Posted originally on pmhub forums and with permission of author on pmzilla 

I had been a silent observer and now it’s my
turn to contribute to the forum. My thoughts about the exam are mixed –
it’s not easy exam to crack, but hard work pays off! I passed with a
good percentage.

My preparation span was around 3weeks or so. However, the last 2
weeks it was more intensive. I do have an MBA and PM experience;
However in my opinion, it did give me an edge during preparation but
NOT during exam.

Disclaimer: Mileage
will vary. Questions below are just a sample to provoke your thinking!
However, I think the tips below will help in steering your preparation
in right direction

Exam Preparation:

In my opinion, the rescue during exam came from my recap of important
points from my hand-written notes. I prepared notes based on 3 books –
Mcgraw Hill , Andy Crowe and Newell. I also got 11concepts material.
Tests were from Self-test software/Transcender. Most of the questions
in the exam were 1 or 2 liners which is similar to
SelfTest/Transcender. What I noticed when I was doing these tests is 2
things:

- The questions became tricky when I just studied the obvious but
did not collate information. This is very important for the exam. For
instance in Time chapter, I studied Precedence Diagram and Arrow Digram
but didn’t pay much attention to the differences between those two!
Similarly bar charts and Gnatt charts.

- Read all the 4 answers.

That’s it – Nothing more than that, not even PMBOK.

Tips/Tricks/points to ponder:

- DON’T PANIC. KEEP COOL. The exam seems to be designed in such a
way that you will get questions which will knock your socks off even
with the right amount of preparation. Remember passing # is 139/200 and
that should be your aim first.

- You cannot stop the timer during exam. So keep that in mind if you want to go for restroom or something like that.

- If you are well prepared, 3. ½ hrs should be sufficient to go over questions twice (2nd pass is for Marked questions only)

- You have to start the Demo module first – it goes on for 15 minutes. You can exit out whenever you want to start the exam.

- When the Demo module starts, brain dump the following on the given papers

- Formulas for Cost equations, Float, LF/EF, PTA, Seller fees, PV on 1 page

- Cross chart of the knowledge Area & process group on 1 page

- Know AC, EV, EAC, EV, SV, CV, SPI, CPI very well. I almost had 10 numerical questions or so.

- Look at these below: Do you see an easy way to remember the CV/SV/CPI/SPI ?

- CV AC EV PV SV

- Develop Mnemonics to create the knowledge Area & process group on 1 page.

- If you can remember inputs, outputs, tools and techniques, that would be great but I could only remember few of them.

- There are questions on inputs/outputs. But if you look at the
cross chart you have developed and understand them, you can narrow down
the choices to 2. That means 50% probability of hitting the right
answer.

- There were plenty of situational questions – PM should not do
things with a knee jerk reaction. Don’t run to the customer/Sponsor
FIRST. Evaluate options/impact FIRST.

- Read delegation.

- Know when WBS and scope statement is an tool/input.

- What changes in the project will impact which plans: For instance
say there is an upgraded version (which fixes most of the bugs and
conforms to other customer requirements) of a software available from
the vendor; but due to the relationship with the vendor he/she is
willing to give that version for free and it would make no difference
in cost or schedule. However since this is a version which is of
improved quality, which plans get impacted?

- Expected value calculations

- Probability ( Remember how dependent and independent events are evaluated)

- Read theory on NPV/IRR; not just higher the NPV select the project kind of thing.

- Problem Solving is the nirvana.

- Motivational Model –direct questions

- Which conflicts happen in which phases and why

- Risk response strategies

- Know the impact of resource leveling on the project.

- Understand Ethnocentrism, how multinational projects are managed to deal with cultural issues.

- Know quality control definition and understand it word by word!

- If you know direct and indirect costs, then read also about Fixed/Variable.

- Critical path – longest path, shortest time

- Administrative closure is not just at the end of the project. Really?

- Contract closeout is not just product verification. So what else?

- Which changes lead to re-baseline?

- Why is scope verification and control important?

- What are the functions of CCB?

- Why do you want to use value analysis or function analysis?

- Know staffing management plan and tools needed

- Know the components and importance of performance reporting.

- Know the use of control charts, scatter diagram and Pareto charts.

- Conformance = Prevention plus Appraisal

- What are the disadvantages of matrix structure’s?

- Secondary risks are from following a risk mitigation strategy.

- If a project is terminated due to starvation what would you do?

- Understand when you would use PERT vs CPM.

More to come……

Please post your questions and I will try to answer them.

Good Luck!!

Nagesh