Passed PMP Exam today in the 1st attempt. style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>

Here
is what I have to share

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Test performance assessment

-
I consumed almost all of 4 hours. Had only 5 minutes left.
Marked a lot of questions but no time to review.

-
My approach was to spend little extra time to pick answer rather than come back
and re-understand the situation. It was time-risky though.

-
Spent more time on situational questions.

-
Used the tutorial session to brain-dump the formulas and the Process Group –
Knowledge Area mapping (Table 3-1 on PMBOK 4^th)

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Took one 3 minute break in the 3^rd hour

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Was able to keep composed as already practiced 2 full length exams.

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Exam assessment

-
In my opinion, the exam did not pose a lot of tricky questions when compared to
many prep-course offered test questions.

-
Only 7 – 8 simple numerical questions. Not as complicated as the prep-courses
say

- 10
– 15 % on ITTO, requires no memorization, just
understanding.

- Approx.
10 % Professional & Social responsibility questions

-
Approx, 30% moderate verbose. None very verbose.

-
Hardly found any “EXCEPT”, “NOT” kind of questions like many had mentioned will
appear

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Path to Pass

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Time:

- Aggressive
schedule of 53 days from initiation to exam (Sept 12^th to Nov 3^rd)

- Spent
an average of 3 hrs per day

- class=GramE>and 4 full days before exam

- Scheduled
the exam half way into the prep process

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Recourses:

-
PMBOK

-
Rita’s Book

-
Rita’s PMFastTrack

-
PMZilla.com for guidance

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Approach:

-
Studied Rita & PMBOK side-by side, 1^st Rita, then PMBOK

-
PMBOK - 3 passes (3^rd pass in 24 hrs back to back)

-
Rita’s Book - 2 passes

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Took all Knowledge Area questions in Rita’s PMFastrack,
after reading each chapter

-
Scored between 69% and 83% in those

-
Oliver Lehmann’s 75 – 68% (before final revision)

-
Oliver Lehmann’s 175 – 76% (before final revision)

-
PMStudy.com Free 200 – 78.8% (after final revision)

- HeadFirstlabs.com
Free 200 – 78% (after final revision)

-
Other sample questions from many websites

-
After all revisions, touched on knowledge gaps which I noted from wrong answers

-
Practiced brain-dump twice

style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Lessons Learnt

- Did
not take notes from PMBOK in the 1^st two passes

-
When I read PMBOK, the stuff sounded more of common sense and trivial. But
later, after take a practice test, realized, that every line in PMBOK has a
meaning, and well thought off subject matter.

-
Read PMBOK 1^st time and any prep materials you use. Then take a full
length practice test. Then make notes from PMBOK during 2^nd pass.
You will know what is important. This will be very effective.

-
I took 2 full length exams just before the PMP exam. I got fatigued. So give a
day of rest and relax by just revising.

Hope
you find my approach useful like many of other PMZilla
users’ were useful.

Good
Luck!