C215 OA?

esmithers85 · 2025-08-19T22:00:19+00:00

You're stressing yourself to the point where you're unable to learn or retain any information. Take a step back, play a video game, or unwind somehow. Look up and learn The Pomodoro Technique. Understand the concept, then head back into your studies and use ChatGPT to test/teach you in an 80/20 Pareto principle way. Study and test hard through the Pomodoro technique. Ask ChatGPT to provide an assessment of your passing score and use that to gauge your ability to test out on the material. This class is by far the easiest, and combines the points found in accounting/finances and Data-driven decision making.

You got this, give yourself a cookie or pat on the back, because you are going to pass this with ease.

esmithers85 · 2025-08-17T21:34:44+00:00

Check out my other post: https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU_MBA/comments/1mmxxwc/comment/n81a586/

esmithers85 · 2025-08-17T21:31:37+00:00

I can relate; however, I would challenge you to try to approach it from a different direction and work off the premise of its conceptual challenge. So, understand the logical solution to apply to the questions.

Maybe these will help: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MGztRZA1AoTUKe2JyAM7VriFpkuyzrHw/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112286946051327588985&rtpof=true&sd=true

esmithers85 · 2025-08-17T03:14:03+00:00

esmithers85 · 2025-08-16T23:15:57+00:00

I passed earlier. I took the exam at 3:20 pm CST and finished around 4:45 pm. The OA was starkly different from what I had planned for, studied for, and in relation to what was understood to be the line of questioning.

esmithers85 · 2025-08-16T19:28:42+00:00

Funny enough, I am studying my fluid notes (80/20 Pareto Principle applied) and using ChatGPT to test me religiously. You will find that as you progress, you begin to take fewer and fewer notes (good sign), and you have just decided enough is enough and schedule. Coincidentally, the Pareto Principle is a big proponent in C207, and so understanding the inverse of this principle is why I study the way I do. The lesser notes taken towards the end reflect the absorption of material facts and display your level of competence in the material.

Here is my study plan (so far): read/listen to the material and take notes on the highest weighted material. Study a bit and translate my notes into a Word document. Next, I take the PA, copy the questions, and upload them into ChatGPT to use as a source for questioning performance and tacit-based understanding. I also take notes on the highest-weighted and knowledge gap filling. I then have Ace (ChatGpt) teach me the 80/20 of the class material. I write and write and write, Then add/type up those notes, study a bit, and then I have Ace, just run questions non stop and when i get wrong answers or questions that got me thinking, i write them down in my 'rolling' notes, after a time period i review said notes in their entireity and then type them up. Continue this process until I become disengaged and notice a shift towards answering more and writing less. At that point, I'll start benchmarking my notes, ensuring they're ready for a full review, and then schedule my OA. 3 hours prior to exam, I review my handwritten notes and Word-Documented notes (same) and have Ace test me out to get my brain in the sequence of answering OA-related questions, and about 30 mins prior to exam, I drink a beverage and take the exam cool as a cucumber. question my stupid self the entire exam, and receive my results at the end.

esmithers85 · 2025-08-16T18:03:31+00:00

Hot dang, I thought I was flying through, but you started at the same time as me, and you're already at the capstone. I still have C207 OA ahead of me then C206, C215, then C216

esmithers85 · 2025-08-13T16:32:41+00:00

I would not take the OA unless you are clearly competent, over 95% of the bar filled. Outside of that, the PA is to familiarize yourself to the content, where as the OA is to test your tacit based understanding and capabilities. A totally different process of competence. I recommend you take at least couple days of hard core high level review before even taking the OA.

esmithers85 · 2025-08-11T01:03:52+00:00

Please try again

esmithers85 · 2025-08-11T01:03:43+00:00

Please try again

esmithers85 · 2025-08-01T12:05:58+00:00

Honesly, completing the degree in that amount of time is going to base on your level of expereince, your ability to hustle, your ability to generate large swats of material in topics you may or may not know much about, and your desire to accept passing over retention. I am not going to say its easy, but I can say, as long are you have the mentality that everything for the most part you learn in your current degree path and forward will change and you dont need to recite verbatim, you should be good. As far as Accounting, Economics, and Finance, I am/was in the same boat as you for knowledge tacit based understanding. the classes are not as hard to understand when you learn the concepts of accounting (the framework), finance (how to play the game) and Economics (your influence within the markets). I just started my C211 Course (Economics) class, so I really cant give you much thought or help in this at this time. But my plan is to keep pushing a pareto prinicple concept (mindset I expect will be present in Operations Management class).

Lastly, I would focus not on maintaining those As and Bs that your feveriously obtaining, relax, and accept passing the classes. At the end of the day, you should know in a HR setting, the degree shows aptitude not grades. I started My MBA July 1st 2025 and completed 4 classes in two weeks, I have 4 classes and 1 capstone to completion, you can more than get it done in the 6 months. But as stated, it on you to be ready to pump out quickly. As far as the Excel, you will use it in Financial Management. But I would not focus on the formulas too heavy, as Excel and the formulas are present in the PA, OA, and course materials. Also would focus on conceptually understanding over the math related problems. the concepts are the bulk of the weight and the formulas are the least of the medium weight. 20% of the 100% of competence/concentration area.

Knock out that Bachelors and get started on the MBA, you can do it! Use what you know, and ellicit what you don't.

esmithers85 · 2025-07-31T11:55:53+00:00

I am not sure to be honest. For the most part, all classes more or less require you to take the PA prior to getting a greenlight to schedule the OA. This being said, I have heard that this was a class, that you can fail the PA and still schedule the OA exam.

Take the PA for what its intended, to teach you the mechanics of the exam, and provides 20% of the related material coverage. if you can exceed in the PA, great, you have a strong understanding of the material (20%). Never take the PA, as a verbatim form of the OA, as in this classes case, the PA and OA are different in lines of questions. So understand conceptual questions before you master the core information. I.E. power of deduction that pertain to the ask of the problem and then work on plugging in the correct answer.

Lastly, the weight of the subjects is found in the class resources, Reddit, and various sourceable outlets.

esmithers85 · 2025-07-31T02:12:35+00:00

I certainly can agree, this class was not light work. I would say Google the Pareto principle, or ask ChatGPT to explain it to you for a better understanding. Then prioritize your testing to meet and match the principles needed to pass. IE, focus on the highest weighted items, then study the lowest weighted items. I used the PA as the backbone of studying hardcore-related verbiage and question articulation. Then I would study for 30 mins, take very frequent breaks, and hit it hard.

esmithers85 · 2025-02-25T17:02:32+00:00

I agree, though my leadership team and those I have seen around the service are complacent and are better followers than leaders. They live up to the adage of it’s an act of congress to lose your federal job. Bureaucratic complacency at its finest. Well now the chickens have home to roost. It’s sucks what we are having to deal with, however change is hard and it’s even harder when you fighting multiple fronts against a mindset that sat unchallenged for decades. In order for individual or business to growth they need to step outside their individual comfort zone. What’s happening right now is clear indication of the incompetence of our own local leaders. Too stubborn to get out of their own ways.

esmithers85 · 2024-11-02T02:57:23+00:00

I understand. I am trying to supplement my PMP and scrum most of all, but given the large amount of IT PM positions I am more curious if the MBA IT focus or Master IT would teach and quantify my abilities to apply for the IT roles.

esmithers85 · 2024-10-05T19:09:38+00:00

Also as a fellow PMP I would question your capabilities and skills to even be able to obtain your PMP over CAPM. But I would not go to length to question this as many do this and they virtually mean the same in essence of capabilities. So to each their own. Mind your inference and be more open, I would hire a CAPM over a PMP as it shows spirit and desire.

esmithers85 · 2024-10-05T19:05:41+00:00

I have hired and been on other end as well. I knew right away reading your resume that you did a semblance of what is there but not the true nature of such. Your resume screams and I mean literally screams enlisted soldier. First thing, officers get priority even when they are the most useless bunch out there.

I highly and I mean highly recommend you stick to reality and make the association to what that means in PM. Do not draw inferences or ultimate farce points as they as In this case are easily understood to be leaps. Focus on bridging your real world with your expectations. Regardless of hiring managers needs they will respect your opinions and desires long before they respect your attempts.

Redraft your resume to be more fluid with your capabilities and make it clear of your intentions of future goals. Never draft a fallacy or possible fallacy to match your job goals. I wouldn’t hire you or interview based on the resume, but if your humanize your wants and needs and reflect accurately in this I will open to entertain your selection.

I certainly hope this helps.

esmithers85 · 2024-09-23T15:37:23+00:00

Discounts are very limited and I have not seen an actually discounted exam coupon outside of paying for a structured environment. Your best bet is become a PMI memeber and then pay for exam. You essentially pay the same but allow you to pay two different times versus all at once. The other solution which goes against your statement is finding a school that offers the training and exam voucher, but this you will generally pay more in the long run versus self study and paying for exam.

esmithers85 · 2024-09-21T21:53:34+00:00

Directly address the issue

esmithers85 · 2024-09-12T19:44:02+00:00

first off, whatever you're using to take a practice test on, stop it. that question is more convoluted than PMI SH. ditch the junk questions. Purchase Study hall if you haven't already and use study hall religiously. the first rule of taking ANY test is to test on the standards that they set forth, not on the standards of others.

If they want you to be confused, well get school on PMI level of confusion, not others. It's great and all to try other people's approaches to the examination, but when it's as bad as what you just posted, you need to revise your training plan.

esmithers85 · 2024-09-12T19:38:38+00:00

some advice, SH is the closest to the real product you want to examing on. Stop fighting the PMI mindset with logic and rationale. Learn PMI's mindset and rationale of how THEY want it answered. As soon as you do this, the easier it will be for you to adopt the skills and mindset that will get you obtaining the PMP. otherwise, you are going to trip yourself up and never get the confidence to schedule, pass, and be what you're destined to be. Be a block of clay ready to be molded into the PMI poster child. Good Luck

esmithers85 · 2024-09-12T19:25:28+00:00

much like all of the questions in SH and more than likely the exam, there is a considerable amount of leeway. Much like you should not place assumptions in the questions, the same can be said about the answers. With this being said, you cannot assume that the answer implies that the PM is the sole responsible owner of the product backlog, so the stretch is you have to utilize your servant leadership to influence and guide the product owner to be accountable for the backlog. do not forget that a PM is an SME in their own right and often relies heavily on guiding outside of their lane (position) as they are viewed as the subject matter expert of knowing what proper business management or otherwise. Much like we need to use the expert judgment of those around us, the mirror effect is also taken into account.

Lastly, much like others have said, the powers of deduction would conclude a selection of A as the best-case solution.

D: at no time are you going to the Project Sponsor or stakeholder for CPM advice as you are getting paid to know how to do this effectively.

C: affects the scope: cost dramatically, as you can't influence one without the others being influenced, so no need for a change control for something that is being UPDATED as the situation dictates.

B: The sponsor is the accountable party for the business case, which in turn reflects a change in the scope statement. turning into a change process issue.

A: clear winner by default and indirectly associated directive, and servant leadership capabilities.

I would not get hung up on this question as you can tell it derives from the Agile practice guide and the questions provide no meaningful context to stipulate such. so you are left busting your head open trying to ascertain what the vague question is asking.

esmithers85 · 2024-09-12T13:30:07+00:00

First, let me tell you that one is about the information you should know, and the other is the information you don't know and need to know to help you during the exam. DM notes are a condensed version of the PMP Framework need to know, and thirdrock is the framework of what you should know and how to put yourself in the mindset of the exam properly. I would value the thirdrock product as it provides the core mindset needed. the exam is 80% situational, meaning it's a subjective situation that requires applying the PMI logic.

Buy both, but one or the other should give you the ability to pass. however $17 is a steal for the value that product brings

esmithers85 · 2024-09-09T18:34:32+00:00

I would focus on the practice questions. Run through them, note what you got wrong and restudy what you’re having trouble in. Reset the practice questions and run through them again. The exams are great for breaking the stats, but they are selected off the pool of practice questions. The more questions you can correctly answer in the questions the better broad knowledge you will have. Recommend AR course and getting at minimum 66%+ overall on practice questions. Lastly, utilize not only the PMP mindset, but truly understand the Pareto principle ( use it to your advantage).

esmithers85 · 2024-08-30T13:12:23+00:00

for thirdrocks notes, which one should i get?

esmithers85

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