Taking and passing your APM Project Fundamentals (PFQ) exam

For anyone thinking of taking their APM Project Fundamentals (PFQ) exam, here is a collection of hints and tips from our own trainer John, who has trained over 1,000 PFQ students with some of the best pass rates in the industry.  It will provide a structure to your approach and study, and help you focus on the most important parts of the exam, and aim for higher pass marks.

Training ByteSize have been training students in APM Project Management subjects successfully for over 20 years, and have built a wide portfolio of supporting qualifications including Portfolio, Programme and Project Management.

Happy listening!

www.trainingbytesize.com

Transcript

spk_0:   0:02
Hello. Welcome to bite size project management. The ultimate podcast for anyone seeking tips and advice on project. Usually clarification on your host Amy from training bite size on today we're discussing Trust your a p m pf you. Exactly. Over the past 10 years, training bite size has trained thousands we're incredibly proud of are almost 99% pass rate. We consider ourselves pretty well experienced in this field, so we hope today's hints and tips will really help. Longest vacation journey. So let's get straight into it. I'm delighted to be joined. State by John John is an absolute expert when it comes to project management. With over 45 years, experience in the field is fantastic to have you with us today. First of all, can we kick off by you? Just explain into our listeners the formats of thie ap MPF Q exam, please.

spk_1:   0:53
Yes, absolutely. The fundamentals qualification exam is a pure multiple choice exam. You're asked 60 questions. You have to answer those 60 questions within an hour so that 60 minutes on nice and easy to remember the past market 60% 60 60 60 on that equates to 36 or more answers. Correct, However, if you do have a condition that a PM accept as possibly require more time up to 15 minutes, extra time is allowed.

spk_0:   1:18
So how can students to maximise the chance of being successful in the exam?

spk_1:   1:23
Very, very basic ideas. First, leave set aside enough time for your studies if you do it personally. If it's in the classroom, be able to clear your mind of any other matters during the course, including during the evening. On the first day. Make sure you're fully prepared as far as possible in terms of knowledge on DH. To ensure this cheque on the syllabus to make sure you're very focused, make sure you feel confident to answer questions related to every section in the syllabus. Take advantage of any telephone or email support offered on DH. Please don't skip on travelling Any practise questions you give him the chance to answer, especially in the form of any examination simulators or sample papers. If you could do all that, you maximise your chances.

spk_0:   2:04
That's fantastic. Thank you so much. Done some brilliant suggestions in there. So when it comes to sit in the exam, how should people approach the paper.

spk_1:   2:12
The most important thing is to manage your time also, to build your confidence as you go on. The best way to do that is to follow a few very simple tips. I'd also tell people that if the reddit question twice or three times, it's time to move on. Leave a gap on the answer sheet because you're obviously having difficulty with that question. Leave it a while. Come back to it later before you do move on, though, if you decided any of the answers aren't possible answers, just cross them off so you don't reconsider them when you come back later. One of the biggest mistakes people make, which is easy to manage, is don't change too many answers. Usually, once you've given an answer, you at first thought was right. It is the right answer. Try not to change it later. You know we'll change it to be wrong. Do guess If you're not sure what the answers have, I guess you might think you guessing, but it's probably an informed guess or an intelligent guess, But please make sure you read the whole question fully. Rightto the last word. Don't do what I do in an exam, which is to read half the question on, then assume you know what the second half said on as a general rule, before you choose the right answer, make sure you read all of the answers unless you're absolutely certain you've already found the correct one. Some very, very simple rules or very manageable.

spk_0:   3:23
Now, suddenly on occasionally, sometimes people do fail the exam. So can you tell us what the most frequent causes are of this on what people could do to avoid it?

spk_1:   3:33
Yes, thankfully, though people failing the exam is very wrapped. As you can see from the pass rate, I would say all the people I've met who have taken two attempts at the exam. The first failure was caused primarily by exam nerves. In other words, they just believed the exam was going to be more difficult than it is. But trust me, they ask you straight questions, and they expect straight answers quickly followed by not reading the question carefully enough. Make sure you read every single word in the question. Look for the emphasis in the question. Every question is trying to make a point, and if you can spot that point, you will choose the right answer. Running at the time is a bit of a problem on DH. I gave a bit of advice before I'm moving on. If you're about to read a question for the third or fourth time, if you do that, you won't run out of time, Generally speaking, but if you refuse to move on before you've answered every question in turn than you will possibly have time management problems of do move on. Also, be willing to guess. If you're struggling with the question, it's just going to get worse. The more you read it, the more you're going to modify your willing to guess occasionally on. Then move on a really basic problem. It doesn't happen very often. These people just not being prepared enough. But if you follow the guidance in either Ari learning course A ll the classroom course, then you should be very well prepared. But yet again, the solution is in every case, be prepared on, make sure you practised, and that's pretty much

spk_0:   4:54
that's fantastic. So absolutely brilliant in price in there. Thank you so much. I can imagine your training sessions. A jam packed with anecdotes and tips, especially have been spoken to our fair as well. So is that anything you always make sure you tell students before they actually sit the exam?

spk_1:   5:11
Absolutely. The three wisest bits of advice really are read very carefully, managing time carefully on the one that can be the hardest to achieve. Just try to relax. When you relax, your brain works better than when you panicking. There's no reason to get het up relaxed. You're in the exam. You'll find it a lot easier, and that's very simple. Advice.

spk_0:   5:31
Brilliant, John. It's been absolute pleasure talking to you today. Thank you so much for your time. You're welcome. That's it for this episode of Beit Foes. Project management will help your junior again soon for another addition. Until then, you can find out more about this certifications and training packages we offer on our website training, bite sized dot com