The "A" in CAPM is for "Anxious"
May 14, 2018 12:32 PM Subscribe
I had been tossing around the idea of taking the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam for awhile and then (on an expensive whim) decided to sign up for it. Now I have a week to study. Should I re-schedule or should I go for it?
I did some extensive work with project managers while building a series of online courses (on project management) and was feeling pretty confident about my knowledge, so I looked into taking the CAPM exam. The CAPM seemed like a good fit for rounding out my resume and maybe making some kind of transition later on in my career. I received notice that the exam was being updated and all the guidebooks and knowledge would be changed as well so I decided this was the jolt I needed to take the exam. I signed up for an exam two weeks out and now I am terrified that I actually do not know enough and cannot cram enough.
So now I come to you, Project Managers of MetaFilter, to either re-assure me with hot test taking tips or tell me to lay down the $70 and re-schedule for at least six weeks out. I consider myself a decent test taker, who can cram all this week (after work hours), but will it be enough?
Note: I did review this previous CAPM question as well.
I did some extensive work with project managers while building a series of online courses (on project management) and was feeling pretty confident about my knowledge, so I looked into taking the CAPM exam. The CAPM seemed like a good fit for rounding out my resume and maybe making some kind of transition later on in my career. I received notice that the exam was being updated and all the guidebooks and knowledge would be changed as well so I decided this was the jolt I needed to take the exam. I signed up for an exam two weeks out and now I am terrified that I actually do not know enough and cannot cram enough.
So now I come to you, Project Managers of MetaFilter, to either re-assure me with hot test taking tips or tell me to lay down the $70 and re-schedule for at least six weeks out. I consider myself a decent test taker, who can cram all this week (after work hours), but will it be enough?
Note: I did review this previous CAPM question as well.
I was able to pass the PMP with a lot of work history, a $15 online course and self-study. That said - I studied a lot over a two month period as the exams are minutiae-driven and many answers are not intuitive. I'd also check to see if the exam for CAPM has changed to the 6th version of PMBOK yet because it's got whole sections v. 5 doesn't have.
I don't think you need to spend any money to do well on that exam but I think time to get the methodology down is necessary.
posted by notorious medium at 12:44 PM on May 14, 2018
I don't think you need to spend any money to do well on that exam but I think time to get the methodology down is necessary.
posted by notorious medium at 12:44 PM on May 14, 2018
Yeah - I just checked, the exam switches to the 6th version on the 21st of May - assuming you are one week out (i.e., the 21st) are you sure they aren't starting on the 21st with that exam? If so - you're likely borked with v.5 of the guide.
posted by notorious medium at 12:50 PM on May 14, 2018
posted by notorious medium at 12:50 PM on May 14, 2018
If you have to retake it, can you afford the retest fee? If so I would just take it and see how you do. If you couldn't afford the retake fee, I might postpone as then it's a bigger risk.
posted by typecloud at 1:22 PM on May 14, 2018
posted by typecloud at 1:22 PM on May 14, 2018
Yes, according to this the new test will be in effect next Monday. That means you either only have 1-4 days (and no weekend) to cram, or you're already scheduled to take the new test. I think the cost of rescheduling and being able to prepare for the correct material at your leisure is small versus other alternatives.
posted by ubiquity at 1:43 PM on May 14, 2018
posted by ubiquity at 1:43 PM on May 14, 2018
PMP here - extensive work history, took a long form class & then crammed for a few weeks. Cramming was more effective.
Look at cheat sheets others have used. Adopt one. Start taking practice tests. It's not *really* how well you know the material -- it's a test of how well you know how to give the answer they are looking for. Once you master the PMP question perspective, you'll be in good shape.
Remember you can take this again if needed. You can do it.
posted by countrymod at 5:59 PM on May 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Look at cheat sheets others have used. Adopt one. Start taking practice tests. It's not *really* how well you know the material -- it's a test of how well you know how to give the answer they are looking for. Once you master the PMP question perspective, you'll be in good shape.
Remember you can take this again if needed. You can do it.
posted by countrymod at 5:59 PM on May 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I actually just took the PMP today and passed. Caveat is that my company paid for a 3 day bootcamp and it went a long way towards calming my nerves and not stressing about it which I do think went a long way towards helping me pass. In terms of the amount of studying, despite what everyone said about how much you have to study to pass.. I didn't really. In fact, I was getting a solid 50 to 70 percent on the practice exams AND I didnt bother doing a 1 page dump AND I finished way ahead of time. Seemed unnecessarily stressful to me and I just focused on HOW to pass the exam and THINK like how PMI would want a PM to think. Worked out really well for me and I'm glad I didnt push my test date out and I'm glad I didn't over prepare, which for me would have been unnecessary stress and hand wringing.
Be confident! Just take it.
posted by driedmango at 6:46 PM on May 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Be confident! Just take it.
posted by driedmango at 6:46 PM on May 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Honestly the answer to this question depends on yourself and your study habits which we don't really know much about. Are you a good test taker? Are you a good crammer? I know that I am both those things so there's no way I wouldn't take the exam without rescheduling. But you need to be honest about yourself.
posted by peacheater at 12:36 AM on May 15, 2018
posted by peacheater at 12:36 AM on May 15, 2018
How did it go?
posted by countrymod at 12:37 AM on May 26, 2018
posted by countrymod at 12:37 AM on May 26, 2018
Response by poster: Update: I thought about it and realized that the $70 would hurt less than the $150 if I failed, so I'm re-scheduling for late August (and the 6th edition). This should give me ample time to read the new PMBOK (and fall asleep while doing so) and practice some of the methods so I feel more confident. Thanks everyone for the feedback!
posted by thefang at 7:51 AM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by thefang at 7:51 AM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by thefang at 12:34 PM on May 14, 2018 [1 favorite]