Failed a certification exam twice - when do you switch strategies?

I took the PMP exam three weeks ago and failed by 4 points, then tried again last Saturday and failed by 7 points. Same study materials both times. Do you double down on the same approach or completely change your method at that point?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonl1112d ago

That's a tough spot to be in, and I know from personal experience how much it stings to miss by just a few points both times. In my case, I had to admit my study method wasn't the problem, but how I was practicing the test questions was. I switched from just reading notes to doing hundreds of timed practice exams every week, really focusing on why I got each wrong answer. That change in how I practiced, not what I studied, made the difference on my third try.

patriciap5212d agoMost Upvoted

Heard a podcast say the same thing, everyone's brain really does wire different for this stuff.

laura_black3112d ago

The 200 hours I spent on practice exams my first two tries actually made my scores drop from a 72 to a 68. For me, switching back to old school note cards and talking through concepts out loud with a study group is what finally got me over the line. Everyone's brain works different, so what worked for you might totally backfire for someone else.