What’s Stopping You from Passing the PMP Test?
That’s what I really wanted to name this blog post. What’s stopping you from passing the PMP?
I’m hoping that visitors will find a little inspiration in this blog post and will leave comments on what’s stopping them from passing the PMP test.
Three Major Categories Standing Between You and a PMP Certification
I think there are three main categories why people struggle in passing the PMP and often fail. Remember, PMI once admitted several years ago that the fail rate on the PMP test is about 1/3. 1 out of 3 people fail the test. Some websites on the Internet guess that the failure rate on the PMP test is 40-50%, but they are just guessing.
Perhaps more importantly, we don’t know how many potential PMP students dropped out or gave up long before they took the test.
Here are my 3 big categories. Are you stumbling with the PMP because of one of these 3 major reasons?
- Psychological
- Financial
- Educational
Today, let’s just focus on the psychological obstacles in passing the PMP.
Psychological Blocks to Passing the PMP Test
Richard’s Psychological Reasons to Not Pass the PMP
I’ll admit it, these were my excuses or blocks to passing the PMP. But I got over them. – Richard
“I’m too old to pass the PMP.” I haven’t studied for a big test in years.
I am older (you don’t need to know my age) but I did meet a few PMP students older than me trying to pass the PMP. But if I am older, I still know that few people can outwork me on a task. I got over the “age objection” very quickly because I knew my heart and mind were young enough to take the PMP test and succeed.
“I hate tests.” I would rather write a 30 page paper in college than take a test. In fact, that’s what I did.
That was me in college. I avoided tests by finding Economics courses that focused on research and writing papers.
But I knew that the PMP test was 200 questions so I had to get over my dislike of tests. So I did. Honestly, I consciously changed my attitude towards tests. I focused on each question.
I once played basketball. I was a terrific rebounder (couldn’t shoot very well). As a basketball player, I believed that each time the ball bounced off the rim the rebound was mine. That’s what I decided about each PMP question. Each question was mine to answer correctly in 1.2 minutes or less.
“I’m too sick to pass the PMP. I’ve been ill.”
During my PMP course that lasted over 2 months, I injured myself. I was in the hospital for 4 long days while the doctors determined how I had injured myself (abdominal injury).
I recovered, became stronger, and kept studying for the PMP.
But I think of a fellow PMP student who was very, very ill yet studying for the PMP test. She decided to not pursue the PMP. I thought of her many times as I was blessed with good health to pursue and to pass the PMP. She was an inspiration.
Other Psychological Reasons Stopping You from Passing the PMP Test
Here are some other popular reasons and they all have validity. The question is whether you will overcome these psychological factors and succeed.
- Bad with math. I’ve heard this before from PMP students. PMP math is all addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Plus, you will have a computer calculator during the test. So if you can add, subtract, multiply, or divide, you can “solve” PMP formula questions.
- Don’t have the time. If you don’t have the time to study for the PMP, that’s OK. Passing the PMP requires a lot of study time. (Just ask my wife.) But if the PMP is worth it to you, you’ll find the time.
- Unemployed. This is both an economic condition and a psychological condition in my opinion. When you’re unemployed, you’re not feeling terribly positive about your life. But guess what, passing the PMP is a terrific goal that could bring you out of unemployment.
- No ROI in getting a PMP. In life, we assess whether goals are worth the effort. Will passing the PMP improve your income, your well being? Did you research whether PMP’s tend to have better job opportunities than PM’s without that designation? The choice is yours. Just make a good choice.
- Afraid you can only qualify for the CAPM test, not the PMP. Maybe you don’t qualify for the PMP test. Then try for the CAPM test and build your skills. PMI will decide if you qualify.
- Too much red tape from the PMI (Project Management Institute). If applying for the PMP test and passing it were easy, everyone would do it. I am proud of the PMP after my name. The red tape was worth the journey. And besides, the PMI has the right to set up its own rules and regulations on applying for membership and passing the PMP.
Overcoming Your Psychological Obstacles to Passing the PMP Test
Have I been too harsh?
There are psychological, financial, and educational obstacles in passing the PMP. Today we discussed the psychological reasons.
For me, my first step in my PMP journey was overcoming my own psychological obstacles to PMP success. Overcoming the financial and educational steps would come next.
Please leave a comment and tell me about how you identified and resolved your psychological obstacles in passing the PMP test.
Just remember, the first step in passing the PMP test is believing in yourself, that you can pass the PMP test. Thanks for visiting RichardKraneis today.
