Information

I am happy to inform you all that I have passed PMP certification yesterday (18-Dec-2012).  This would not have been possible with my trust in God and I want to thank him from my whole heart.

This lesson learned is lengthy. I have highlighted the sections, if you wish to read something specific you can go through it directly, instead of going through all of them.

Thank you note

A thank you note to people on earth :)

There are people around me who continuously helped me during my studies. I want to thank my beloved wife as she took all the work at home and excused me for all my tantrums while was preparing for exam. She is the one who continuously motivated me towards this journey. Thanks Namrata!!. Guys you need family support to clear this exam. Without them it is not possible.

There are few important friends/coach/mentors that guided me, provided right content and motivated me throughout this journey and they may not be part of this forum. I am thank full to: Nitin P C Agrawal (My trainer @ Knowledgewoods, Bangalore) ,Amit Toshniwal, Yogesh Joshi, Bhumika Sharma and Harinath.

Finally I want to thank Pmzilla and the esteem members who provide loads of quality information. They never hesitate from giving you right and appropriate answer on your moral, reediness to write exam, easy pmp question or on a tough topic in PMBOK. This forum is the only forum for PMP I used. There is a Wow factor to this forum.

PMP study project kick off

Feb 2012 (kick off)

1. It was early Feb 2012 when I first thought of getting PMP certification and I purchased Rita 7th edition.

2. It took me around 2 months to "study" Rita from cover to cover. Contributing 2 hrs. on weekends.

August 2012

3. Once I went through all the concepts from Rita. I did join a class to acquire 35 PDU in the month of August. I took these PDU's from knowledgewoods, Bangalore, India.

Note: Please go to these REP's for any training only once you have read all the content in either PMBOK or RITA, else it is difficult to get 100% from these classes.

4. So my real studies started from August when I met likeminded people in the REP, Bangalore.

6. I became a PMP member in the month of August and got my copy of PMBOK.

September, 2012

7. Early September, I scheduled my exam on 27th Nov and with all my surprise I only got Chennai and not in Bangalore. Rest all slots where booked till Dec end.

8. I have to postpone the exam due to some official and personal commitment and then I got a date of 18th Dec again in Chennai not in Bangalore.

9. By keeping a close watch on the schedule and available slot, I got 18th Dec 5 pm to 9 pm slot and I again changed it. Happy as I do not have to commute.

Note: You need to schedule your exam well in advance.

10. From August to December 9th I studied 3 hrs daily (2 hrs in morning and 1 hr in evening), except week ends.

Oct and Nov 2012

I was studding Rita, giving MOC test and gap analysis for almost 4 to 5 hrs a day.

Dec 2012

11. I took 7 days off from work and I studded 8 to 12 hrs daily till the exam date.

Final 7 days

Day 1, 2, 3  - Mock tests and gap analysis

Day 4 - PMBOK, Line by line

Day 5 - Understanding ITTO and MOCK test

Mistake: The MOCK test I gave was super PMP from PM fast track and I scored 58%. My moral was down.

Lesson: Do not give any mock before 2 to 4 days till your exam. You do not know what will make your moral down.

Day 6 - To get my moral back, I started studding RITA line by line with all the exercises at question from end of chapter. I was confident.

Last day I did not touched PMBOK

Exam Day - Day 7

1. Got up early at 5 am.

2. Studied all the notes and gaps I collected while giving MOCK test

3. Glanced at ITTO. I did not memorize them at all.

4. Understood where Change request, Project document update, Project plan and OPA gets updated – This has helped me.

What all I studied

1. PMBOK - 3 times

2. RITA 7th ed - 3 times. Do all the exercises and questions. This has really helped me to revise concepts.

3. Refered Head first for some topics when I did not get it from PMBOK and RITA

What all I did not study

1. Glossary

2. No ethics chapter from RITA

3. Procurement mathematical questions – Lucky no question around

The Combat – 4 hrs PMP Exam

1.       My slot was 5pm to 9 pm.

2.       I reached venue at 4.15 pm.

3.       The security verified my ID with his register

4.       Gave me a locker key and I had to sign in. I kept everything in the locker, except my ID card

5.       I was only allowed inside with my ID card and nothing else. No watch also.

6.       I went into a room and the staff briefed me about the test, rules and regulations. They verified my name also.

7.       I signed the register and they allocated me a seat.

8.       As expected 15 minutes. was allocated to the presentation video on how to use the test application.

9.       These 15 minutes I used to write all formulas, PMBOK page 46.

10.   I took a deep breath and my test started.

11.   In first round I competed all 200 questions in 3.15 minutes with 20 question mark for reviewed and 20 questions not answered

12.   In 30 minutes I could answer all the unanswered questions

13.   Rest of the time I used for reviewing “questions marked for review”

14.   My time was over as I was unable to complete all reviewed question

15.   The screen turned blank and I was expecting exam result, I was nervous, praying to God. I was out of my mind

16.   But  I was presented with a survey screen and not the result. I completed quickly and hit the End button

17.   The screen again turned blank and I was expecting exam result this time again I was nervous, prayed to God and wrote on a paper “I am a PMP”

18.   And Here I see the Congratulation message. What an amazing feeling it. I always used to visualize this and was very very very happy to see that.

19.   And I signed the out register and came out.

Mock  tests

Lesson: The score of my mock test depicts the score I received on my PMP form. If I had scored good on mock test then I should have good on PMP exam too. But I am a winner at the end of the day. :)

Hi,

This is all because people like you are here in this forum to help folks. Thanks you.

thank you all!

Thanks Vikaya...
Sorry for the late comment. Revisiting the forum after along time.