I have been a silent user of PMZilla. Here is my story!

 Background:

8 years of IT experience. A diploma in Project Management and attended a 35 hours PMP training session in April 2013.

Goal:

Pass the PMP Exam on the first try, no matter what!

Total Preparation Time: 2 weeks (14 days, from 19^th to 2^nd June), and studied 6 dedicated hours a day (From 8pm to 2am).

Result:

Moderate Proficiency

Resources:

PMBOK 4^th Edition, RITA 6^th Edition, Head First 2^nd Edition (For reference), FASTrack 7, Visual Cert Exam

My Strategy:

I covered 1 chapter each day from both the books (PMBOK and RITA). Attempted 2 full practice PMP exam from Fastrack, 2 full practice PMP exam from Visual Cert. Memorized the 42 process groups and tried to absorb ITTO’s, as much as possible. Learn by heart all the available formulas. On the last day (i.e., 2^nd of June 2013) I only revised PMBOK; it took me 14 hours to complete. 

What was in the Exam (Approximation)?

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10 questions EVM related. Finding EV, EPI, ETC, SPI, CPI values

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5 Questions related to Conflict Management

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3 Questions related to Leadership Styles

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2 Questions related to Types of Contract

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30 Questions were “Which process precedes/succeeds ”

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30 Questions were “What are the Inputs/Tools/Output”

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6 Questions related to Critical Path Method

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2 Questions related to Project Manager style

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2 Questions from Type of Communication

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3 Questions related to the difference theories

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30 Questions were “What Project Manager should do?”  

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2 Questions were of Three Points Estimation

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5 (each) specific to the process questions (Which makes it 45), from all the Knowledge Areas were asked

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30 miscellaneous questions (Because I don’t remember anymore)

Lessons Learnt/ Advice/ Suggestions: 

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Nothing is easy … You have to study your heart out

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1 month of dedicated study is what you need to pass. Studying 1 chapter from 1 book daily. It will take 24 days to complete the two books (PMBOK and RITA), then in the last 6 days give 3 days for 3 to 5 full practice exams, 1 day for RITA revision, 1 day for PMBOK revision and on the last day just skim through your notes.

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You should be in bed asleep by 11:00pm on the last day before exam.

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Time Management is crucial. As I was unable to manage my time properly.

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Don’t not “mark for review” more than 25 questions in exam as more the review question, more time will it require at the end. And if you are tense at the end then you will for sure screw the exam. Also, don't mark for review without selecting an answer, because even if the time runs out atleast they will be marked, giving you a chance to get it correct instead of not selecting any answer and not getting it correct.

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