First, Thank you very much to everyone who posted their experiences in this wonderful website. I was one of the users who gained from them and got confidence about the preparation. following are my lessons learned.

1. Took me 4 months (June - Sep) , used to spend time only during weekends and couple of weekdays every week due to my work schedules. During the last month, spent time during week days as well (3-4 hours daily).

2. Though I started to prepare 9 months back, it was only for few days when I started with PMBOK and stopped. then in the month of June bought Head first PMP and read almost all the chapters till end and it gave me good amount of idea about the PMP processes.

3. Then started preparation on PMBOK and Rita In parallel each chapter. I dont know, though Rita's book is easy to understand, I used to feel more comfortable with PMBOK on the concepts. so I completed Rita's book twice and PMBOK thrice. Even my last week's preparation solely on PMBOK. I used to analyze why a particular I\O\TT is in the process which helped me. then I started to answer the Free Online Sample exams for a month also used to skim through PMBOK in between.

1. Head first PMP (compartively easier)
2. http://pm-prep35.com/chaptertests
3. http://www.oliverlehmann.com/ ---> Good Questions
4. http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com/ --> Daily sample questions to email
5. techfaq360
6. http://www.izenbridge.com/
7. http://edward-designer.com/ --> Good Notes
8. http://www.examcentral.net/
9. http://www.tutorialspoint.com/
10. Other free exams online

Though I used to get 60-70 % initially, at the end I got 70-80% based upon the complexity of questions. Taking these exams help you to judge your level on the PMBOK concepts.

I wont recommend to take all the exams available online, ONLY if Time permits and preparation of PMBOK and other books like RIta should be of top priority.

Now coming to the exam, went to Prometric one hour before and as a slot is available started the exam as well. the first question was very easy and straight forward and then started group of questions of complex and easy. completed 50 questions first hour in which 15 are marked as review. This was a concern for me as I anticipated I will answer even more during the fist hour with the experience of Practice exams. I found most of the questions are not straight forward like those in practice exams and we should be thorough in PMP concepts. One or my friend took last week for whom the exam was easy with more problems and HR,communication concepts. And again, PMP has a huge pool of question bank from where the exam of 200 will picked and it varies for each individual.

Perform Integrated Change Control, EVM problems, communication channels, conflict techniques, Project selection methods, Procurements , types of Procurements, Network diagrams, WBS etc.

One example I would remember.

there is a question on Integrated Change control in which the the change request was approved and the next step PM should take

1. Update the schedule Baseline
2. update the Project management Plan
3. update the document X
4. update the document Y

Most of the questions I read in practice exams has the option, update the baselines. in the above question, I believe answer is 2 as project Management Plan will have the scope,schedule and cost baselines and NOT just Schedule Baseline. Anyone can correct if I am wrong here..

so be strong on PMBOK concepts and have a high level overview on how each of the Processes and Knowledge areas interact and overlap. Also dont expect all the options to be straightforward. having this helps in case exam is difficult which happened to me.

Until I complete the 200 questions, I was not confident fully about the result. At the end felt happy with the result and I got

Initiation --> MP
Planning --> P
Execution --> P
Monitoring and Control --> P
Closing --> MP

Thanks again