How to to Pass CAPM Certification Exam 2024

Are you a recent graduate, someone looking to transition into project management, or someone with no experience in managing projects who wants to gain basic knowledge in project management?

Then, you must consider obtaining a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.  

Getting CAPM credentials at the start is a great step. The demand for project managers is increasing in many industries.

According to PMI, a recent survey states that 2.3 million people are required every year to fulfill the position expected to open by 2023 

So, if you are considering a career in project management, starting it in the early phase can relatively earn higher salaries, as the PMI survey suggested. 

Project managers with less than three years of experience in the U.S. earn a median annual salary of $80,000.

What is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)?

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is a widely recognized certification administrated by PMI. This certification is for beginner-level credentials accepted by various industries. Professionals seeking experience in project management or wanting to manage larger projects should consider this professional designation.

CAPM Certification Requirements

To appear in the CAPM certification exam, one must clear the following prerequisites:

• Degree from a secondary school, such as a senior school certificate, pre-degree certificate, or pre-university certificate

• Before taking the exam, you must have completed 23 hours of project management education.

A Step-by-Step Process for Passing the CAPM Exam

Passing any exam requires a process, which includes examining the exam structure, making a plan, giving mocks, etc. Without a proper process, it's very difficult to pass the exam. 

So, here is the step-by-step process to clear an exam on the first try.

1. Carefully Examine the Exam Structure

First, to understand the exam structure, it is always better to be overprepared rather than underprepared. 

Take a moment to determine how much time is left and plan accordingly. 

First, check the latest edition of PMBOK. Analyze the exam content and PMBOK chapter-wise weightage.

The exam consists of 150 MCQs, of which 15 are pretest questions. And the myth is:

These are trial questions that may be considered in the future. They will not impact the final score.

The problem is that candidates won’t know which questions are scored and which ones aren’t.

Because of this, thinking that a particular question might not count can be tricky and may waste valuable time. 

So, it’s best to treat every question like it’s scored to avoid losing focus.

The candidate has a time limit of 3 hours to finish the exam. 

The passing score is 65% to 70%, which is not an exact number, as the PMI handbook states. 

2. Plan your Study Schedule

To prepare for the CAPM exam, it is essential to create a solid study plan that fits your routine and helps you stay organized. 

Start by understanding the exam structure and taking a practice test to see where you stand. This will show you which areas you need to focus on the most.

Once you have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses, break down the study material into smaller sections. 

Create a weekly schedule based on how much time you have, making sure to spend more time on the areas where you need the most improvement.

As you study, take another practice test toward the end of your preparation to see how much you've improved. 

Following your study plan will help you stay on track and give you the best chance of passing the exam on your first try.

3. Scheduling an Exam Date 

Before scheduling your exam dates, ask yourself some questions.

Can you finish the syllabus before the exam?

Where do you stand, and what has to be done to improve it?

If you are confident enough to answer these questions, schedule the date accordingly. 

If you still think you are not confident enough, taking some time is okay.

Since you have three attempts, you can consider the first attempt as a trial to test your preparation and learn from your mistakes in another attempt. 

4. Take Mock Tests

Mock tests are the best way to analyze your preparation and identify weaknesses and strengths. 

Regularly taking mock tests boosts your confidence, helping you feel more prepared and less anxious during the actual exam. 

Mock tests give you a clear idea of the types of questions and the time limits, reducing any surprises on the actual exam day.

Practicing with mock exams teaches you how to pace yourself so you can complete all questions within the allotted time.

5. Read the PMBOK Guide

While CAPM preparation courses help explain concepts in an organized way, it's still crucial to spend enough time studying the latest PMBOK Guide. 

PMBOK books are thick, and some people find them hard to read. 

However, one way to lessen the burden is to ask your training professional to convert them into slides or PPTs. This will make them easier to read and understand. 

PMOBOK is very important; don't entirely rely on PPT. It's better to note the important points not mentioned in the PPT and read them from the PMBOK guide. 

6. Don't rush during the Exam, and prioritize the easy Questions

The pressure to finish the exam quickly leads to careless errors, costing you valuable marks. 

Read questions and choices very carefully before answering. 

You have three hours to finish the exam, which is more than enough. You need to be extra careful with questions that use words like “MOST correct,” “NOT,” “EXCEPT,” or “BEST possible,” as they require more thought to answer accurately. 

These types of questions can be tricky, so taking your time and understanding them is essential. 

To avoid mistakes, practice handling these questions during your CAPM exam preparation using a thoughtful approach during mock tests.

7. Write down the important formulas at the beginning of the exam

It's very beneficial to note down the formula on the paper at the beginning of the exam, such as earned value, and other cost formulae.

Most importantly, the formula of ITTOs. It is mentioned everywhere not to give too much importance to this formula, but these are very important formulas for any PMI exam. 

8. Stay Confident 

When answering practice questions, you might find that more than one option seems correct. To solve this, you can eliminate wrong answers until you're left with two choices. 

If you guess at that point, it's important to note which questions you guessed correctly. This way, you can study the topics you had to guess.

While practicing, aim to score at least 70% without relying too much on guessing. 

This will build your confidence and improve your chances of passing the CAPM exam on the first try. 

Tracking your performance will also help you see which areas you need to improve on, so you can focus on them and make steady progress.

Some Helpful Additional Tips For Clearing the CAPM Exam

• To remember the ITTOs effectively, recall the examples explained during the sessions. This approach helps you remember the material more effectively and logically.

• Writing things down while learning can help you understand and remember the material more effectively. This will help you make notes, which you can refer to just before the exam.  

Conclusion

Congratulations on passing the CAPM® exam! 

You are now officially recognized as a capable project management professional with a valuable credential. 

Your dedication and hard work have paid off, and you’ve taken a significant step forward in your career.

If you didn’t pass this time, don’t worry. You have two more chances to try again. 

Think about what went wrong, learn from it, and adjust your study plan. 

You’ll do better on your next try with more preparation and effort. 

Keep going, and you’ll succeed in getting your certification!