PMP Passed — first attempt !!!

First of all thanks to PMzilla for the Lessons Learned section and resources. 

Lessons Learned:

 -- Don't take the mock exams right before real PMP exam. Though my scores were between 65-80% through out my preparation, I took couple of mock exams the day before exam. I got scores 50% and less. That triggered the panic if I am going to pass the exam at all. I felt I knew all the nuts and bolts for exam. So, I went with my insticts and guts any way and didn't even looked for postpone as an option. 

-- The whole preparation is a committment and has to assign a dedicated time. I prepared for 4 months and dedicated an average of 2-3hr/day.  Following are sources for the exam prep

              -- Studied Rita (7th edition) for two times (inside/out)

              -- Read PMBOK Version4 once  (hard be awake through out the book)

              -- Head First -- Few chapters and Earned Value exercises

              -- PM Prepcast (got my credits from PM-Prepcast and love Cornelius Fichtner style of presentation)

-- Mock exams are vital after understanding all of the process groups.  Make sure not take mock test more than once from one provider. If you take the mock test once then scoring for 2nd time doesn't count as you have seen those questions already.  Most challenged chapter was Integration Management and specially integrated change control process. So I had to go back for more studying. Real exam does ended up with  lots of queston on change requests and change control process. Tests that I have taken are as follows:

           --  2 Exam Central full length exams

           --  Head First full length exam

           --  PM Study full lenght exam

           --  Both Oliver Lehmann (75 & 175 Questions)

           --  Simplilearn Full length exams

           --  Rita questions after each chapter

           --  Head First (few chapter questions)

-- Some of the above testing methods are pure "Gold Plating". As experience PMP test takers mentioned in this forum that some mock tests are not really required but make you over prepared or get you frustrated. Most of the questions in real PMP exam were moderately easy comparing to toughest mock test. 

One of the most helpful lesson learned experience for me right before taking my test is the following.
http://www.pmzilla.com/passed-pmp-19-dec03911-find-ll 

I hope and wish my lessons learned would be helpful to others. Best of luck to all PMP aspirants. 

-Sam

admin's picture

Congratulations Sam on your PMP. Time to celebrate

Regards