Be careful with the brain dump tip

When I was preparing to take the PMP exam, it was common to see websites advising to brain dump all formulas that you are going to need throughout the exam. That’s because throughout your journey studying to take the PMP exam, you have a myriad of formulas to remember. Many of them you can simply solve by linking the concept with the question. However you do not have too much time to complete the exam. For that reason, knowing most of the formulas by heart and having them written down on a blank paper for quick reference during the exam can save you a lot of time.

So, what most of the websites recommend is brain dumping the formulas during the tutorial session. In this tutorial session you have 15 minutes to answer basic questions  just to practice which button options are available and to get used to the layout on the screen. It is simple and easy to understand, so people take advantage of these 15 minutes to brain dump all formulas and some concepts you are going to need throughout the exam.

Here is my warning sign: it is not a rule of thumb that all testing centers will allow you to do the brain dump during the tutorial session. Some centers simply don’t allow any writing during the 15 minute tutorial. They only allow writing after the official exam begins. This happens to many people and it happened to me.

My advice is: yes, take advantage of the 15 minutes if it’s allowed. If it is not, do not panic. Be prepared to as fast as possible write down all formulas and concepts you think are important in the beginning of the exam. It will save you a lot of time during the exam, trust me.

I know you, as a project manager, are a master at working under pressure, but it is always good to be aware of this matter to be better prepared.