the test too a tee. But don't be fooled you must put in some serious study time to pass the test, its not easy and there is a lot too know but this book could be used as a guide.

Good luck everyone.

Just like you, I was also looking for a study aide for the PMP exam. I bought this book after reading what others had to say (but never took them at their face value). As I read the book, I found a very natural flow of information. Unlike PMBOK, information in this book is very easy to understand (as well as relate to). Andy's decision to have the Integration Management is extremely helpful. Moreover, this book is solely focussed to get you the PMP certificate and believe me it will.

I did pass the PMP exam with great score in my very first try. Judging by the questions that appeared on the exam, I believe that I might have done that just by studying this book alone.

Good Luck to future PMPs, this is the one for you.

First, it's important to understand that the PMP test is ***NOT*** the horrible bugaboo it's been made out to be. For crying out loud, you only need to get 69% to pass the test. Any one with functioning neurons between their ears ought to be able to GUESS more than 69% of the questions correctly.

I read this book, worked the exercises, and read the PMBOK in my spare time over the course of 6 weeks. I took the test with a raging head cold. I passed with 85%. Note that in the 16 years I've been out of school I've not studied or taken a test even remotely like this.

Crowe's book will get you to pass the test, no question about that. But I have some complaints about the book:
- My copy is bound too tightly - it won't stay open while I study or work the exercises.
- There are a few errors and internal inconsistencies: full names of processes; whether a process is core or facilitating; definition of early finish; examples of WBSs are presented as tasks, not deliverables.
- Certain things are so oversimplified that they are confusing and even wrong (CAP, control charts, standard deviation, PERT).
- The whole section on Risk Management is riddled with contradictions and apparent errors.
- A huge personal gripe of mine: Crowe presents new information at the end of a chapter under the heading "Summary." A Summary shouldn't contain any new information - it's a summary or review of information previously provided.
- The topic of network diagrams and in fact the whole book could use a lot more concrete examples.

This book is a solid prep tool. The only thing I can say comparing this book with its competitors is that it might be nice to have the book and the tests on CD.

The PMI is an amazing organization. They have conned thousands of people (me included) into paying large sums of money for the privilege of memorizing their arbitrary and peculiar opinions. Too bad I didn't think of it first.

I passed the PMP exam, easily, on the first try with 86%. I could have scored higher, but I had lots of issues with the manager of the testing site cutting into my time with various "rules" that were not listed anywhere, so I only had 8 minutes left to review marked questions!- don't let stuff like that throw you, try to remain focused and pace yourself!

I did NOT take a prep course. Prep courses do help compress your study time, if you have the extra cash (or your company will pay for it, then I guess you might want to try Andy Crowe's velociteach.com PMP course).

This is not a difficult test if you indeed have project management experience and you thoroughly read the PMBOK...but it would have been impossible for me to pass the exam on the first try without Andrew Crowe's book, I found it to be an invaluable resource...it paid for itself 10 times over. It was NOT worth it to purchase Rita's materials (online prep, book, simulation test CD etc.), because she is very patronizing and actually insults her audience (e.g. you are not a good project manager if you got this question wrong! etc.) and I found her situational questions were MUCH harder than the real test, a waste of time and money.

I took 1900 practice questions over 2 1/2 months and I used MANY resources (including Rita Mulcahy, Kim Heldman, Joseph Phillips, various free exams online), and Andrew Crowe's book came the CLOSEST to the content and format of the PMP exam...in fact, my score on his final was within 5 points of my score on the PMP exam.

So, why buy The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try?...because it actually makes it ENJOYABLE to study for this test...you won't believe that after you attempt to read the PMBOK (which is VERY dry, VERY dense...and not organized in an intuitive manner), but it's true. Andy explains the concepts so clearly, it was not confusing anymore...and the practice questions helped to cement the material in my memory (I made sure to score 90% on them before moving on)...and the final exam was a great indicator of readiness to take the test (try to score 85% on it).

It's the highest praise that I can give to Andy....that I contacted about a dozen people ASAP who are taking this test in the summer and recommended this book as the only resource they will need, in addition to the PMBOK and 1 or 2 full simulation tests on pmstudy.com (to fill in the gaps), to pass this test on the first try. I don't want people to waste time or money, like I did. Don't let the many free exams on the net trick you into thinking you need to purchase their products - they are designed to make you lose confidence.

Be sure to memorize figure 3-9 in the PMBOK 2000 (if you are taking the old exam), because knowing the process groups, knowledge areas and mapping of the 39 project management processes (the order and positioning) was extremely important in figuring out inputs/tools/outputs etc. during the test. Andy does a great job explaining the foundational concepts and project framework you need to understand, be sure to read these sections over again in his book after going through the whole book twice...it will finally sink in! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TEST!!! STOP RESCHEDULING AND TAKE IT ALREADY!