I am glad to inform you all that I successfully challenged PMP on 21^th Nov. The exam is way easier than it is rumored in various forums.

Here was my journey to PMP:

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I started to thinking of doing PMP in Aug and initiated this project after doing a Go/No-Go decision in Sept. Here are the project phases:

 

Initiation

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Registered with PMI on Sept 06^th and got a copy of PMBoK

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Got a copy of Rita and Fast Track

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Identified the stake holders and told not to disturb me when I am studying

 

Planning

 

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The requirements and scope was clear to me

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Did a parametric estimation on time to complete the study materials (Time for PMBoK, Rita etc)

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Had my excel sheet ready with a definite estimation on duration

 

Implementation

 

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Started reading PMBoK, the rest of Sept (3 weeks), daily 1-2 hours, except Fridays. Again it is not at all boring if you have worked as a project manager before. Easy to understand the concepts.

 

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Once I am done with PMBOK, I read Rita, PMBoK and Fast track – all in parallel i.e read a chapter from Rita, skim the same chapter in PMBoK chapter and do a test in Fast Track. I used to score 78 to 90% in Fast Track. That gave me some confidence. This whole process took me till 1^st week of Nov. Daily 2-3 hours, except fridays

 

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Initially I scheduled my exam on 1^st Dec. But I wanted not to lose Thanks Giving holidays, so preponed the test to 21^st Nov (executed the self approved change request)

 

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 Last 2 weeks I studied Rita for 2^nd time and PMBoK for 3^rd time and gave simulation tests

 

 

Closing:

 

Appeared the exam on 21^st and successfully completed the project. Now writing the LL as part of close project. It will be archived in pmzilla. I am releasing all the resources to gutter J. Seriously I got bored of studying books, which I never did after my engineering exam.

ITTO

Input:  PM experience, PMP Study Plan

Tools and Techniques: PMBoK ( read 3 times), Rita (2 times), PM Fast Track, Simulations, Internet Search

Output : PMP Certification (3 Proficient, 2 Moderate, 1 Below)

 

 

Statistics

 

Preparation time : around 2.5 months

Daily study time: 2 to 3 hours (Monday to Thursday), no study on Fridays due to parties.. J

Weekend study – 4 to 5 hours in last one month

Last two weeks – 3-4 hours + test simulations over weekend

My test scores:

 

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Head First –  (easier than real exam) 81.5 %

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PMStudy1 – 77%

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Oliver 75 (Tougher than real exam) - 72 %

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Oliver 175 – 74%

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PMZilla 25 Tough – 64 % and 76 %

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PMStudy 2 - 79%

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PMStudy 3 – 80.5 % (1 week before exam)

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PMStudy 4 – 82 % (3 days before exam)

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Fast Track super pmp (very hard) – 81%

 

Exam Review

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Not at all difficult, quite easy, many questions on ITTOs – straight forward

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Many questions on risk, quantitative analysis tools, simulation technique etc, but all from PMBoK

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I wrote brain dump sheet in first 15 mnts, though didn’t use it much

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There were few scenario based questions, sometimes you get little confused. Some of them I am not sure till now

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In first one hour I finished 86 questions – you can imagine the questions now J they were straight forward

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I got few tough question after 120^th  question, when I took a break for 5 min to free the brain

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I completed 200 questions in 2.5 hours with 15 marked,

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Did a thorough revision of all the questions, with a 8 mnts break for a quick burger and pressed end button 5 mnts before the time runs up

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It followed by a blank screen, then feedback on the exam center

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Finally it showed.. “congratulations… “  -> it gave me a great relief

 

Lessons Learnt/Tips

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The exam is easier than many online simulations, so nothing much to worry. Don’t get carried away by advertisers who sell their PMP courses saying passing PMP is tough

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Don’t ready many books, Rita and PMBoK should be enough

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No questions are beyond PMBoK. So think PMBoK as Geeta/Bible and study as much as possible, including the glossary

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Rita’s book gives so many negative impressions on PMP, just ignore them. Take the positive out ot it. It’s a good book, but ITTO should have been better

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Focus more on PMBoK. Use Rita only for reference

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Give as many full tests as possible, especially PMStudy tests. They are close to real exam

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I didn’t remember IITOs, so may not be necessary to do so, just get the processes clear

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Don’t study/stress too much, have a plan and execute the plan

 

 

 

Don’t forget to rock and roll after the exam. Thank God, I got back my evenings and weekends!!! I am still not sure, if doing PMP is worth the effort we put!!!

 

Cheers,

Bish, PMP