SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

I was super unsure how to rate this, but ultimately gave it a 5 because while the book had its flaws, the fact of the matter is that I passed the CP using it as my primary study source and I NEVER would have passed without it, and that’s what matters, isn’t it?Pros: Incredibly comprehensive and extremely well-written in terms of easy comprehension. I think the ordering of topics, the way they explained them, and how they moved through/built upon the different subjects were very well-organized; a friend used the official SHRM learning system and said they didn’t mention employment law until the very end, but I really like that this book started there as the foundation, then moved into technical knowledge, before wrapping up with behavioral competencies/how to apply that knowledge. I also found the quizzes at the end of each chapter really helpful to make sure I a) understood what I read and b) highlighted what I HADN’T learned as well as I thought I had. The answer keys for each were mostly VERY helpful, although a few were “B is correct because xyz; A, C, and D are all incorrect” lol thanks for the thorough explanation!! Most of them DID explain why the others were wrong though, which helped me figure out where/how to shift my thinking. The full-length online practice exam it came with was especially helpful and very similar to the exam itself.Cons: I found the differentiation between CP and SCP material pretty confusing and was never super confident I knew where to skip ahead; I imagine I learned a bit of the SCP content I didn’t have to just out of caution. There were also several typos, many of which were not just of the occasional misplaced letter variety but more relevant to the content itself (including a couple in the end-of-chapter quiz questions) which I found especially annoying.Overall, my real ranking would prob be 4 out of 5 just because it’s not perfect and I had my own minor quibbles with it.... but I originally bought this because I was frantically trawling reviews for something that would help me pass the exam and I have to say, if you’re looking for something that’ll get you across the finish line without the SHRM system, 5 out of 5 would recommend!

I bought this book and studied for about 12 hours across about a week before the test. The book lays out the material well. It highlights the material for the SCP vs the CP sections.I wish they did that for the practice exam sections but not a huge drawback. The practice questions were really useful - more than anything teaches you go they ask the questions and the kind of answers they’re looking for.I’ve been in the industry for 15 years and so much of the test is situational so I don’t know how well someone would do with just this book and little experience but I felt like the questions reflected the text well.Absolutely worth the price - no need to break the bank on the SHRM Learning system.

Overall this book is a great resource for studying for the SHRM-CP exam and I used this as my primary resource for studying. While a great resource, there are a few things that could have been more beneficial. I do think it was a large part in passing the exam in January 2021.My Background:I am a career changer from Social Work to HR and at the time of taking the exam, I have had 9 months of work experience in the HR field. I also do have a MBA with a HRM concentration that I completed a little over a year before taking the exam so I do believe the formal education helped, but most of the information I learned in my program is also covered in HR undergraduate programs as well.Other Resources:As mentioned, this book was my primary resource in my preparation for the SHRM-CP exam, but I did also have a few supplemental resources that I used as well. I decided I wanted some supplemental practice questions in addition to what the book provided so I also ordered Test Prep Books SHRM CP and SCP Exam Prep Practice Questions, which consisted of 3 full length practice tests. I also some free resources such as the SHRM Body of Competency & Knowledge (BoCK), YouTube, Flash Cards on Quizlet, and various articles online SHRM/HBR. I also found discussion posts on reddit helpful for exam/study tips.Test Prep Method:A lot of resources mention that you need to study for at least 60 hours to pass the exam. I did not track the hours I spent studying, but I did aim to study 2-3x per week from early September until December (I did not study during Open Enrollment time as I work in benefits) and then 3-5x per week in January. I was not always hitting the 2-3x per week mark in right before and right after Open Enrollment time either. While a wide range, I would comfortably say that I studied specifically for the exam somewhere between 35 to 50 hours.Before cracking open this book, I read the SHRM BoCK in its entirety. This gave me a good base on what information I would really need to focus on as well put me in the mindset of what SHRM finds most important.I went through the book chapter by chapter, highlighting and taking notes. If there was a concept that I did not believe was defined clearly, I would find online articles or YouTube videos explaining the concepts more clearly.At the end of each chapter, I would take the chapter quizzes to see how well I retained the information that I reviewed/learned in each chapter.Several people have also made flash cards on Quizlet that come directly from the SHRM Learning System so I was able to review these cards before bed or taking a short break at work since I downloaded the Quizlet app to my phone.My final 3 weeks of prep consisted of retaking practice questions in the book as well as using my exam book to take the practice questions. I did do a few of the exam questions that come online with this book, but did not take full advantage of that feature as there was not a way to save where I left off.The week of my test, I did not do much more prep as I was scoring in the high 80's on my practice exams so I did not want to cram.The Pros of this Book:*Practice questions are challenging.*Each chapter covers a section of the SHRM BoCK.*Affordable- Way less expensive than any HR textbook and certainly less expensive than the SHRM Learning System.The Cons of this Book:*The book does provide notations on where material is for the SCP, but does not notate where this ends. I did not want to focus my study time on material not on the CP exam just as a time management strategy. I did read some of the SCP portions that apply to my current HR role or that I found interesting, but it would be helpful for the book to show under each section if material is for both exams or just the SCP.*Some of the specific concepts in the BoCK are not explained in depth. I found this especially the case with not all leadership theories noted in the SHRM BoCK being mentioned in the book. This may be a blessing in disguise as it did push me to do additional research and studying, but it would have been helpful for all concepts to be covered.*You cannot save your location for the online practice tests and must complete them to their entirety. This is fine for weekend practice, but since my study schedule was spread over several months in 30 minute to hour blocks on week days, I did not work with my study schedule. It is good for a test day simulation.Overall Impressions:Despite its few flaws, I am happy with this book and would recommend it to any HR pro who is prepping for a SHRM exam. It is a great alternative to spending hundreds of dollars on the SHRM Learning System as long as you understand its few flaws, which in the end forced me to do some additional studying from other sources, which as previously mentioned, may have actually helped. For someone who wants all the bells and whistles in one place, this will get you close and will be valuable in your journey to becoming SHRM certified.

I can honestly say with the utmost confidence that this book is what helped me pass the SHRM-CP. The first time I took the exam, I wish I would have gone over this material some more. I probably would have passed. However, this second go around, I finished the exam an hour early, and it was mostly because the content in this book is spot on with what they ask you in the actual exam. My recommendation for all who are looking to self-study with no boot camps or without the LMS: buy this book. Give yourself enough time to read through it one hour around. It’s hefty, be prepared to highlight it up, down, left, and right. Once you do so, get your note taking ready, and create tons of quizlets. Find others as well. Without boring you all with details. The book is solid for the test. And although it’s from a few years ago, the content is still extremely relevant. Don’t regret purchasing this one bit. It’s also going to be useful for years to come when I need to reference things for work.