Hi all,

 

Today, I passed PMP in first attempt with 5P's. I planned to take PMP 2 yrs back but I had my first baby at that time and didn't get time to take it, now I am pregnant with my second baby and I thought if I don't take it before I deliver this baby, I am not going t take it fr another 2 yrs. So finally today I took the exam just 3 weeks before my due date. Ufff what a relief. Prometric guys were a bit tensed that I may go into labour at any time, and kept checking me, LOL.

 

 

Personal story apart, I am thankful to a lot of LL's shared here, they gave me an idea about the tests I need to take and the percentages I should target for. I decided to prepare for PMP during thanksgiving, and planned to take it in between Jan 22- 25. I read Rita for coupled of weeks in the first week of December, then had guests at home during Christmas so could not read for 2 weeks in between. I restarted reading again after the New year, and so it's basically 2 weeks in December and 3 weeks in Jan with 2 weeks break in between. Since I had a break, I had to re-read Rita again, but this time took very less time. I took a free practice test and got 62%. I then read PMBOK guide. I could dedicate only 4-5 hrs a day. So, it took like 10days to complete PMBOK as I was doing some sample tests in between. My % in mock tests kept increasing and I got around 77- 83% in 3 exams. Then last week, I took PMstudy3 and I got 73%, I realized my weak area was ITTO's and not reading the question properly, like not, except etc. I re-read some of my problem areas and then took the paid exam in Insite 3 days back. I got 68%.

 

But I didn't loose my cool. I thought it is best for me, because I would really know where I am going wrong. My problem area was still ITTO'S. I took a print out of progress group vs KA table in PMBOK and started reading based on the process groups (instead of the KA's as we have in guide). This really helped me link the process from one process to another and across the knowledge areas. I wrote down all the processes, their input, ITTO'S and outputs in a book, though I didn't memorize them. I am a visual person, so writing them down really helped me understand their role in each process. This helped me so much in the exam. I am glad that I got 68% in the last mock test. I wouldn't have done this exercise if I got a good score in that and I really feel I would not have got  5P's in the exam today.

 

During the exam:

I went 1 hr before the exam and they allowed me to write the exam immediately. During the 15 mins, we get for understanding the exam process, I quickly went thru the tutorial and then wrote PG vs KA table in the sheet.  I still got 4 mins left so, I wrote down some formulae ( though I really didn't refer the formulae during the exam). Writing down PG vs KA table was very useful. I planned to take 50 questions per hr rate as that was the rate at which I did most tests and luckily I was able to do it during the exam too. The key for this exam is FOCUS.  I read the questions slowly, understood what they were asking and in which process we were, so before going thru the answers I knew what to look out for. So, was able to quickly knock out the wrong ones and select the best answer. I completed answering all questions in 3hrs 40 min. In the next 20 mins I went thru the questions I marked, they were only few of them so, I could complete reviewing them in 11 mins. With 9 mins left, I was really exhausted (it is no fun to sit straight for 4 hrs when you are 9 months pregnant and that too without eating) so, I decided I would end the exam.  

 

I was confident I did well in the exam and decided I would never take this exam again if I don't pass now, as I am sure I cannot do better than this. With that I opted to end the exam and waiting for couple of mins after the survey and boom saw the Congratulations screen. Was so elated. Then in the next screen I got my ratings.  It felt so nice to see 5 P's. 

 

My biggest lesson learned:

1. Don't get discouraged if you get less score in mock tests. They will help you know your mistakes. It is better to get less score in mock tests than getting in the actual one

2. Have 100% focus while writing the exam. Don't think about the result. It is not the end of the world.

 

Thank you all for reading this lengthy write up. All the best for your exam.