I just passed PMP yesterday 11/15/2012.

My head was about to explode after 4 hrs.

Study materials:

1. PMBOK 4th Ed.

2. PMP Practice Makes Perfect, Estrella, Duncan, Zahran, Haner, Jen

I did not attend a prep class. I just studied PMBOK 4th edition for two weeks, approximately 3 hrs a day. I did not study on Sats and Suns. I took 4 practice exams. After reading PMBOK once, I took the first practice exam, all 200 questions, in one sitting, as a diagnostic (-14days). I got 68%. I re-read PMBOK + Ethics (-12 days) then I took second practice exam all 200 questions straight through scored 75% (-10 days). Next, I memorized PMBOK Pg 43, Figure 3-1 (-8 days). Took 3rd practice exam scored 80% (-6days). Then, I broke out Pg 43 Fig 3-1 onto Excel spreadsheet with all inputs, tools, and outputs (-4 days) and tried to memorize all. Then, I took final practice exam all the way through (-1 day) and scored 70%.

I wrote all the formulas and Fig 3-1, pg 43 during 15 minute tutorial. Having all the processes and process groups in front of me alleviated some pressure. I was definately getting amnesia towards the end.

4hrs, 200 questions = 1:12 per questtion. I made sure I was getting through 50 questions every 30 minutes.

Exam questions:

There was this one question about RACI responsibilities matrix. They provided a table with 4 hypothetical tasks on the rows and 4 hypothetical individuals across the columns headings. Their responsibilities were marked with R, A, C. I in the matrix. They asked which task showed correct responsibilites assigned the individuals. I marked the question thinking to myself, "don't we need to know more about the tasks or the individuals?" I came back to the question later and I was still stumped. Then I realized all the tasks except one had two individuals accountable for the task (marked with 2 "A's"). Only one task has one individual accountable, marked with 1 x "A." I hope this one was the right answer.

The practice exams had alot of questions that tested logic comprehension as well as PM content with nonsense like, "Such and such PM concept is false. Which of the following is also false." or "This and that is a statement. Which of the following is not false." I was happy to see that the actual exam was a measure of what I understood, and not whether I was a professional test taker.

There were 4-5 questions on critical path methodology. There were 2-3 questions on communications channels. There were no questions that tested explicitly on the PM Ethics (Aspirational vs Mandatory).

If I memorized all the inputs, techniques, outputs cold, I would have had less difficulty. Most of the questions had something to do with PMBOK processes, knowledge group, input, outputs, which tools or method you would use, and how they relate, as well as sequentially, what would you be doing before something else.

There were a few questions on configuration management vs configuration control vs change control.

There was 1-2 questions on Tuckman model but it was worded as, " in which process would you be using a 5 level hierarchal as a tool or technique to develop your team" or something like that.

That being said, it helped that I performed in PM capacity for over 10 years before taking the exam. More than once throughout the exam, I sat back and just asked myself when I wasn't sure; "Well, what would I have done in that situation."

Good luck and hope this helps!