Passed PMP yesterday :)

Submitted by pkanago on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 14:33

Hello all PMP Aspirants Smile,

Yesterday (June 23rd 09) I passed my PMP exam. And today is my Wedding Aniversary. Smile

First of all, I would like to thank God, my family, PM Zilla, PM Prepcast (For the Podcast) and my friends, for all the support that I got and their wishes which helped me in clearing my exam.

PM Zilla is an excellent website and the blogs were really helpful. It gave me a direction as to how to prepare for my exam. I refered to the books which were metioned by other PMP's and they were really helpful.

I would like to share my lessons learned with you all.

I have divided my lessons learned in two sections : 1. Tips and books 2. Brain dump sheet

Here are few tips for all the aspirants:

Tips and Books:

1. Go through PMBOK guide nicely and thoroughly.

2. Rita Mulcahy book is really helpful if you want to understand the basic's. Do Procurement management from this book. But refer PMBOK guide for ITTO's with Rita Mulcahy.

3. Andy Crowe - Read the book atleast once.

4. Joseph Phillips - Refered few chapters like Cost and Procurement.

4. Headfirst- Read Risk Management and Cost Management - Critical Path. Very helpful.

5. Try out sample test from each chapter from Rita, Andy Crowe and review all your wrong answers and understand them.

6. Try doing mock test atleast 4-5 times before taking the PMP exam. Here are few links. Try out doing tests from these sites.. The links are there on the PMZilla website too.

http://www.headfirstlabs.com/PMP/free_exam/HeadFirstPMP_PracticePMPExam.pdf

http://www.oliverlehmann.com/pmp-self-test/75-free-questions.htm

http://crosswindpmtv.com/myonlinetests.aspx

http://www.preparepm.com/pmp/schedule.html

http://www.tutorialspoint.com/pmp-exams/pmp_mock_exams.htm

And many more...

7. Please learn the ITTO's from PMBOK guide, especially Time, Cost, Quality, Risk and Procurement. It will help you in clearing atleast 20-25 questions.

8. Go through this link http://www.itworld2.com/pmpformulas.aspx  and http://pmzilla.com/memory-aids-pmp-exam-pmp  Summary of the formulas which is surely going to help you all.

9. Professional and Social Responsibility is very important and easy to understand. Go through this chapter once.

Brain Dump Sheet:

1.Write all the ITTO's on the paper that is given in the exam.

2. Write all cost formulas, CV, SV, CPI, SPI, VAC, BAC, EAC (Typical, Atypical, Flawed), ETC (Typical, Atypical)

3. Draw the diagram on Pg 42,70 from the PMBOK guide.

4. Conflict Resoultion techniques, sources of conflicts, HR motivational techniques.

5. And all the stuff that you think you will forget in 4 hours time. Smile

 

This is all that wanted to share with all the PMP aspirants and I am sure that you all will pass. And dont forget to update the lessons learned in PM Zilla. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer them.

Best wishes to all,

Priya Kanago, PMP 

 

Forums: 
PMP Exam Tips, Tricks and Lessons Learnt.
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BM

Wed, 06/24/2009 - 17:53

Congratulations!

Congratulations Priya on being a part of this elite club of PMP's I am glad you got this credential on your wedding anniversary (may be a gift from god ;) . Thanks for sharing your LL.

Also since now you are a PMP, I would suggest you may have a look at the forum created by admin "What after PMP?" , have a look at the posts they will guide you in further process of maintaining your credentials. 

Congrats once again!

Regards,

Bhupesh Mansukhani, PMP

pkanago

Wed, 06/24/2009 - 19:36

Thanks Bhupesh!

 

Surely, I will do that.

 

Thanks again!

Best,

Priya

mezzat

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 20:59

Hi Priya,

 Congratulations on your PMP success. Wish you all best luck in your practical life. I have one question for you. You mentioned in your LL that you were able to dump all ITTOs on your exam sheet (during the 15 minutes tutorial time) in addition to writing other stuff. How could you do that? It takes a lot of time to do so or did you just wrote the major inputs/outputs of each knowledge area?

 Also, if you would put a weight on which knowledge area or process where mentioned more in the exam what do you say?

 

Thanks.

Rohit

Sat, 06/27/2009 - 04:37

Hi Priya,

Congrates!!! I am also one of the aspirant for PMP and would like to know which book should I refer for reading Professional and Social Responsibility as quite a few questions comes from this section.

Thanks and Regards,
Rohit

Ramu

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 04:37

Priya,

Im wondering how you managed 15min for the steps you have menitoned 1,2,3.

Pls add your inputs and help us.  do you think, taking two weeks leave and start serious preparation will sufficient to pass the PMP (131/200).  How to memorise all the ITTO's?  appreciate your help.

Thanks,

Ramu

pkanago

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 16:47

Hey, 

Here are the answers.. 

1.Write all the ITTO's on the paper that is given in the exam.

Write ITTO's for Cost, Quality, Proc, Time, Risk.. just write the main ones... whicjh you feel u'll forget..

2. Write all cost formulas, CV, SV, CPI, SPI, VAC, BAC, EAC (Typical, Atypical, Flawed), ETC (Typical, Atypical) . Writing down all the 12 formulas of Earned Value is easy if you know them...and dont forget that just knowing the formulas is not enough..You must understand what EV, CV, SV, SPI, CPI, VAC, BAC means...

3. Draw the diagram on Pg 42,70 from the PMBOK guide --- Understand the diagram on Pg 42 and write the o/p's from Execution & M&C part...Dont draw the whole diagram if you dont want it... i drew it because i write fast...

4. Conflict Resoultion techniques, sources of conflicts, HR motivational techniques.

These are simple ... you can write in a minute if you really know them by heart..

Here's a tip : Practice writing fast... so that you can cover them in 10-15 mins... I know everybody can do it.. its not difficult..

Moreover, once you are done with your Pg 70 diagram, write TT using short forms like for Quality Control the tools and technique will be CCFRHPS as in Cause & Benefit diagram, Control Chart, Flow Chart, Run Chart, Histogram, Pareto Chart, Scatter Diagram.... just like this...I practice using Acronyms for all the Knowledge areas.... Its tough.. sometimes i used to forget what C stands for or what is S .. but every day i used to recite like 10 times without looking into the book...

I hope this was helpful..Please let me know if you have any questions... I will try to answer as soon as I can...

Thanks!

Priya Kanago, PMP

pkanago

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 16:52

Yes, two weeks serious preparation will help you in passing ... understand the concept... understand whatever you are reading, means to you ... and moreover look at the what each different chart mean... for example... what the difference b/w a histogram and a run chart or a pareto chart or scatter diagram...

It all depends on how you prepare.... and how you understand the concept...And be postive... practice as many sample papers as you can..... for each chapter from the book I mentioned in my first email.. and I am sure... thing will work out for you too... :)

Thanks!

Priya Kanago, PMP

Ramu

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 21:25

Thank you very much Priya for sharing on memorising the ITTO's...

Finally we need to remember the codes for each process....

ProcessName ----I (inputs) --- AAAAAAA;TT (Tools&Techniques) --- BBBBBBBB;O (Outputs) -- CCCCCCC and gothrough daily once and mapp the names to these codes.  Do we need to refer all ITTO's or only TT will be enuff.  Do you think majority of the Q's based on TT ?

I've gone thru PMBOK and Rita Once but frankly speaking could not getting more when i'm going thru second time....I took the exam based on Rita (getting 55%).  Some of our friends suggesting that do NOT read much (even you read 10times u r in same place) instead practice practice practice the standard tests like Rita/Oliver/Headfirst/PMStudy that will boost you the confidence and for doubts refer PMBOK/Rita then your passing channce are more and more... What I wld like to do going forward is daily practice the Q'Bank (genune as i said above) and parellel... ITTO's,Formulas,Page 42,70... Pls let me know is this approach workout for me.

Once again, Thanks a lot for all your support and kind help.

Regards,

Ramu

pkanago

Sat, 06/27/2009 - 14:13

Yes, that would be fine... ITTO's you must know... define your approach and follow that... rest it all depends on how you understand the concept and whats your strategy...

 

Good Luck for PMP!!

Best,

Priya

Ramu

Sun, 06/28/2009 - 00:25

Thanks Priya for your support and whishes.   Since I'm writing PMP 4th Edition, do you aware any sites which have free audio files or links for mock test (4th Edition) or PDF's?

Appreciate yours help and also all group members help in this request.

Thanks

Ramu

Ramu

Sun, 06/28/2009 - 01:49

http://www.techfaq360.com/pmp_4thedition.jsp#

Review comments from the folks says 60-80% of questions are from the techfaq360.com kits on live PMP exam.  Can we trust this site... Appreciate all your inputs.  Pls let me us know is there any other mock tests we can trust them. Thanks again for all your inputs.

Regards,

Ramu 

yugandhark1975

Fri, 10/21/2011 - 14:34

Hi Friends,

I have passed PMP yesterday i.e, 20th Oct 2011.

The links provided by Priya and Ramu helped a lot.

Thanks to Priya and Ramu for sharing supportive links.

Taking mock exam is as impotant as reading PMBOK.

All the best,

Yugandhar Kolli, PMP

Umar khalid

Fri, 10/21/2011 - 15:43

Hi,


congratulations....well i am also interested in doing pmp and planning now a days....can you tell me link from where i can download PMBOK and RITA FOC.Also ,what are latest editions of these books??


 


Thanks

Mahadeva Prasad

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 18:38

 Congrates and wish you all the best!!

rashmi_amit (not verified)

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 07:08

 

Hi ,

I'm Rashmi from Mumbai,INDIA... Have 6yrs of exp on Development and from past 1 yr was planning to take PMP exam and decided to attend Knowledge wood training ..By tht time Family got shifted to bangalore.. So thought of clearing my pmp exam as I was new to it..Had an exp in playing a role of Teamlead in my past exp..

So settled with new place for 3-4 months then started to study and tuk my exams on May 17th and before taking tuk more mock ups and missed prbs -part..Felt really tough and scored 1MP-4BP.....Then got really upset thought of joining job on my development but Since Aug 31st was last date for Pmbok 4th edition... thought finishing in second attempt and tried with 10 mock ups and scored 60+ 70...Then tuk exam on July24th.. was very confident abt exam.. but very astonished with results-- All BP's..........

Really got shocked and cried for 2days lonely @ home.. Now I lost my 1 yr brk in my development filed and now searching for jobs on development side... Since of 1 yr brk getting jobs little difficult..Now I have start hating PMP exams buks...

Guys...taken a brk of 1 month and now I need to clear my third attempt at any cost.. Kindly give me ur inputs plz..Since I ahve expiry dates till december 11th 2013...

Here's my mail ID: rashupmp@gmail.com

Now I do have Rita,Pmbok4th (Need to buy Pmbok5),Head first, KNowledge wood (10mock ups ),Rita fast track 7....

Kindly guys who have passed plz help me out.. I'm in bad condition.. Here not able to get my development sides jobs and nor PMP exams...
But my future plans to move with Management side only...Help me out with guidances.......

Reg,

 

Plz send me andy crow, rita 8th edition - softcopies 

Reg,
Rashmi

sujata.nair

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 07:40

Hello Rashmi,


Use PMBOK-5 now and you can take mock test from these good sources again to check your preparations - Pmstudy, Pmp4sure, Christopher Scordo, Rita fast track, Pmzilla, Oliver Lehman & Techfaq. Just dont give up and try again.


Regards,
Sujata