Hello, 

I passed my PMP on July the 6th. My scores were as follows: P, MP, P, MP, MP.

I took the course with PMI in November 2012 and didn't study seriously till the beginning of April 2013. At first I read the PMBOK which seriously did not help me understand the whole material. I felt I knew everything but I was wrong. I read through the notes that PMI provided me and I started making my own review notes. I didn't force myself to memorize. I took the experience as a fun one (i.e. learn don't memorize).

I read the PMBOK the second time. But it wasn't all at once. I did around two quizes from Scordo's and then read two chapters, I related my mistakes to the information in the book. I went thru all the mistakes which helped me fill in the gaps in my understanding.

Around June, I started doing mock exams and I wasn't scoring high enough. I felt bad people. At sometimes I would freak out. I tried to postpone my exam, but I couldn't. The seats were all full. So I contained my emotions and continued working on myself. My marks started improving, but I wasn't getting any closer to the scores that some people were posting on the forums. Also work didn't help at all. After a long day at work, I didn't feel like opening any book. But you know what? When I didn't feel like studying, I just didn't study. Simple. 

Couple of days (I would say 5) before the exam, I attempted the PMZILLA Final PMP exam which was a hard one. The second day I reviewed my answers and updated my review sheet. Two days b4 the big day, I took the PMZILLA extra 75Q and reviewed my answers. The day b4 the exam, I reviewed my notes and trust me it wasn't a good idea. I felt like I forgot everything. Weird feeling! I think it's because I was nervous and anxious about the exam. So I closed the book by 4pm and said to myself "What ever happens happens". (BTW by that day I had all the T&T, Inputs & Outputs for all process groups in my head).

My scores (for some of the quizes and exams) were as follows:

- Christopher Scordo: 70~80%

- PMP for sure 100Q: 58%

- Oliver's 75 Free PMP Q: 59%

- PMP Study 200Q: 71%

- PMP Study Mock 2 200Q: 69%

- PMI PMP Cert. Exam 100Q: 58%

- PMZILLA Final PMP 200Q: 52%

I had my exam early in the morning (8:30) on Saturday. I took a bar of Snickers and ear plugs just in case. Surprisingly, the first couple of questions weren't hard, but because I was worried, I read the question like 3 times.By the end of the 100 questions, 2h have passed. Despite that, I took my break, ate my Snickers and went to the washroom. Took me around 5 min and I was back on my table. I finished the questionnaires and I had 20 seconds left. So I didn't bother going thru the marked questions. I just ended the exam and CONGRATULATIONS appeared...wooohoooo

Believe me; the exam was not that hard. I think this could be attributed to PMZILLA's questions which raised the bar high enough to consider the such an exam easy.

What I used/purchased for the whole preparation: PMBOK (4th ed.), PMP Study (around 4 exams), PMP for sure (~4 exams) and PMZILLA's Final PMP package.

Good luck on your exam. Hope my lessons learned could motivate some of you like some pmzilla's LL motivated me.

Wish you the best.

Firas Noueihed, B.Eng., PMP