Summer School: CPSM Exam Edition
Posted by Website Director on May. 12, 2022 / Blog / Subscribe 0
As kids, summer was our reprieve from studying, working hard, and staying focused. But this summer, if you are planning to take the CPSM exam in September, you need to be prepared for a summer of staying focused on maintaining a positive mindset; learning Markendium’s Six Domains of Practice through reading, notetaking, and rereading; registering to take the exam; and counting down the days until you PASS your CPSM exam.
Yes, I said it, PASS the CPSM exam. I think the first step towards success is making sure your mind is right. Keeping a positive attitude and confidence in your goal is key. So, if you’ve taken the exam before and didn’t get the results you hoped for, take a moment to reset your mindset. If you are taking the exam for the first time, commit to yourself, I will PASS the exam.
Now, with that in mind, let’s dive into what prepping for the exam entails. Yes, this is a commitment, to yourself, your career, your goals. You will need to know, understand, and be able to apply the concepts of Markendium and the Six Domains of Practice. Everyone has their own study routine. I read, took notes, re-read, took notes again, and read one last time.
Set yourself up for success by acknowledging how you study best. Test questions are multiple choice (four options per question). They can ask anything from definitions to situational awareness to statistics, etc. The answers do not have an "All of the Above" option, so you will have to pick one.
Make a schedule, join a study group, reach out to others studying for the exam or CPSMs who have passed to help you. SMPS Philadelphia will hold a Boot Camp refresher starting July 27, 2022, and other chapter throughout the country may also be holding boot camps or study sessions.
Register to take the exam by completing and submitting your application by August 3, 2022 to test in September. Once approved, you will be able to schedule your exam date.
And finally, exam day! When you arrive at the testing center you may be a bit stressed. This is a very important day after all, but you are prepared. Take nothing extra with you to the testing site and if you forget, be prepared that some belongings may be required to be placed in a locker while you take the exam.
You will be seated at a computer, you’ll go through a brief tutorial on how to use the system, and then you get to dive into 150 CPSM exam questions.
You’ve got this! Or at 25 questions in, you have a minor panic attack because the exam is not what you expected… Stop, BREATHE, Focus. You have been studying this material. You are going to pass. You will be [YOUR NAME], CPSM.
Remember these test taking tips while you are in the room:
- If you know the answer, mark it, and move on.
- If you don’t know the answer, cross out the options that are definitely wrong, flag it, and come back to it. Don’t stress yourself out trying to figure it out, save time and move on, you can come back.
- Go through all the questions first before you go back to the flagged questions. This will help you get through the topics and questions you know before you start. Also, you might find the answer to other questions as you work through the ones you know.
- Review the flagged questions after you have gotten through all the questions.
- Once you hit submit, take a deep breath, and be proud that you sat for the Exam and gave it your all!
Best of luck to everyone preparing to take the CPSM exam in September. You have the support of the SMPS Philadelphia behind you!
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