Hi All!!

I passed the exam today first attempt with 5Ps (proficient across all 5 process groups), so happy that my work paid off. I was hard but with correct planning you can pass.

I would like to share my Lessons Learned as a paid due to this forum and its member as it was a source of both information and incouregment. I benefited a lot from othesr and others should benefit from me as well.

A. Summary of my preparation process.

1- Took the 35 contact hours June 2011

2- Started preparation during February 2012. I was planning the exam early April, but after a few weeks noticed that I need to reschedule due to work commitments I couldn’t find time to study. I rescheduled to start March studying 2012 3 hours during weekdays and 5 hours weekenends.

March

Read Head First PMP, took their exam and scored 85.

April – May

I read Rita’s book and PMBOK together, would read the Rita’s chapter then the PMBOK chapter, take notes and creats what I called term card. I defined each term in my own words mixing Rita’s + PMBOK + Internet Search to come up with a definition in my own words. I would then take Rita’s exam end or fast-track questions

May End.

I took PMStudy Exam, Lehmans two exam, Super PMP (I scored 75-78). Here I was able to identify my pending gaps.

May End – Exam Day.

I reviewed my notes and created by my PMP cheat Cheat, a 30 words document summarizing what I thought I should remember.  

 A few days before the exam I put white papers on my room wall and started drawing processes their input and outputs and creating matrix of important concepts which proved to be really beneficial (more on this later).

Lessons Learned

1- Read Head First PMP first, it will be a good introduction

2- Read Rita’s book to have the knowledge and mind set for the exam.

3- Read the PMBOK to fill the gaps and know what they mean by things.

4- Understand Rita’s chart.

5- Understand what each Tool is for and how you can use even outside its own process

6- Understand why you need each input.

7- When you are able to understand & create the following matrices you are ready to take the exams.

a- Which activity comes in which process matrix

b- Input Matrix

c- Output Matrix

d- Tool Matrix

e- Each document contains what Matrix

f- Diagram / Chart where is it used Matrix

g- Understand formulas and be able to use them

8- Dont take each preperation exam more than once the preperation exams are to identify your gaps and to make you ready.. dont waste your studying exams.. just understand whay you got the exam wrong.

With the above you will be able to answer a LOT of the exams questions.

Guys, you need to understand.. Do not memorize!!

Remember PMP is an opportunity for you to increase knowledge is more than an exam!!