Rita's Fast Track-Advice

Submitted by brittann on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 12:36

Hi,

 

I'm studying for my PMP and I have been debating on using Rita's fast track.

Could someone give me some advice? Should I purchase this?

 

Also, for the exam prep; I need a simulator that will test me on processes and not just knowledge areas.

Any advice?

 

Thanks!

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PMP Exam Tips, Tricks and Lessons Learnt.
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makarandh

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 16:37

Hi 

Yes you can go ahead its like an insurance but at the same time as you progress with Fastrack I would advice you to take another 2-3  full mock exams from some other sources as well. Have a look at my blog on timing and other information mock tests. Rita has good variety of questions and large question bank which will help you to get good traction with all knowledge areas. 

- Makarand, PMP

 

 

brittann

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 18:16

Thanks Makarand,

 

I didnt' pass the exam the first try....I believe I struggle with the situational questions.

Does Fast Track have very many of those?

makarandh

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 03:50

Hi

Retrospect on your last attempt and identify apart from situational questions what has went wrong? list it out, prep on it and put yourself in full throttle. I am sure you will pass this time. 

Below are some tips on approaching to situational questions. As you progress with the prep and mock exams, it may happen that below steps you will follow subtly in back of mind.  

1: Filter noise / surplus information and capture the crux of the question  

2: Read all answers (top to bottom / bottom to top)  and apply law of elimination / rule out obviously wrong answers (mostly 2 are obviously wrong)  
 
3: Shortlist potential correct answers (mostly two appears good / correct answers and one is best for the situation)    
 
4: Put yourself as a PM in the situation and apply each answer to the context  
 
5: Benchmark actions / remedies against the processes and knowledge areas  (see PMBOK page 43) 
 
6: Keep a hawk eye on the keywords / terms such as BEST, SECOND BEST, NEXT,NOT,EXCEPT,LAST used in the question (read last chapter from Rita's book)
 
keep us posted how it goes.
 
- Makarand, PMP

saket_pmp

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 19:05

Rita is of-course very good to understand PMP tricky question and its explanation is superb. It should help you. I see you have already tried PMP exam ones, so I do not see any reason that you need to fight to get advice. You have seen the real exam and real PMP questions, why don’t you plan out a way for you? For second timer, generally 45 days is sufficient if you can put 2-3 hours daily.


People over here have given links to many websites providing PMP types questions that you can try for free, why not try those and the one you see going wrong, you can refer PMBOK for those. If you explore things and look for options, not only you will grow and gain more but also you will get various taste from different providers. PMP exam questions are of mix type and hence such variations is going to help you more. Explore things and find out your ways, do not hurry for exam now.
 


Saket, PMP

krantikumar50

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 08:22

Hi SS,


 


When you say 45 days with 2-3 hours of output is sufficient, I think with due regards, we or one should also ascertain the PMP effort that went through the first time.


 


I say so because the first time when I had taken the test, I did not know nothing on page 43 of PMBOK, the sequences of processes and the ITTOs. My gameplan this time was/is to master page 43 and ITTOs. The status today is yes, I totally know page 43. And consistently score 85-90 percent from Brainbok whenever its a 100-200 question tests that I give. I know the areas where I am lacking, Project doument updates and OPA updates. Now wasting any further I am thinking of mugging it up. EEF updates are fine since it appears in just two, Develop and Manage PT.


 


For Maths, I bought the book prescribed by many successful Zillians, TMH's book and in just 10-12 days I would be through with that too. As for formulas, one has to mug it up. Thankfully, I remember many and for the concepts TMH is fine.


And, God fobid, if I dont pass the muster this time then 45 days would be fine. So it all depends what input did one give in his maiden attempt and then one can decide how much more time/hours does he or she need looking closely at the strong areas and the delta areas. Now, if you had to judge someone like me, after the 1st fateful attempt, hope 450 days would be okay :)


 


Warmly, KK....

saket_pmp

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 17:18

Hey Kranti,


I completely understand. I have said in my earlier post that passing PMP exam is like a love story i.e. everyone has something different and unique to share.


When I say on an average 3-4 months is enough for a PMP aspirant as a first timer its expected that people over this period of time refer PMBOK and one references and they also try some good mock test along with concentration of PMBOK important IITO pages. When they fail after such preparations, I recommend around 45 days is sufficient enough. The 45 days recommendation has some assumption and literature behind it.


The 45 days does not apply to all. I guess somewhere you said in this forum that you just prepared for 20-25 days and gave PMP exam and failed. The time you dedicated is not at all sufficient for an average people to pass PMP. So, for you the rule of 45 days, does not at all apply.


Exceptions will always make the rule. You see from this forum, one or two people passing PMP without even opening PMBOK, some just in 2 weeks of preparations etc, exceptions will make the rule, but we as a average human may not fall in this unique category and we have to follow some best practices and recommendations that mostly works for majority of the people.


I hope I am clear this time. :)


Regards,
Saket, PMP
 


 

krantikumar50

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 18:09

Point Taken SS...


 


Keeping every IFs and BUTs aside, I feel 3 months with 2-3 hours of input everyday is enough coupled with mastery on Maths and ITTOs.


 


I totally concur your opinion that 45 days is okay for people who prepared well but lacked just by a bit.


 


Warmly, KK....

danny2012

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 03:37

Actual exam is more straightforward than Rita's Fastrack questions. Don't need to practise too many of them. Questions from Rita's book plus one or two full PMP exams in Fastrack are enough already.


Go through Rita's book 1 or 2 times so as to get good understading of the concepts.


Focus on all the Processes and ITTO in PMBOK. Try to ask yourself why the ITTO are required for a particular process. If you're quite familiar with them, you hardly can fail the actual exam.


Good luck.

brittann

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 12:09

I have been back and forth on purchasing that for a while. I can honestly say that I know the ITTO not just by memory but understand why processes takes place when it does. I plan on taking my exam 7/23.

I decided not to purchase Rita's FastTrack, I'll take advantage of PMZilla, PMPFORSURE, and HeadFirst.

Do you know of any other good mock exams?

I plan to take at least 5 before my real exam....in fact I'm due to take one this Saturday!

 

Thanks

danny2012

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 03:49

I tried Fastrack and the following tests:


Final Test from Andy Cowe's book. Difficulty level similar to Head first, with a bit higher quality.


PMSTudy Free and Paid Tests. Difficulty level and the way the question is given is closer to actual exam than other tests. I bought all 4 tests but only managed to complete 3 of them. Them helped fill my gaps in PMBOK. I made a lot of notes for them.


Oliver Lehmann 175Qs. Difficulty level is a bit higher than actual exam. Question of Good quality, but explanation is too brief. Just page number was given. You need to check your PMBOK and other references which are only accessible to PMI member. My suggestion is to just focus on those whose answer are from PMBOK.


PMZilla 200Q. Very tough. Try it after all other mock test if you've got time. I only scored 55%, with 75% of the questions not sure about or answered wrongly.


Try as many questions as you can. But please reserve enough time for reviewing PMBOK and Notes, which is the key to success.


Good luck!


-Danny