Passed PMP 4/12/14

Hello all. I've been a lurker on this site, but wanted to post that I passed the PMP today along with some LLs.

First off thanks to this PMZilla and all the PMPs and aspirants who posted in the past. All awesome. The LL, inspirational posts and questions people ask were very helpful and got me to look at my study effort in a different way or answered questions I had myself and kept me motivated.

So, for study prep, I set a 90 day prep time. I have a full time PM job in software dev and a family so I couldn't drag the study out for too long. I created a spreadsheet with what I would do each day reading-wise and tried to keep the study tasks for the day manageable/accomplishable so even if work or home got busy I could still get a chapter in.

I read Rita's book 3 times and did the end of chapter questions on each pass. I quickly went thru her process game 3 times and never really mastered it but I can say it wouldn't have helped on the exam even if I did. I only did a few of her in chapter exercises (formula and critical path related) even though she continued to warn not to skip them. Some of them didn't make sense.

I read PMBOK cover2cover twice. Once was an initial skim thru each chapter, then a more thorough one where I highlighted key points. I'd refer back to it every once in a while if Rita's stuff confused me. I'd refer to this site for clarification as well. So even if I failed the exam I could go to my grave knowing I got thru the dreaded PMBOK!

I read the ITTOs multiple times just so they wouldn't be so foreign to me, but never memorized them. I received approximately 5 questions on the exam with regard to ITTOs.

I did memorize all the formulas Rita says to memorize along calculating critical path and I'm glad I did because I think every one except PTA and ETC were on my test today. Even had to compute communication channels twice. 

After my second pass of Rita I did a lot of the free quizzes and tests listed in this site and usually scored low to mid 70s. I can say the mock tests are helpful to identify weak points or get you used to seeing weird questions but I felt the real PMP test questions were more  like Rita's end of chapter quizzes and less like Oliver's. His are hard just for the sake if being hard IMO. I felt Rita's were tough, but they stuck with me for some reason. Always good to get some variety though.

Important point #1:  I took study breaks. Sometimes for days at a time and then fast tracked my reading to get back on schedule. Breaks are important so you don't get burnt out, bored or frustrated (or your family mad at u). Let the info soak into your brain before cramming in more facts.

D-Day: when I got to the test center I got there early so I walked around the building a few times to de-stress and get focused. I had a poor nights sleep an a headache so the walk helped. It's like airport security once you get in though. Empty pockets, wave a wand over you, etc.  

I did my brain dump of process groups, knowledge areas and formulas and got to work. First question - didn't know the answer, second, third, fourth didn't know. Started to get nervous but did some deep breathing and calmed down. I knew the next few so I felt better although I felt I did poorly throughout. I marked a handful  for review. The questions aren't hard but you have to calm your mind and think. The answer options seemed to be similar to each other so that was tricky too.

I took a stretch and bathroom break a little after the 2 hour mark around question 115. This was helpful.

I finished number 200 with 25 minutes to go and reviewed my marked questions. 

Important point #2: Skim thru all the questions a second time if u have time. Not just the marked ones. I noticed that I had 6 questions that I know I answered that were now unselected.. I attribute this to the stupid on line calculator. Some times when I clicked to remove it from the screen my selected answer would unselect. I must not have caught it each time so watch out for that. I knew the answers for the ones that got deselected so who knows? Maybe that pushed me into Pass territory.

I literally finished my review with 1 second left. Clicked End Exam and waited. I agree with others who've posted that it's a loooonnnggg wait.

i was surprised an relieved to see Pass status as I felt I struggled with the questions.

I finished with a P, 2 MPs and 2 BPs which I'm not proud of so I'll have to get stronger there. The BPs were in planning and M&C which is weird  because I always quizzed and mock tested well in those. But I'm here to tell u that u can pass with 2 BPs but that's nothing to shoot for. 

So sorry for the long write up, but I hope other aspirants can get use of this. Best of luck in your studies and stay positive and stick to your study plan whatever it is. That's key. Everyone has different methods and learns at different rates. 

Oh yeah, I also had an argument with my wife about an hour before I left for the exam so I had that working against me along with the headache and lack of sleep. Her and I are cool now, but if I can pass so can you!

Tom

 

Congrats on your PMP ..........

Please share your test scores which you have given during your preparation.

Sure.

Rita end of chapter exercises: after first read mid 60%, after second read 70-75% after final read 80-100%

I attribute some of the higher scores to seeing the same questions for a third time, but a big part of that was that I was really starting to retain and remember after the second and third reads.

PMStudy free 200 questions: 76%

Oliver free 75 questions: first time 66%, took it again after the second complete read of Rita and got 78%

Head First 200: 73%, second time 82%

PMP Exam Simulator: I purchased this for $65USD as there was a special one day. You get quizzes and 8 exams. This is nice because you can select the amount of questions you get for a quiz so if you don't have time to sit for 50 questions you can select a 25 or 10 question quiz. I averaged 75-80% on quizzes. I took 3 of the 200 question mocks and got 65, 73 and 83%. I then took a fourth one and looked up the answers in PMBOK which I felt help me retain the information better. I didn't count that score obviously.

I didn't get too caught up in my mock test scores because they were more for getting me used to the types of questions since I hadn't sat for a large test like this since my GMAT. My mock scores weren't great, but I didn't let it side track me. By reading the experiences of others on this site, the chances of you getting questions on the real exam that are exactly like the mock exams are slim. I found that to be true as well. Although I didn't take all the free exams available, I felt the real test questions were closer to Rita's. Not super long and kind of ambiguous.

Best wishes,

Tom

admin's picture

Congratulations on your PMP

admin's picture

Hey congrats on being PMP certified.

I have one question. Could you please let me know whether the exams question paterns were similar to Rita's questions. I mean I have Rita's Fast Track and the guide. Most of the questions follow some sort of theme / patern. Were the exams questions close to it or was it different?

Eargly waiting for your response, as I'm heavily relying on her questions for practise. Please help. 

Cheers

Jp