Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the questions I frequently receive from students, I regularly update my FAQs page.
1. How important are these learning resources?
If you’ve only recently come across my YouTube channel or website and your exam date is close, I strongly recommend considering a reschedule. With years of teaching experience, I deeply understand the significant impact these resources can have on your exam performance. My advice to students is always sincere and grounded in experience. While you may move on after achieving success, I hope to be remembered as someone who played a meaningful role in your journey.
2. How to allocate time for reading material and practising questions?
I hold multiple certifications and closely monitor the exam patterns for certifications like CSCP, PMP, and ACP. Based on my experience, an effective study approach involves allocating 30% of your study time to read manual (if you are a CSCP aspirant) or PMBOK (if you are a PMP aspirant), which is crucial for building a strong conceptual base and the ability to link concepts to questions. The remaining 70% of your study time should focus on practising questions, as this will equip you with the art of attempting questions.
Please remember that these are professional certifications, and the examiner will never ask you basic questions. The examiners often present questions in a twisted or indirect manner to test your understanding of the concepts. Ultimately, success comes down to mastering the art of approaching and answering questions during the exam. As I said earlier, you should have these resources as soon as possible so that you can practise questions multiple times.
3. When is the right time to purchase these learning resources?
Before answering, let me clarify that I am a teacher, not a salesperson. I deeply respect my role as an educator, and my conscience does not allow me to push anyone to buy my learning resources.
Now, to answer the question: I recommend that students should acquire these resources as early as possible. The curriculum is extensive, and it is crucial to go through the questions in my question bank multiple times to ensure a thorough preparation.
4. How to use my learning resource for the best results or how to prepare for the exam? (Study Plan)
You might have bought multiple learning resources for preparation, but a clear strategy is essential to make the most of them. Let me guide you step-by-step on how to use my learning materials efficiently.
For this guide, I assume you have the official manual—either the CSCP Manual (for CSCP students) or the PMBOK Guide (for PMP students).
During the initial phase of preparation, reading the CSCP manual or PMPBOK requires more focus as it takes longer to grasp. If you are studying for three hours a day:
- Dedicate 2 hours to reading the manual to build a solid foundation of concepts.
- Spend 1 hour attempting practice questions from the questions bank.
This ratio should continue until you’ve finished reading the manual and understood the concepts. Once the manual is fully covered, shift your focus entirely to attempting questions. Please do not indulge yourself in reading manual or PMBOK for long because the examiner will not ask you theoretical questions. You don’t have to memorize anything. You just have to understand the concepts from the manual or PMBOK.
– Set 1, Set 2, Set 3 and 100 CSCP Practice Exam Questions should be divided into manageable chunks of 25 questions each to be attempted on a daily basis. Questions bank and manual reading will go side by side. Everyday, you will read the manual for let’s say 2 hours and attempt at least 25 questions from the question bank irrespective of the fact if you have read the topic or not.
Even if you score less, just stick to this routine and trust the process. Slowly and gradually as you will progress and read more concepts, your results will start to improve. If you score low, look for the definition of the concepts that were there in the question so that you get to know why you did it wrong.
Remember that your purpose is to prepare for the questions in the exam. You must train your mind to be inquisitive and look for the answers and interrelated concepts.
– 300 One-Liners – You don’t need to memorize them, but you should be knowing them extremely well. Remember that these are facts. They make you razor sharp for your exam. You might have heard of a rapid-fire round in a TV show where the host asks some quick questions from the guest, and the guest must answer them in few seconds. These liners are like that.
You will come across some questions in the exam out of these 300 liners where you will not even bother to read the whole question, and you will select the right answer and move forward. (Please know that I don’t recommend this practice).
– Numerical Formula sheet – Simple and Sweet answer: You must memorize them.
– Solved Numerical Questions Collection – Practice each solved example thoroughly and attempt to solve them independently. Although, you will not encounter any numerical-based question with rigorous calculations in your exam, but sometimes easy things become difficult.
5. How to gauge if I am ready to take the exam?
This is one of the most important questions for students currently in the preparation phase. The CSCP certification is comprehensive, and it’s common for candidates to feel uncertain about whether they’ve prepared enough. Many continue to believe they haven’t covered everything or fear they may have forgotten previously learned concepts.
To help gauge your readiness, a practical benchmark is this: consistently scoring at least 80% on practice question banks is a strong indicator that you’re on the right track. While no preparation is ever perfect, reaching this level of performance shows a solid grasp of the material and suggests you’re well-positioned to succeed in the exam.
6. Do I need additional study material?
No, potentially, my learning resources combined with the relevant certification manual, are comprehensive enough for an effective exam preparation.
7. Why have I not included the rationale for each of the questions in Set 1, Set 2 or Set 3?
There are two key reasons for this approach:
Firstly, I believe that after watching my YouTube videos, where I have provided detailed rationale for various questions, students should be equipped to independently deduce the rationale for the correct answers. This fosters critical thinking and deeper learning.
Secondly, the question bank is extensive and writing rationales for each question presents a significant challenge in terms of time and feasibility.
8. How do I know what is going on in the actual exam?
I regularly interact with my students after they take the exam to gather their feedback on the questions and overall experience. This also allows me to gain firsthand insight into the types of questions being asked.
9. Are these real exam questions?
I receive this question quite often and I keep on looking for ways to best answer this question. Although, some questions are best left unanswered.
All I can say is that you will see similar questions in your exam. I believe my students are intelligent enough to understand what is not being said.
“Listening to what is unsaid is a key part of active listening.”
10. “I’ve just cleared the CSCP exam. Should I consider pursuing the PMP certification next?”
I highly encourage all my students to consider preparing for the PMP exam after obtaining their CSCP certification. Since by then you would have honed your skills in tackling the exam questions, this would be an ideal time to build on that momentum. Moreover, the PMP exam shares many overlapping concepts with CSCP, making the transition smoother. Earning certifications from two distinct and prestigious professional organizations will further enhance your credentials and career opportunities.
I often emphasize that project management is a skill relevant to almost every profession, whether you’re a doctor, plumber, or an engineer working as part of the lower management, middle or senior management. Projects can vary in size, complexity, and duration, but the core principles of project management remain the same.
11. Would your videos, tips, and concepts remain relevant for preparing for the CSCP exam in 2025? I believe they will, but I’d appreciate your perspective.
That’s a great question! I’ve been training students for quite some time now and stay up to date with changes in APICS modules and exam patterns. It’s important to understand that the exam focuses on supply chain topics, so they’re not going to ask you questions about quantum physics. Instead, what they often do is reorganize the placement of topics within the modules.
For example, when a new version of the manual is released, they might place the forecasting chapter in the first module. Later, to discourage students from using outdated manuals borrowed from friends or relatives, they release another version where the forecasting chapter is moved to the middle or last module. Despite these changes in organization, the core content and concepts remain almost consistent across versions.
Many students from around the world benefit from my videos and study materials, which have helped them clear the exam on their first attempt.
12. Can I take the exam after watching all your videos?
While I’m proud to be recognized by students around the world for the quality of my teaching, I feel a strong responsibility to be honest and transparent. The CSCP certification is rigorous and requires a deep and comprehensive understanding of the material. Watching my lectures alone will not be sufficient to guarantee success in the exam. If you’ve committed to this certification, please be prepared to immerse yourself fully in the learning process. This includes thoroughly studying the official materials, practicing consistently, and engaging with the concepts beyond just the video content. True preparation demands discipline and dedication.
If you’re struggling to pass any exam, feel free to reach out to me for guidance. I want to reiterate that I am a highly experienced instructor in certifications such as CSCP, CPIM, PMP, and ACP. Email me at cscplearning@gmail.com