The Certified Associate in Project Management, or CAPM, is an entry-level certificate from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Depending on your background in project management, this certification might only require some studying, but the usual candidate studies for about 1-2 months.
I managed to pass this exam with just 2 weeks of intense preparation, after completing a project management course in the fall semester of my Masters in International Business at Hult International Business School.
Thus, I wanted to share my preparation plan, which allowed me to pass "Above Target" in every part of the exam. Though this plan is based around having taken a project management course before preparation, one could easily apply this guide by taking the 23 hours of project management education through an online course.
So here is my 7 step plan for passing the CAPM "Above Target":
1) Set the date & free your schedule
The idea of cramming your intense preparation into 2 weeks relies on the principle of Parkinson's law (ironically also covered in the content for the exam). Considering that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion", limiting time allows for greater efficiency and eliminates time wasted. So be ware, you will feel rushed, but you will save a lot of time.
2) Find your knowledge gaps
The 23 hours of formal project management education, especially if it doesn't follow the PMBOK Guide (Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge) by the letter, will lead to some knowledge gaps. This is often the case if you take the formal education as part of a university course. Either review the PMBOK Guide or complete some practice exams, such as the ones in Rita's CAPM Exam Prep Guide (which I recommend), to identify the chapters you have the biggest knowledge gaps on. Those are the ones you will want to review in great detail.
3) Review every chapter with a review guide
The PMI PMBOK revolves around 49 distinct processes which you will have to understand well and know. Review every chapter, especially the ones you are weak on, using a review guide. I used Rita's CAPM Exam Prep Guide in combination with the Joseph Phillips CAPM Cram Exam Prep Course on Udemy, to make detailed notes and cue cards. You will need to cover at least one chapter a day, if not 1.5 per day, to give yourself some time to do practice exams.
4) Re-enforce
Through tackling this exam in about 2 weeks you will cover a lot of material in very little time. In order to not forget any of the material and re-enforce the material you covered, one needs to continuously repeat the learned content. I used the CAPM Pocket Prep App to continuously re-enforce the material I studied.
5) Understand, don't memorize
The format of the PMBOK, especially the 49 processes and their ITTOs (Input, Tools & Techniques, Outputs) seem to lend itself to memorization, especially as some are very similar and difficult to differentiate. DON'T DO THIS. Understanding the processes will allow you to better answer the questions on the exam.
6) Practice, Practice & Practice
Yes, the CAPM Exam is 3 hours and 150 multiple choice questions. I hate these kind of exams too, so if you are anything like me - mock testing is the go to. There are many sites, books and other offerings out there that allow you to do full exams. I can highly recommend the PrepCast CAPM Exam simulator. The ability to complete entire exams as practice beforehand, helps you identify critical areas to review again, but also gets you used to answering a long multiple choice test online.
7) Take some time off
This study plan is extremely intense. Take a day before the exam to calm down and rest. If you followed this study plan, you are likely to pass the exam, but give yourself a rest before the exam to relax. Sleep plenty before the day of the exam and don't over study the hours before sitting the exam.
