Not killed it, just passed :)

Submitted by elthox on Thu, 07/25/2013 - 22:01

 Today I experiended the short-term "nightmare" of 20 seconds of the white screen before the pop-up message showed up. Heart rate exceeded 200 bpm, getting back to its normality after reading closely;

 

CONGRATULATION

- Initiation - Proficient
- Planning - Proficient
- Executing - Proficient
- M & C - Proficient
- Closing - Moderate Proficient

 
I'm posting this while traveling back to my home town. Yesterday I traveled for about 600 km to reach the prometric center.
For the guys who need to travel, my advice is to use the bus or train, not driving by theirselves. You will be able to have a look on Raga's notes, Rajesh's ones and your own notes for a couple of hours :) 
Success depends on every minute or hour you're spending on preparation.
 
- Exam
 
I spent the full time sitting there checking all the marked questions. I marked about 40-50, for which I saved 30 minutes to review.
 
 
Lot of EVM questions, two or three a bit tricky. Also knowing free and total float was decisive in all critical path questions.
Knowing contract types is a MUST. Lot of procurement questions involving this.
 
 Quality Assurance and Quality Control should be known by any PMP aspirant. 
 
Risk knowledge area is very important as lot of questions are coming from that area.
 
Stakeholder management deserves  lot of dedication. Knowing this topic will save you many questions.
 

As conclusion, I may say, it was 10% tougher than PMStudy tests and 20% easier than Pmzilla 200 tough questions. Anyway it is a relative perception. You can use PERT and standart deviation for the above figures :)

 
- Preparation
 
Scheduled the exam since March, but started to study at beginning of June. If dedication is in daily basis, i may say two months are enough time to pass this exam. Anyway,  in average i spent more than 5 hours daily.
 
I used Head First, Rita's prep book and Pmbok.
Often i combined all of them, for example, reading Time Management firstly from Head First, then from Pmbok and last Rita.
 
.....And Pmzilla. Analysing all lessons from all guys who passed, performing some mix of tactics for my self by combining most of the inputs from these lessons. 
When you start posting frequent questions in this forum, because somehow the correct answer from mock test makers didnt convince, its a good sign. That means - You are trying to logically understand and not just swallow anything mechanically by standing in the right path toward the success.
Exam will ask your logic for more than 80% of questions, so use it during your preparation.
 
Regarding mocks, plenty of them. I suppose more than 3000 questions, as hard copy, as web-based and iphone pmp-related applications as well. Again thanks to Pmzilla members for emphasizing the right qualitative collections, discarding useless mocks all over internet.
 
Lastly, ITTO-s.
 
One modest smartphone application called ITTO Game, helped me really, worthing all of its 3-4 dollars.
During meal, coffee breaks, watching TV, anywhere, anytime, playing this game stregthened my ITTO memorization, by training and pushing to use logic.
 
Good luck to all of 4th edition test takers, and to next aspirants of 5th edition.
Thank you all!
Elton

Forums: 
PMP Exam Tips, Tricks and Lessons Learnt.
  • Log in to post comments
  • 1092 reads

ppalkonda1975

Thu, 07/25/2013 - 22:22

 Congrats Elton!! I have been following your posts and I completely feel your happiness and I felt the same when I cleared my exam!!

Time to enjoy and rest up!!!

Cheers!!

elthox

Thu, 07/25/2013 - 23:02

Thank you Pradeep!

After a rest for a couple of years, looking forward to having PgMP :)

elthox

Thu, 07/25/2013 - 23:03

Thank you Pradeep!

After a rest for a couple of years, looking forward to having PgMP :)

pmpnewster

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 02:14

 

Elthox, Congratulations on passing the PMP!

 

Quick question: For any of the network diagram questions, did you have to do a forward/backward pass calculation?

Thanks.

 

Regards.

 

elthox

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 02:17

 Thank you!

Network diagrams were easy, just need to subtract the value of near critical path from critical path value to find the float. No need for forward/backward pass.

admin's picture

admin

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 05:51

 Congratulations !