Hello Friends– Passed 2^nd attempt –Score -MP , P, P, P, MP(I P E M&C C)

First and foremost want to thank each one of you here for sharing your experiences and lessons learned –IT HELPED  ME and  I am sure will help others !!!

 Also would like to thank :-

1.Saket Bansal,--youtube --whose videos I watched and those videos help me  understand some key concepts (never met him OR talked with him ) .

I am in USA for last 19 years but never ever seen such a passionate instructor while doing eng, BE in India or M.S in USA. For ref- please search Saket Bansal or IZEN BRIDGE on youtube.

Cost- FREE

2.Edward Chungs Blog-  Web based---Good info – Please take a look at the following link:

Cost- free

3.Tutor Ali-  videos--- presentation is good in getting  the initial mental block OUT.

Cost -90$

4.Aileen Ellis  - Youtube—CONTRACTS RELATED Good video.

Cost - Free

THE 2 ATTEMPTS:- 

I got my 35  pre reqs way back in 2007 .But been busy after that and never bothered  to check since my work exp always helped me.

But given current layoff’s in my company,  thought of giving PMP  the present year.

1^st ATTEMPT

Feb 15 2015- Started reading PMBOK -after 3^rd chapter got disintereseted

Feb 19^th – Took  exam date appointment for March 23^rd –Big mistake based on a feedback from friend- that PMP can be given with a month of studying because she  did it!

Feb 21 2015 - Got Tutor’s Ali’s package- 90 $ -- got me motivated to pursue  because the material is mostly in video format  -- presentation is good in getting  the initial mental block OUT . Worth trying if you need to grease the tracks before you start your PMP Brain machine  J--If you want to try, Try searching Tutor Ali on google.

Feb 25 2015 - Stopped Tutor Ali’s learning material because I was ready to resume PMBOK 5.

Started making my notes on PMBOK (NO other material  used till June 15-more to follow)

March 15 2015  – Gave First Mock test (after First reading and notes draft)- PMSTUDY Complimentary exam –  62 %.

After this RESScheduled my exam on March 29^th .(EARLIER IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR March 23rd )

Now wanted to revise again .Bought PMSTUDY  Gold Plan .4 test with different levels of complexity.

March 25  --gave PMSTUDY Exam 1- Got 68 %.

Wanted to Reschedule my exam but the TIME HAD CLOCKED OUT – PROMETRIC (AT LEAST IN USA WEST COAST )doesn allow you to to to altar(cancel or reschedule) the exam after 9:00 PM  PST

SO I HAD TO GIVE THE  EXAM – NO OPTION :-(

My exam was scheduled for Saturday March 29^th  at 10:30 am .

Day before the big day – tried going over my notes extracted from PMBOK --All chapters .

 Got done studying by 11:30  pm .

Tried going to bed at 12;30 am 

Couldn’t get to sleep till 3:30 am

Got up at 8;00am .

Flunked the exam – all BP.

Couldn’t finish paper – 30 to 40 remaining .

THIS WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM:- I DIDN’T HAVE THE EXAM ATTACKING STRATEGY BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS MOCK TEST – Went sequentially and  I Didn’t miss any question there in mock tests .

EXAM Day I was dwelling too much on each question (Reason --not enough sleep) and was always in a catch-up mode- Took 3 breaks during exam .

LESSONS LEARNED- HAVE A STRATEGY AND SLEEP WELL:-)

2nd ATTEMP!!!

SO now wanted to restrategize. Was still using PMBOK , Based on lessons learned decided to schedule exam after I had given atleast 2 PM STUDY exams Level 1, Level 2.

Now still studying  PMBOK . Updating my half baked notes –BUT still some things weren’t answered—PMBOK IS  ENCRYPTED ---ISNT ITJ

MAY 29^TH – EXTENDED MY GOLD PLAN FOR PM STUDY- PM STUDY 1^ST LEVEL EXAM – GOT 86 %

MAY 30^TH – 2^ND LEVEL EXAM GOT 82 %

JUNE 1- 4^TH LEVEL GIVEN – GOT 72 %

PLEASE NOTE- Now by design,  PMSTUDY saved the exam results in Container 3 , so I thought I GOT 72 % in level 3 .I had gotten 72 % in Level 4!!!

So I had to reschedule my exam which I had scheduled for June 19^th.

BUT I AM GLAD I DID- ACTUAL PAPER CAN COME BETWEEN 3 AND 4!!!!

Called up my friend who is a pmp instructor in INDIA .He said read HEADFIRST PMP and JOSEPH Phillips .Got both .

After reading 2 chapters from Joseph Phillips , returned HEAD FIRST PMP , That’s where found RITA MULCAHY BOOK.

ON JUNE 16^TH Started reading RITA

AWESOME BOOK!!!

RITA MULCAHY BOOK IS THE BEST BOOK !!!!-PERIOD!!!

Updated my notes !!!

SCHEDULED MY EXAM FOR JUNE 29^TH at 5:00pm (Given the last attempt sleep fiasco)

June 25 – Gave PMSTUDY 3(WHICH WAS PLACED IN CONTAINER 4)---got 82%

Now on June 24^th My sleep cycle had got disrupted, so I was feeling sleepy by 4:00 pm .—UNLESS TOOK A NAP OF 5 MINS .

But after June 25 getting a nap was impossible because of anxiety- .

So now I was confident of passing My PMP attempt 2 provided I get good sleep.

Fortunately the night before I got 6.5 hrs sleep (would have loved and preferred the much needed 7 to  8 hrs , given my exam was at 5 pm)

 (IMP--- PLS TAKE A NOTE-Was dehydrated and drowsy when 37 mins was remaining on exam - to the extent that I couldn’t hold Mouse or Pencil with my right hand due to my right wrist in pain and my ring finger in  a weird L lock position—it was a nightmare !!!- Gave the remaining paper @ 30 questions with left hand- had a weird rebellion on my mind-also being ambidextrous helped-Dehydration was due to the fact that I had taken a herbal supplement  previous night for  aiding sleep,  which made me slight buzzed and dehydrated next day —PLS NOTE I NEVER TAKE ANY PILLS , not even for cold , BUT my last time exam experience made me take this extreme step. )

LESSON LEARNED – DON’T TAKE ANY THING WHICH YOUR BODY IS NOT USED TO!!!!

EXAM OUTCOME- Got 2 MP and 3P.

MY Final Lessons learned based on MY EXPERIENCES(IF I HAVE TO TAKE MY EXAM AGAINJ-- GOOD LORD –NOT AGAINJ )-

1.READ RITA BEFORE I  READ PMBOK.

2.MAKE  sure that I  take  NOTES ON PMBOK and update it with RITA explanations .

3.Make sure I  schedule MY  exam when I  am  ready !! Based on my experience-I am  ready when I  GIVE LEVEL 3 and 4 of PMSTUDY and see if I  get beyond 82 and 72 % respectively.

4.Schedule the time of exam based on MY  stabilized sleep cycle-Best is to give at 1:30 pmJ

I will stop my  4.5 MONTHS SAGA NOWJ , just thought of sharing all , that I could.

Wishing you all the BEST!!!!

IMP- ALL OF YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONCENTRATE  on following topics which might   get neglected:-READ CAREFULLY;-)

1.Change RequestSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS- how to manage those

2.SPI, CPI , EARNED VALUE, Critical Path and Free FLOAT .

3.CONTROL CHARTS- details !!!

4.RACI chart (Correct and incorrect)

5.Communication channels /Stake holders AND Stake Holders /Communication Channels 

6.RISK PROBABALITY –IMPACT MATRIX .

HANG IN THERE!!!

BEST REGARDS

RNPMP!!!

P.S.-Feel free to write to me- I will be more than happy to help you!!:-)