For those taking the PHR and SPHR exams

1. Test Preparation Clues
SHRM Certification Class
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 1

2. The Test
• There are 2 levels of certification:
– PHR (Professional in Human Resources)
– SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources)
• While both exams assess functional areas of
HR, they differ in both focus and cognitive level
of questions:
– PHR questions tend to be at an operational/technical
level.
– SPHR questions tend to be either strategic and/or
policy level.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 2

3. The Test
• The exams are multiple choice and consist of
225 questions (200 scored questions and 25
pre-test questions that are randomly distributed)
• Each question has four possible answers, only
one of which is correct or “the best possible
answer.”
• The answer to each question can be
independently derived from the answers to other
questions
• Four hours are allotted to complete the exam.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 3

4. The Test
• Questions on the exam represent the
functional areas of HR, each with a
different weight. PHR SPHR
– Strategic Management 12% 26%
– Workforce Planning 26% 16%
– HR Development 15% 13%
– Comp and Benefits 20% 16%
– Employee & Labor Relations 21% 24%
– Health, Safety & Security 6% 5%
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 4

5. HRCI
• HRCI estimates that on average, people
invest between 40 and 60 hours of study
to prepare for the exam.
• The exam will run for a maximum of four
hours but you will be in the testing center
for a maximum of five hours, depending
on how long you need to complete the
exam.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 5

6. HRCI
• Logistics:
– Make a test run to the exam center. Leave plenty of
time to get to the testing center so you arrive prior to
the scheduled start of the exam.
– Get your things ready ahead of time. Make sure you
have the admissions ticket, government issued photo
ID, your glasses (if you need them) and anything else
you will need in the test center. You may not bring
calculators and other assistive devices into the test
center. Remember a sweater?
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 6

7. HRCI Test Taking Tips
• Trust your first impression. There is 1 correct
answer to each question.
• Don’t over-analyze. Don’t read too much into
the question. No one is trying to “trick” you.
• If uncertain, leave the answer blank and return
to it later. It is also possible that a subsequent
question will “trigger” information to help you
answer that question.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 7

8. HRCI Test Taking Tips
• Don’t spend too much time on any one
question. If you are stumped, move on
and come back later.
• Look for the “best possible answer.” Don’t
ask yourself, “How would I handle this?” or
“How would we handle this?” The best
possible answer is based on the body of
knowledge, not how any particular firm
does things.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 8

9. HRCI Test Taking Tips
• Eliminate obvious distractors. For most
questions, there are 2 distractors that can
usually be eliminated before you seriously
consider the other answers.
• Try to identify the answer before reading
the choices.
• Use “educated” guesses. If you have to,
guess between the 2 remaining choices.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 9

10. Your Peers
• AllenaK@aol.com Test timelines and on-
line chat group.
• Remember that 25 questions are for future
exams and won’t be scored. If you see
something that you are not familiar with,
try not to over-think and don’t let it shake
your confidence.
• Keep telling yourself, “I know the material
and I am going to pass.”
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 10

11. Your Peers
• “The more questions I answered in
practice, the more prepared I felt.”
• “Look for clues in the question. A question
might ask something and the word
“finance” is in the question. One of the 4
answers has budget in it. You want to
look at the content but it might be a clue
when you are struggling between 2
choices.”
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 11

12. Your Peers
• “Pace yourself. Don’t spend too much
time on any 1 answer. Don’t be surprised
if you feel exhausted after the test is over.”
• “Read the question without paying too
much attention to the grammar. The
answer may not fit grammatically.”
• “Go with your gut when there are 2 best
answers. Generally, your first answer is
the best one!”
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 12

13. Your Peers
• “Don’t worry about the dates of the laws,
etc. no one will ask.”
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 13

14. Your Peers
• “Don’t over analyze. If you start thinking
too much about the possibilities, you will
become frustrated.”
• “Don’t let one or two answers get you
down. Get in the flow and when you don’t
know an answer, move on!”
• “Read the questions in entirety. I found
myself skimming the questions and
missed important information.”
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 14

15. What Does Greg Say?
• The test is a “negative” test, that is, you start
with no points and are awarded points for correct
answers. This also means that you are not
penalized for incorrect answers and that
guessing will not hurt you.
• Whenever there is a conflict between your
practices and the body of knowledge, the body
of knowledge will always win. This is a test of
the body of knowledge, not how you do things.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 15

16. What Does Greg Say?
• Read the question carefully and ask yourself,
“What are they asking me?”
– If you see a question that looks familiar, you might
anticipate the answer, mark it and move on. Don’t
assume you know the answer until you have read the
entire question.
– Avoid jumping to conclusions. Questions are often
provided with distractors.
– Watch out for qualifiers: if, not, all, none or except or
words that modify the question. Make sure you
understand the modification before answering.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 16

17. What Does Greg Say?
• Among the four possible answers, 2 are always
suspect and can be eliminated from
consideration. By doing that first, you will have
an easier time concentrating on the best answer
from the remaining 2 choices.
• Skip questions that you do not know or do not
understand. Concentrate your efforts, initially,
on answering all of the questions you DO know
(remember, it’s all about right answers). Once
you have answered the ones you know, you will
have plenty of time to review the confusing ones
and guess if you need to.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 17

18. What Does Greg Say?
• Never change an answer without a VERY
good reason. In general, change an
answer only if:
– You discover that you did not read the
question correctly the first time.
– Find new of additional information in a
subsequent question that helps you get a
better understanding of what you are being
asked.
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 18

19. Questions??
07/01/09 SHRM Certification Class 19