Hi all,

I have been a lurker for a while, soaking in all the knowledge you guys have been sharing on this forum, for which I am ever greatful. I took and passed my PMP today on the 2nd try.. needless to say am crazy behind measures... just wanted to share my exam prep with you and hopefully help someone else

I failed the first exam in October, took about  a week and half to gather myself together and see if i wanted to shell out another $375 to retake the exam. I did, everyone at my office had passed BUT me!!!! You can imagine how i felt.. so i decided to pay the exam fee and start my exam prep AGAIN...

Preparation

I needed to something different to help me grasp the concept of PMP, the PMBOK was NOT doing it for me. So i did some research on line and bought Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep 7th Edition. I read the whole book once.. It was totally interesting and very helpful, it explains everything in layman's terms and pretty much does not need memorizin (like i did with the PMBOK). After reading Rita's I was excited to take the test on teh CD, only to find out it was just the Demo version, only about 20 questions. That was a bummer, i felt pretty good after taking the exams at the end of each chapter.. I was scoring in the 60s and 70s (Rita's exams are pretty hard mind you)

Simulation Exams

I have to tell you, you need to take these exams!! They are very helpful!!!!! No Bull.. below are some of the exams I took and my scores

PM Study - I scored a 66% on the exam (200 questions)

Exam Central - I scored a 69% (200 questions)

Heads First - I scored a 76% (200 questions)

Simplilearn - I dipped and scored a 64% (200 questions, pretty hard)

Techfaq360.com - I scored a 76% (200 questions).. I believe this is the best site for simulation exams, pretty much the questions i saw there we almost like the real exam it self. I finished this in less than 2 hours.

Leahman 175 - i got a 61%, and it was my final exam before the real exam.. I was not disappointed, i felt it was just information over load, i knew i was ready

Exam Day

I got to the center, went through the check in routine, and blah blah.. sat down in front of the computer and started the exam. Honestly in 30 mins i had answered 70 questions, with only a couple marked for review, after 2 hours i had answered 170 questions. At the 1:30 mark left i was reviewing my questions. This shows that when you are ready, you just are ready!!!!

My questions were pretty much all situational. About 90% was situational, the 10% remaining was between a few ITTO, and some maths questions. I was very happy with this, the first exam had too many ITTOs. It was amazing to see the CONGRATULATIONS on the screen. I pumped my fist and held my hands over my mouth so my screams could not be heard!!!

Two Cents

Understand the concepts of Project management.. understand WHAT a project manager does. You need to know this to pass the exam. Most of the questions are based on the project Manager's everyday experience, and you have to pretty much KNOW this in order to pass.  Know the Risk management process, you quality process, your intiating process adn closing process.

Good luck to all, and thanks to all who have shared their knowledge and experience.. I owe it to you..