Checks and Balance to know - "Am I ready ?"

Submitted by Shweta Ahuja on Tue, 09/11/2012 - 04:49

 How do i know when am I ready for the exam.

Well I already have the exam scheduled for Oct 1st but getting jitters now. I have been studying 3-4 hours weekdays and 8-10 hours on weekends for last month and a half.

Read the Andy once and took an ESI PMP Exam Prep Bootcamp. Mostly reading all material from there. Read first 4 chapters of the Pmbook.

Using Rita's FasTrack simulation software.

So far, full length tests taken and in order are:

Rita PMP test 1 - 65%

ESI comprehensive test 1 - 76%

Rita PMP Test 2 - 76%

Oliver 75 questions - 65%

ESI comprehensive test 2 - 81%

Andy Comprehensive Exam (at the end of the book) - 88%

Have done many free sample questions and free.pm-exam-simulator tests (1,2,3).

Mostly I am scoring in 70s for any set of questions I am practicing. Still I am nervous and wanna cross out all the options for failing in first attempt. Please advice in the last 3 weeks what should i be majorly focusing on ?

Thanks,

Shweta

 

 

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sspawar

Tue, 09/11/2012 - 09:51

Above 70 score consistently, is right sign. It’s an opportunity symptom.

mohitkum

Tue, 09/11/2012 - 17:51

Hi Shweta,

Make sure you try these 2 tests that I felt was very close to the actual PMP exam:

PMStudy Free (200Q) http://www.pmstudy.com
PMP for sure Free (100Q) http://www.pmpforsure.com/pmp/

Wish you all the best.

Thanks & Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)

Shweta Ahuja

Tue, 09/11/2012 - 21:15

I just took the practice drill from pmzill and scored 67%. Now what does that relate to my current standing and preparation. Is the Actual exam really that tough, then I am barely ready :( 

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admin

Wed, 09/12/2012 - 03:57

67% is really good , but since the question set is only 30 questions its not enough to benchmark. PMZIlla questions are tough, so the rationale is that even if someone scores 60% in PMZIlla 200 questions then , they are ready for real exam, as the real exam will have only few tough questions


Overall I think you are doing really well, If you get chance read Rita's book. It may be available in some office library if you dont want to buy it.

Shweta Ahuja

Wed, 09/12/2012 - 04:23

 Thanks Admin. I had bought Rita's book but its the old version of the book. this is the version before the pmbok 4th edition was released. I have the FT CD also from the time i bought the book. I am using that old CD. Usually scoring in 70s.

Did the brainbok.com 50 questions and scored 70%.

I plan to do more tests and continue reading andy and referencing pmbok. I just have 20 days left, should i read rajesh nair's imp points ? 

 

 

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admin

Wed, 09/12/2012 - 04:55

No harm in reading Rajesh Nair, its squeezed PMBoK, and good for reference and revision.  Rita's old book also should be fine, just ensure you score well in practice tests, over 70% to 80%

Shweta Ahuja

Wed, 09/12/2012 - 05:46

 Thanks!

krantikumar50

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 07:31

Good Afternoon Shweta Ahuja,


 


I feel you are doing very well and now respected Pawarji Sir has also testified this, so need you worry? Not even an ounce.


 


If Respected Pawarji Sir has said you are doing well, so you are doing well. End of discussion.


 


You will pass.


 


Jai Devaa :)


 


KK...

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 07:40

 Thanks for your kind words. But the irony is I just took the pmpforsure test (100 questions) and did miserable.

Now sure why ? very disappointed. lat thing i want 2+ weeks before the exam.

I failed badly. A. could not complete the exam, was able to do only 92 questions and failed overall. I think BP in all areas. Although passed on doing a pure math, i have 29 wrong out of 92 so technically i had 70% pass but the results were fail. Makes me feel i dont remember the ITTOs :(

I am not even planning to memorize them although so far i though i understand well, my concepts are right and this totally is a reality check :(

well, tomorrow is another day and will start again.

 

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 07:41

  Thanks for your kind words. But the irony is I just took the pmpforsure test (100 questions) and did miserable.

Now sure why ? very disappointed. lat thing i want 2+ weeks before the exam.

I failed badly. A. could not complete the exam, was able to do only 92 questions and failed overall. I think BP in all areas. Although passed on doing a pure math, i have 29 wrong out of 92 so technically i had 70% pass but the results were fail. Makes me feel i dont remember the ITTOs :(

I am not even planning to memorize them although so far i though i understand well, my concepts are right and this totally is a reality check :(

well, tomorrow is another day and will start again.

krantikumar50

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 08:00

Hi Shweta Ahuja,


 


Let me tell you of an example. There is a lady named Brittany Fisher in the USofA. It was her second attempt. She passed with flying colors. She also appeared in PMPforsure a week or 2 before her actual Prometric appearance and she failed. So, what do you make of it? PMP4sure is on tougher side. I was doing okay and one night before the exam tried doing PMZIlla tough questions and no prizes for guessing what happened? The very fact that there is no PMP to my name as a suffix explains all.


 


So, please do not worry lady! Trust yourself and your own instincts. PMPforsure and PMZilla are "Excellent" provided you take the exam 1-2 months before the exam else you always run the risk of being ripped apart and henceforth your result. And do not forget Ms Ahuja about the silver lining and that is Maths. So, the takeaway is watch out for the knowledge gaps, iterate on PMBOK and come out trumps.


 


And as I said before, Respected Pawarji Sir has said that you are doing well. So, why worry? Take good care. Be best friends with PMBOK. You have a fortnight and thats enough for intelligent people like you. The question is not about me but people like you. Kindly be confident, trust self and rock :)


 


Jai Devaa and Jai Sai Baba...


 


Warmly, KK :)

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 08:36

 I am glad I can get support here. I dont have many friends and family who understand what PMP is, so its hard to share the experiences related to preparing for PMP :)

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 09:51

I didn't know that pmpfosure will not save my test results. So i had to go back and do the same test again. this time i took like only 20-25 minutes and made sure I am selecting the same answers, even though last time i had reviewed the wrong answers and their explanation. I did the two tests one after another, maybe within 30 mins between the two. To my surprise this time i passed..hmm

Test Name = FREE TEST
Total Questions = 100



Phase Total No Of Questions Right Answers
Initiation 13 10
Planning 24 21
Executing 30 18
Monitor & Control 25 18
Closing 8 6


Result:PASS


Percentage Accuracy: 73.0%



Phase Proficiency
Initiation Moderately Proficient
Planning Proficient
Executing Below Proficient
Monitor & Control Moderately Proficient
Closing Moderately Proficient



 
Maybe its because first time i took the test i was not able to complete all the 100 questions. I only did 92, it was not because i really could not finish on time but i was lazy and took a 20 minute break during the first time.

Thanks god, I was just not believing myself that I could do so bad after all these months of studying. what a relief.

mohitkum

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 12:14

Hi Shweta,


Excellent result. I have used Pmp for sure and I agree with KK assessments i.e. its little on tougher side, but it has very good questions and is close to the PMP exam. 73% is really good. You know what, I was securing around 64-70% an average and I passed PMP. Many people over here have said too, they calculate result in very different way and I agree after passing PMP exam that its a must try to validate preparations especially their result section.


Did you also try PMStudy and Simplilearn tests? Although they are on slight easier side, but its a must try.


You are doing well, and I am sure you will crack the PMP exam with the way you are progressing.


Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)


 

krantikumar50

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 11:25

Hey Ms Ahuja,


 


I told you so. For no reason you were getting disturbed :):):)


 


PMPforsure is a V  V V good test. Every aspirants should take it. I had very high opinions on it when I encountered it the first time. I complimented it on Zilla but when people started casting aspersions on it, I stopped but my feelings remain the same.If you are doing well in PMPforsure, PMStudy, PMZilla toughers, believe you me, one is ON :)


 


With 73/100, you may take rest, watch movie, and come back to PMBOK/PMP little later :)


 


Enjoy...


 


KK....

krantikumar50

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 15:23

Hello Mohit,


 


1st thing first, congrats on getting PMP. Well-done.


 


1 question to you Mohit, could you please tell me your total years of experience as a PM in reality as well what you filled in PMP application? I know there might not be much difference though.


 


Warmly, KK...

mohitkum

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 17:51

Hi KK,


Thanks so much.


I am into a big IT industry and have 8 years of experience. I am not really into project management (PM) but a Team leader for about 4 years and that what I showed PMI while filling PMP application. In IT industry a TL does almost the same job like PM so I was good with putting necessary project hours and my work in project.


PMP exam cost was funded by my company including the 35 hours PDU that happened in my company itself by some institute.


Thanks & Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)
 

krantikumar50

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 18:29

Hey come on MK. Your hard work paid dividends afterall.


 


So that 4 years came out to be how many hours? Roughly if you remember.


 


Regards, KK...

mohitkum

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 18:56

Hi KK,


In these 4 years I have actually lead 4 projects and when I filled the application initially I had included all 4 project time that came to around 5600 hours. The good part was it was just saved and not submitted. One of my collogue then said to show PMI just 3 projects where I saw total time coming to around 4800 hours. The reason why he said was because in case of audit the lesser the evidence is, the less information you will need to get signed and so did I do. I just showed 3 projects with around 4800 hours.


Thanks & Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)
 

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 19:10

Thanks firstly to boosting my confidence.

However, to my surprise when i did the exam first i had scored 70% and still failed since BP in more than one process group.

So is it right to say that just by tracking percentage scored, we may not be really evaluating the right level of  preparation and can still fail ?

Geez, this is absolutely the scariest part. Moreover, every one is talking about reading pmbook, which i didnt :(

My preparation started with Andy and I am sticking to using the course book that I got from ESI class, which is very close to pmbook and I read the first 3 chapters of pmbook in detail. Mostly using pmbook for further chapter as a reference. 

i would probably go crazy if i were to start the pmbook in the last 18 days.

Shweta 

mohitkum

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 19:22

Hi Shweta,


This is actually a question for Saket sir if at all he gets time to respond. As per the knowledge I have, PMP exam result is not calculated based on total percentage. I am an active member and watching this forum since 4-5 months and I remember to have seen people who failed PMP with 3-P and 2-BP, I guess with 3-P they might have scored around 70-75% but failed. I have also seen many people passing with 4-MP and 1-BP, so I guess with 4-MP they would have scored around 65% and passed. So all I can say that seeing overall percentage is not the right way to check PMP preparations.


Since you are doing so good, I would not advice you to start reading PMBOK now. There are many people who have put their LL here and passed PMP without PMBOK too. You have 2 weeks of time, you might take PMBOK on lighter side like important IITO pages and summery pages.


Thanks & Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)
 

Shweta Ahuja

Thu, 09/13/2012 - 19:29

 Thanks Mohit, which pages are you referring to for ITTO and summary in pmbook.

Shweta

mohitkum

Sun, 09/16/2012 - 04:29

Hi Shweta,


The most important PMBOK page is P-43. Other important IITO pages are P-73, P-104 and similar pages for other chapters.


Make sure you read PMBOK summery, as I do remember many questions from those.


Thanks & Regards,
Mohit Kumar (PMP)

Shweta Ahuja

Tue, 09/18/2012 - 05:24

 Thanks Mohit!