Dear all.

Cleared PMP on 19^th August. Following are lessons learned:

I started my preparation from June 2011 where I have joined a course and earned 35 PDUs.  Submitted the application with in 7 days received email for schedule the exam. Initially I have scheduled the exam for 3^rd August, but I took mockup exam on 31^st July and result was 69% and most of the questions related to ITTO were wrong. So I have decided to postpone my exam for another 2 weeks where I have scheduled for 19^th August.

Study material:

1.   PMBOK, 4^th Edition (2 Times)
2.   Rita Exam Preparation book (3 Times)
3.   PMBOK Glossary(2 times)
4.   PMI Code of Ethics and Professional conduct
5.   PM PREPACAST, Formula Study guide
6. Important Points Sheet from Chowdary, available in PMZILLA

Towards preparation, I have come up with my study plan by knowledge area for PMBOK and Rita Book

I used to study for 2-3 hours everyday and in weekends for 6 hours. Read PMBOK once and then started with Rita. For knowledge areas (Quality, Risk, Cost, and Time) used to switch between PMBOK and Rita books since I felt that these topics are very difficult to understand from PMBOK. Rita book is very excellent resource; it explains concepts with good examples and makes your life easy. For ITTO, I used to write it down on a sheet while studying each knowledge area refereerd them before exam day . Practice writing ITTO on a sheet many times. It is better to study artifact level for each inputs, outputs and tools

Mockup exams and sample questions

1)      PMSTUDY (Free simulation and purchased Test 2)

2)      Exam Central(Free Simulation)

3)      PMPEPCAST, PM Exam Simulator (90 Free sample questions)

Exam Experience

Finally the day has arrived, visited exam center before 30 minutes. Started exam with bit tensed as few initial questions were very tough and never seen them that kind of questions any where. Took break for 5 minutes after completion of 100 questions. Exam was not that tough at the same time not easy too, except few questions are very easy. Completed all questions before 30 minutes and was revisiting few questions, changed few answers. I feel that revisiting answers changing them might lead to confusions and end up with incorrect answers; I suggest not revisiting all answers except marked one

Hope these few lessons learned might help; I want to thank PMZILLA and all members as I used to visit everyday before taking exam and gave me lot of inspiration

I want to thank my wife for supporting me, and bear with me for not going out and spending enough time.

All the best for future PMP aspirants

Cheers

Sridhar Daram, PMP