I passed my PMP on Feb5, 2013. Since I have been a silent reader of this forum and benefiting from others experience, I felt obligated to write a few words from which someone might benefit. (first and outmost, following are the views of just a guy with below average IQ, and definitely I have seen people getting through with doing half of this)

1. PMBOK (3 times)

2. PMP Exam Prep by Rita (2 times)

3. HeadFirst (just saw a few topics, though found more intriguing)

4. ITTO (Memorized)

5. Free Questions from different site and 4 Mock tests from PMStudy

Prep time approx, three months, 3 to 4 hours a day.

As far as PMBOK 4th Edition is concerned, it’s the textbook, and like nearly every textbook, it is dry. But to succeed, you have to love it.

Rita's book is good, and its effectiveness has been endorsed by different successful PMPs. But, I have found Headfirst also very good in explaining different topics.

As far as ITTOs are concerned, I have read all the interesting debates on memorizing vs not memorizing and when I started I never thought of memorizing them. But, the more I knew which tools & technique and which Inputs/Outputs belongs to which process group, the more the "skeleton" or the "framework" of PMI became clear to me. So, anyway you can remember whats in what process, or what a process is likely to produce, will make you understand the process and PMIism better.

Quality of Questions is very important. Try to practice questions when you are in a position to judge the quality. Questions given at the end of Rita's book and Headfirst are a good launching pad.

And most importantly, during the exam, try to concentrate and never lose hope...it’s never over until the fat lady sings........