PMP Exam Lessons Learned by PMPBOY...

Submitted by PMPBOY on Sat, 07/16/2011 - 21:21

Here are PMPBOY’s lessons learned from successfully passing the PMP exam on July 15, 2011. My application was approved on February 02, 2011 and I scheduled my exam for July 15, 2011 in March 2011 and then I never changed my exam date. I am glad that hard work paid off, and am hopeful that these tips maybe helpful for the future PMP aspirants…


Preparations:

·         Have been practicing the project management since 2003 so PM realm is not new to me.

·         PMBOK 4th Edition: studied 1 time cover to cover.

·         Rita’s Book 6th edition: studied 1 time cover to cover.

·         Andy Crowe’s Book 4th edition: studied 1 time cover to cover.

·         PMBOK 4th edition:   studied again 1 more time cover to cover.

·         Regularly studying PMI Journal for the recent PM knowledge.

My Scores in Different mock tests:

·         PMI Sample Test (20 good questions) =  100%

·         PMcExam mock Tests (38 modules of 25 hard questions in each module) =  scored consistently more than 80%

·         PMStudy FREE mock Test (200 good questions) =  68%

·         PMStudy PAID 4th Test (200 very good questions) =  74%

·         Exam Central FREE mock Test (200 good questions) =  87%

·         PM Model FREE mock Test (200 good questions) =  87%

·         Andy Crowe’s Book Final Exam = 93.5%

·         Andy Crowe’s Insite.VelociTeach (lots of questions access  for 1 week only) =  80 to 94%

·         Rita’s 6th Book; end of chapters =   consistently 70 to 88%

·         Oliver L. 175 very hard questions = 88%

·         Oliver L. 75 very hard questions = Failed in March 2011

·         PM Target (Extremely hard 70 questions in 60 minutes) = Failed

·         PM RoadTrip (very easy questions) = 93%

·         HeadFirst = 89%

·         AACE International EVP (14 very hard questions) = 50%

·         Edwel (200 good questions) = 68%

·         SimpliLearn (200 good questions) = 68%

·         Exam Professor (200 good questions) = 74% in the first week of July 2011 [First time I failed in May 2011]

Real Exam:  I found it a bit tough but tricky. One has to really decipher the question to know what is being asked to answer. It’s doable but not impossible. I had lots of questions from QUALITY and Risk Management. Many on simple calculations related to CPI, SPI, EV and Communication Channels. About 12 questions on ITTOs - I did not memorize them at all. But I did understand them all, and IMHO, one does not need to memorize the ITTOs.

Recommendations: Schedule your exam and don’t change it. Work and study hard towards that date, understanding of the PMBOK 4th edition is a MUST, and practice, practice, practice, practice and keep practicing the good mock tests.

Last but not least, behind my success, I appreciate my wife’s endurance of my long working hours & at home not spending quality times with her during last several months.  I love you my DULLO! Thanks are due to my friend Rakesh too for his constant encouragements.

Thanks and Best of Luck,
PMPBOY

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PMP Exam Tips, Tricks and Lessons Learnt.
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admin's picture

admin

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 04:09

Can you suggest which of the above tests can be avoided ?


Congratulations on your PMP and thanks for posting the wonderful writeup


REgards


 

PMPBOY

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 05:58

My 2 cents,


One should practice as much as one has time to practice for... [Exam is both TOUGH & TRICKY] but the following ones - in particular maybe VERY HELPFUL:



  • Oliver L. 175

  • Oliver L.  75

  • Exam Central

  • PM Study

  • Exam Professor

  • Rita's 6th ~ end of chapters questions

  • Andy Crowe's Insite.Velociteach as well as Andy's book 4th

  • Edwel

Thanks & All the Best for the future PMP aspirants,
PMPBOY

RP's picture

RP

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 07:22

Well done PMPBOY! Time for some relaxation!


Just 2 questions please; 


- You mentioned many questions on Risk and Quality, approximately how many?


- The exam questions content - how much different are they to the Mock Exams suc as PMStudy, Rita M - 6th ed, etc.?


Thanks.


 

PMPBOY

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 16:06

RP, PMPBOY is surprised that you only have 2 questions... just kidding.


I would say there were ~ 44 questions combined from QUALITY & RISK including simulations etc. etc.


my 2 cents on mock exams:  all should be on equal footing so I won't recommend any single one. 
Having said that, the real exam is a real test so one should study from as many diverse - good quality though -
sources as one could have access to.


Hope it helps,
PMPBOY

RP's picture

RP

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 06:30

Lol! I have much more but I guess I could figure that by myself! Thats quite a bit from Quality and Risk combined, close to 25% of the paper (not sure how many of those would have been pre-release though). Thanks for your LL and advice PMPBOY!