Hi,

I have learnt a lot from this site, so I feel it is the time to contribute back through what I went through:

Preparation:

1. Had a very high level overview of PMBOK guide just to understand the structure and make myself familiar with some jargons without undegoing any details. Target was to finish the book in 12-15 days, even though how dry it is.

2. Had a detailed reading of Andy Crown Book - excellent book to make the concepts ultra clear. Finished in 3 weeks

3. Gave the sample exam on pmpmodel.com (good quality free exam). It helped me to understand the gaps and specific terminologies that I was missing from PMBOK.

4. Went through the PMBOK again - this time very detailed - Spent again 20 days to read each and every topis along with appendix given at last

5. Used paid exame through - pmcampus.com (good quality)

6. Went back to PMBOK after each exam since I was scoring around 65% - 70% (spent almost 20 days on this activity)

7. Then, used oliver lehman 75 and 175 questions - scored around 79%

8. Referred headfirst labs free tutorial on calculating float, forward and backward analysis can't think of any tutorial anything better then this

9. By this time, I was feeling very confident of my level.

10. Last thing - bought PMBOK Q&A book from PMI - book is too easy in terms of question and answers but reinforces very minute details from the book - a very good read before the exam night (without testing yourself)

Tips

1. Had made it very clear what all formulas I can write down on the scratch sheets that I will get in the exam. Practiced writing the same few times so that I could memorize and write them down in exactly 10 mins

2. Did not try mugging IO & TT of all the processes - but understood them very clearly.

3. Last day just before the exam brushed the formulas and quickly went through my notes that I felt requie multiple revisions

Exam Day

-- Reached 30 minutes earlier

-- Was asked to keep my coat, bag, wallet, watch, phone, water bottle in a locker.

-- I was allowed to keep only my id card with me in the exam room

-- Took 2, 3 minutes break during the 4 hr exam

-- Was able to finish all the questions in 2 hrs 30 mins -- next 30 mins, answered all marked questions -- last 1 hr, revised all the answers, made changes to very few as the answers were very close to each other

-- Overall level of the exam - not very easy, but not very tough as well, if you are prepated well, conceptually clear and have gone through lot of sample exams.

-- It makes sure that you know the concepts and can apply them

-- Had lot of numerical questions on float, critical path analysis etc -- Exam was finished to my satisfaction.

-- Finally, got the results - "Congratulations" with 5 proficient and 1 moderate proficient

 Personal Note - Though I felt pressurized to buy $300 pack to try sample questions, but looked around the net and found ample of questions and material that were more than sufficient till the last day

Thanks