Hello everybody, 

I read this post many times during my preparation for te test, so  after succesfully passed the PMP exam on the first attempt an hour and a half ago,  I want to share my experiences and  leasons learned for all the people pursuing this certificate.

Project Management is a broad topic, so remember that the PMBOK is a "body of knowledge", it is just a guide to go deeper into the Project Management theory. So, stick to only one or two sources of study. In my case I just read the PMBOK guide and Rita´s book, and I´m sure that is more than enough to prepare for the exam, and set into order all the information needed to pass it.

I prepared the exam for 4 months. Reading 2 to 3 hours a day and about 5 hours on the weekend.

But reading is just the beginning, you have to be able to solve issues and problematic situations with this knowledge.

Do a lot of practice tests. I´m not making advertising for Rita´s material, but believe me, the real exam is very similar to the Fast Track questions... moreover, the exam was a bit easier than the mock tests included here, so I´m sure this is the best tool to bind up your knowledge. Practice a lot, and focus on your weaknesses.

To be honest, I was scoring very low on the mock tests, (67% - 70%), until I realized that reviewing your errors and working on them, improved your proeficiency a lot.

The clue, to pass the exam is to set your mind to the PMI way of thinking, so you can identify the correct answer "easily".

The test lasted 4 hours, I was very cautios on choosing the answer so the 4 hours were just enough to finish... I knew I wouldn´t have time to review at the end.

So, keep working hard. And think to become a project management professional, before doing the test. This test is just a paperwork that certifies your knowledge and skills.

Good luck, 

Cesar