5 more days for the exam - Mock results not good - Need suggestion

Submitted by pal on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 13:42

Just 5 more days before the actual exam and the results of the recent mock tests arent quite good for me.  So looking out for suggestion on whether to reschedule the exam or just go with it.


Here is some background on my preparation:


Round1: Read Rita + PMBOK and gave the following mock tests


HeadFirst free test- 65%,
 Oliver lehmann 75 Qs - 50%
 Rita Exam 1- 65%,
 Rita Exam 2 - 69%
 PM Study Test 1- 73%.


Round2: After going through PMBOK, Rajesh Nair Notes, Rita and focusing on practising ITTO, I gave the following three mock tests this week. Seems like PMP For Sure is considering 65% and below as BP and so I have used that as a benchmark for arrving at BP. Can anyone confirm on the same if that is the case for the real exam as well? If 70% is the benchmark for BP, then I better cancel my exam and take it after some more practice.


SimpliLearn Free Test 200 Qs - 72% Overall - Fail as I got BP in I and C 
 I-61%, P-74%, E- 70%, M&C-76%, C-57%
 Cause for Concern: Initiating and Closing


Oliver Lehmann Free Test 175 Qs- 74.8% Overall - Pass
 I–84%, P-70%, E-84%, M&C-74%, C-68%, Ethics-56%
 Cause for Concern: Ethics


PMP For Sure Free Test 100Qs- 69% Overall - Fail as I got BP in M&C and C 
 I- 69%, P-83%, E-66%, M&C-64%, C-50%
 Cause for Concern: M&C and Closing. If I would have got 65% in M&C would that mean the result is pass. I am not sure on that one.


I was hoping for results in mock tests >75% and NOT getting BP in more than one Process Groups. Seeing the overall result from all the 3 mock tests seems like I need more preparation with specific focus on Closing. So reaching out to the community to give their inputs on following 2 points


1) Whether to go with the exam (which is JUST 5 days away) or cancel it now and take up the exam date once I start getting mock results of Overall >75% and get max 1 BP in Process Groups.I am still positive in my approach for the exam but need a reality check from you all.


2) If yes, then do give your suggestion on the next 5 days. Here is what I plan to do in the next 5 days wherein I plan to spend around 5-6 hours/day (Planning on praticing ITTO on all 5 days) 


Day 1: PMZilla 200 Tough Question (To find out knowledge gaps and not to focus on the final result)
Day 2: Read PMBook (More focus on Closing) and Rajesh Notes
Day 3: Give PMStudy 3 (paid) as I have heard it is close to the real exam
Day 4: Go through all wrong and review questions of mock exams.
Day 5: Read PMBook, Rajesh Notes, All wrong and review questions of mock exams.


Thanks

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General Discussion
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krantikumar50

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 13:56

Use the below mentoned link for ITTOs...


 


http://ramuklina.blogspot.in/


 


All the best....


 


KK...

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 18:30

 Thanks KK for sharing the link. Considering the limited time I have, I will try to use this ITTO as much as I can.

saket_pmp

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 15:13

Hi Pal,


I would say, don’t make your 5 days that complex and complicated. Relax and keep up the good work you have done so far. As per the test result, I see you will pass PMP exam and the mock test result are very close. I would advice these:


Next 4 days – Buy test from some providers that you find good and choose the one whose questions helps you to think. For these 4 days keep practicing such test without seeing the time. For all wrong attempts, refer PMBOK and explanation given by the provider. Take as much test questions as possible and do this excersise.


5th Day – Just read PMBOK summery pages and refer important IITO pages. Do not take any test. Watch a movie if you can and be with your family.


All the best, you can crack PMP, just move ahead.


Saket, PMP

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 18:34

 Thanks Saket for giving the confidence, which I really need at this moment. I understand your viewpoint about giving test which invokes the thinking process. As of now I am planning for 2 paid tests - PMZilla 200 Tough Questions and PMStudy Test 3. I can go for one or two more mock tests. Any suggestion from your side on the mock tests is really appreciated.

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 19:09

Hi Saket,

Wanted your opinion on the PMPForSure package - 1000 questions. Considering your suggestion for going with quality tests, I am planing to take PMZilla and PMStudy 3rd test in the next 5 days. Do I also go with PMPForSure. I may be able to take 1 or 2 tests from the 10 tests of PMPForSure.

Thanks

saket_pmp

Fri, 07/27/2012 - 06:20

Hi Pal,


Sorry about late response as I am not that frequent visitor here. I see that you already had lots of healthy discussion with Kranti yesterday, so not sure, of you are still looking for my advice having known that you have already lost one day from these 5 days.


You had 5 days yesterday and the mock test results you achieved were on borderline to pass PMP. When you know you are on borderline and you have 5 days of time including weekend that can make lots of differences. The missing 5-10% part can easily be grasped in 5 days when you practice lots of test and find out your weak areas. This was my thought yesterday. I do not suggest any perticular mock test, all I say is try the free one and judge the one you find most tricky and you score less. The good list you have i.e. Pmzilla, Pmstudy, Pmpforsure are all good as long as it helps you and you feel that you have gained out of those. I personally, do not see the benefit of trying high scoring test, except for smiles and false confidence, I do not see any other benefit. You learn from mistakes and not from success.


It looks like, you feel that you are behind 2-3 weeks and this time can make lots of difference. It’s good that you have done 360 degree analysis of yourself. But one thing you should always keep in mind i.e. take PMP exam as exam i.e. your motive should be to pass. Do not mix exam with higher learning, as exam has financial cost, risk and time at stake whereas learning and growth does not have any risk associated with your efforts.  


Keep these points in mind and re-think once before you take a final call. All the best!


Saket, PMP
 

tomm

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 18:00

75 in Oliver and 69 in Pmpforsure is good score. In Simplilearn, Pmstudy, TechFaq360 look for score above 80%. Practice more test, you are very close.


Tom. M

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 18:47

 Thanks Tom for sharing your viewpoint. In Simplilearn, I found some questions not framed properly as well as some grammatical errors. Also, I was distracted by other work during that test, so in effect the result of the mock test is not good - 72%. By having profer focus for the full test I was able to improve the score in Oliver Lehman-75%. As suggested by Saket, I am looking for quality tests (medium to difficult level mock tests) so if you have any other mock tests then let me know. I will go for PMZilla 200 Tough question and PMStudy (3rd paid test) but not going for TechFaq360 as it is of easy to medium difficulty level mock test. 

krantikumar50

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 19:25

Hi Pal,


 


When does your eligibility gets over? Which country are u in?


 Thanks, KK...

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 19:34

 I just became eligible to give the PMP exam 20 days back, so I have another 11 months before it expires. I am in India right now, but may travel to US for couple of weeks (short term visit). Even if I reschedule my exam, I want to give the exam in the next 1 month when the information is fresh in my mind. 

krantikumar50

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 19:41

Very encourging and progressive thought for sure Pal.


 


Well, even if you extend your exam by a month, how much time can you give for your studies. This is a very important point for sure. Are you fully sure which are the areas u need to stress upon? How good are u with ITTOs and Maths?


 


Once you are aware on these points then you may think of extending it by the minimum period of a month.


 


Thanks,


 


KK....

pal

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 20:00

I can spend 2 hours a day and 4 hours over weekends in the next month.

The mock tests have been quite helpful in exposing weaknesses which one may not be able to find out just by reading PMBOK again and again. I believe that by giving other quality tests (PMZilla, PMSTudy and PMPForSure) I will be able to find more gaps in my knowledge. 

I am closing on my gaps in ITTO after each ITTO revist. It may be hard for me to predict, but may be around 70-80% accuracy in ITTO. I have practiced the math questions and now able to tackle the medium difficulty level Maths qs.

Somehow I feel that I am short of another 2-3 weeks in my preparation for my exam. Appreciate your suggestions !! 

krantikumar50

Thu, 07/26/2012 - 20:09

The time that you plan to spend on preparation over the next month is I feel perfect.


 


Yes, please extend. The examinee has to be confident first and then others would follow.


 


I hope your place's prometric will have seat available by the time you plan to take the test. And secondly, it should NOT coincide with your US visit as well.


 


Warmly, KK....

pal

Fri, 07/27/2012 - 09:11

I do have some other commitments other than exam in the next couple of days and seeing my preparation I have decided to reschedule within 1 month. Thanks a lot for all the valuable feedback given by the PMZilla members.

saket_pmp

Sun, 07/29/2012 - 03:26

 


Good decision.


Saket, PMP