Hi All,

I have passed the PMP exam on Nov 03, 2014 with 4MP and 1P.The followings ar my journey towards PMP…
Material for preparation:

1.In the beginning, I started preparing only with PMBOK guide during July 2nd week. But it was very tough to understand the concepts. Then somehow I heard “HeadFirst” book through googling. I immediately placed order and started reading with that. It was really very nice book for the new people who can easily understand the process flow and the concept thorough their pictorial representation.

2.Meantime, I tried the Knowledge area test on PM Fastrack. This identified my weak areas and my understanding level. Then I started reading “PMP Exam Prep”-Rita Mulhacy which uncovers the unknown areas with step by step.It taught me so many concepts very logically and intermittent questions and answers and exam tips helped me a lot. It is a very good guide.

3.So my preparation continues like reading Head First, Rita and PMBOK for all the knowledge area. Soon after understating all the concepts in one knowledge area, I started writing the Knowledge area test with PM Fastrack.
4.After completion of all knowledge area, I tried mock tests on
a.Fastrack -Normal Test
b.Fastrack - Super PMP.
c.Head First PMP

After completing these three, I tried with PMZilla Tough Questions (bought).This is the toughest one I tried. Also, the additional 100 questions are tougher than 200 questions. This PMzilla test uncovered lots of area I needed to focus attentively. It is very very deep and explained extensively. This will reveal which are the areas we did not pay attention on PMBOK. They give importance to each picture, graphs and every definitions in the Glossary of PMBOK.I suggest one should try this before the exam.That will help ensure your confidence level. This is surely tougher than actual PMP exam.

I have reviewed all questions(doubted, clear, wrong) after the test, with their answer and detailed explanations and other concepts which is not even there in PMBOK.
Additionally, I tried
a)Oliver Lehmann 75 questions
b)Oliver Lehmann 175 questions ( I could do only 100 qns out of 175 because of time limitation.)
c)200 qns from “The PMP Exam by Andy Crowe - 5th Edition”

I have understood and memorized all the ITTO.

During Exam:

I have planned to complete the 1qn per minute. But for the first 50qns, it took more than 70mins. Then I started to speed up. For the next 50qns I could complete by 2hr 10 min.

I took one break and had water.

Now I have 100qns with 1hr 50 min. I really speed up and complete all 200qns.. Now time left is 10mins.I have checked all the review marked (15qns).Click end.

I felt little nervous when it is showing the blank screen. I skipped the surveys and closed my eyes and prayed….When I opened I could see “ CONGRATULATIONS….”..booooooo….O my god…..Thanks.!!

About Questions…

a)More Change request qns, Tuckman ladder questions, quality tools
b)Many Contract based questions with situational and tricky..
c)Some straight forward ITTO qns, processes and knowledge areas…
d)Very complex Network diagramming and EVM qns..Note..it seems complex but answers are easy only if you understand the concepts.

I faced few questions which I really don’t know…few are wordy and complex to understand….

Last…

Though you are aware of all the concepts, formula and thorough with knowledge area, Time management is the key element here. If you think with relaxed mind, you can get the correct one, not for all, but for complex, confused and tricky one…these consume lot of time.

All the very best for PMP aspirants and Thanks a lot for all supported me through, especially PMZilla. This site helped me lot by good LL and questions. I regularly visited this site. My special Thanks to PMZilla.

Regards
Chakkaravarthi P