PMP Passed: 2nd Attempt

Submitted by Sd on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 03:16

 


Hi All,

 

I passed PMP today in second attempt. I was under tremendous pressure to get this through as i started my prep way back in Oct 2010 and despite that i prepared well, i was very disappointed when i couldn't make it in my first attempt.

I thought of sharing my exp and learning’s with all those who wanted to pass PMP but cldn't able to get through in their first attempt.

 

First i wld like to share how i started for PMP. In terms of professional exp, i am involved with project mgmt from last 3 yrs. I handled one Development Project(8 months) and next Operations n Support(current one). It does make a difference when it comes to understanding of Proj Mgmt concepts if u have some taste of real world exp.

I started my prep in Oct 2010 and registered with PMI in Dec so that i can have access to PMI resources. The PMI today and Journal is a great tool of info as to what actually going on in real world; with latest updates on world class projects. Also i found the PMI's online books resource is a great dig (after i failed my first attempt). Friends, if u are reallly serious abt PMP as a career then these are very helpful resources.

 

FIRST ATTEMPT:

I covered PMBOK and RITA 2 times thoroughly. 

Attempt PMSTUDY free mock(>75%)

HeadFirst PMP(70-75%)

Oliver's 175(70%),

RITA's process and knowledge area questions banks and RITA's mock PMP's(65-75%).

I visited pmzilla few times to find if i missed anything. I spent around 4-6 hours a week during OCT-NOV-DEC and 7-10 in Jan-Feb. I gave my first first attempt in feb end. I was pretty confident that i will make it but when i failed; I was very disappointed because nowhere in the exam i found that questions were difficult (Later i realized that they were more of tricky and u have to give special attention to question's wording).

 

I visited PMZilla again to read through people's experiences and decide on as to where i can go from here. I realized there is no easy way and you have to prepare HARD(Some poeple might say Study SMART, but that's upto a individual's capabilities and opinion).

 

Second Attempt:

 

I didn’t want to linger on too long so i targeted it for first week of April. My biggest mistake was to take ITTO lightly(like many people). My second biggest mistake was to read PMBOK\RITA's important points with importance and just skimming for the rest of the chapter. (As sometimes questions will be just from the paragraph under that main one or from the start of each Process description).

 

I studied each chapter of PMBOK followed by same from RITA thoroughly and stressed on understanding it, taking notes in a separate notepad, review it and then move on to next. It took me easily 2-4 hours for one chapter. 

For ITTO, i took printout of the figures from PMBOK(Hardly 10-12 pages). I use to reference it with each chapter i was covering. Few times i practiced it by writing down ITTO for one knowledge area at a time. Also i found few links (games kind of apps) here in pmzilla which I tried whenever i had free time in office. 

   

I only gave PMSTUDY mocks this time and scored >75%. Friends it's my PERSONAL opinion, that i didn't found questions to be alike or similar in any of these mocks\prep's. Although the questions in PMP exam were similar enough from the first time and it appears to me that they have certain number of questions in their bucket which they keep on repeating. 

One last thing i will say is to focus on understanding the concepts and keep urself motivated to put that extra effort. You will make it..!!!!!

All the best.

-SD

 

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admin

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 04:26

Congratulations SD on this special moment. I am sure your writeup will help people who have failed pmp.

Regards

 

Utpala

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 14:07

Hi congratulations i wanted to ask you did u write all ittos n formulae during 15 min and my second question was twhich is the practimce games for ittos

Sd

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:08

Thanks Utpala. I didn't tried writing ITTOs or any formulas in those 15 mins. In my first attempt i did wrote EV formulas but in my second attempt i jumped straight on to the exam.


In my opinion don't count on doing any activites in those moments when u just wanted to begun the exam(If u forget anything u might just panic which wld not be good for u).


You can browse through PMZilla and get those links:


http://www.pmzilla.com/memorizing-inputs-tools-and-outputs-pmp

ashok8008

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 06:29

Hi  SD  Congrats ,

i am ready to buy MOCK exams , Can you suggest me good Mock exams

 How about this

http://www.pmperfect.com/Public/PMPPracticeExams.aspx

 

Please suggest

Utpala

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 14:00

 

Sd

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:19

Thanks Ashok,


I mentioned all those mocks that i tried but honestly by giving PMP two times, i feel that we should avoid spending money on Mocks(or at least get the one where u get lots of good practice questions) Since the intent should be to develop understanding then try mocks and not the other way.


I spend $50 on pmstudy but didn't found the investment worth(my personal opinion). You can get enough free mocks on net. RITA is good that they had chapter wise question bank which can be used to strengthen basics before u try full mocks. 


The link that u mentioned had 1000+ questions which is a good thing but do check its reviews on net. As i havn't heard of it.


Hope it helps


-Sd

ashok8008

Wed, 04/20/2011 - 03:05