Choosing the right Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam Preparation Software can spell the difference between passing and failing the test. You must remember that about 25% of the PMP examination can be gleaned from books and online sources. This percentage might seem minuscule in comparison with the 75% information from the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide (PMBOK Guide), but any correct answer on the multiple type test will go a long way towards securing the highly desired PMP credential.



Unlimited Access

The PMP Exam Preparation Software you choose should allow for unlimited access. You can set your own study pace because you do not have to worry about time running out on your software access. The worst you can probably subscribe to is the software with just 40 hours of access! You will be forced to cram just to get everything inside your head.

Training Manuals

Training manuals are requisites for any PMP Exam Preparation Software. These are the meat of the software, which should contain all of the following:

- nine knowledge areas - integration, scope, time, cost quality, human resources, communications, risk, and procurement

- process inputs/outputs in relation to the nine knowledge areas

- process inputs and where they are used

- process outputs and where they are produced

- process tools and techniques and where they are used

- formulas and acronyms used and how to derive solutions

- professional responsibilities

The manuals should be ready to print so that you can highlight points while reading comfortably. Indeed, there is something good to be said about reading from paper against reading from a laptop.

Performance Analysis

Your PMP Exam Preparation Software should allow you to monitor your progress, based on the training manual. In this way, you can focus your study efforts on areas of improvement instead of wasting time on things you well know by now.

Test Questions and Sample Examinations

The best way to gauge the effectiveness of your PMP Exam Preparation Software is how well it reflects the actual content of the PMP examination and the PMBOK Guide. The test questions and the sample examinations should adhere to the knowledge you gained in the training manuals and the twice-read PMBOK Guide.

These sample examinations are meant to increase your confidence in taking the exam. Thus, if you see test scores that need improvement, you should be able to come back to the training manuals, which is where unlimited access comes in.

Certificate of Completion of Contact Hours

Be very sure that the software developer you choose is a PMI Registered Education Provider that provides a certificate of completion for the contact hours gained. In the PMP examination requirements, you have to possess a minimum of 35 contact hours of PDUs.

Examination Tip

The software can provide for examination tips. These are meant to help you remember points that are harder to understand than most. Indeed, you can never have too many tips because these are often the make-or-break questions.

These are the most basic features you have to look for in PMP Exam Preparation Software. Other features like interactive options, online help, exercise and games, and learning objectives are bonuses.

And of course, there is always the cost. You have to weigh your desired options with your budget. Then again, if you do pass the PMP, the cost will be recouped in no time at all!