Passed PMP on 4-Apr

Dear all,


I cleared my PMP exam on 4th April and thought it will be a good idea to post my lessons learned and how I cracked the exam.
First, let it be clear PMP is not easy. It requires determination & some real seriousness for atleast 2 months. I started with my preparations around early-Feb and thought will be able to crack by mid-March but my estimations were flawed by the time I was close to the exam date. Finally I appeared on 4-Apr.


To begin with, I was given by company 35 hours contact program by an institute recognized by PMI. Post the course they helped me in filling application. Also they helped with excel sheet for filling work experience hours on different projects.


Next my application was picked for audit. Though it is not difficult to clear the audit process but I lost around 4-5 days. If your application is picked in audit (which is a random process), you need to download audit report from PMI get it signed by your current Manager/Supervisor/Colleague (preferably someone whose name you have mentioned in the application), enclose other evidence (Degree, transcripts, certificate for 35hrs contact program) and send via courier to PMI. I used DHL since they were faster though expensive from others. Within 2 days of receipt of my documents I got a confirmation that I am good to schedule a date. From this point onwards my serious studies/preparations commenced.


·         During my 35hrs contact program, I studied through Headfirst which was interactive


·         I downloaded PMBOK from PMI website and went through completely though it was very monotonous


·         I read Rita, that helped me to understand concepts


·         I did all Q & A from Headfirst and post every chapter from Rita


·         I reviewed all Q’s that went wrong, reviewed the reasons and checked with PMBOK for understanding


·         While I was reading PMBOK, I prepared my own notes that I referred on the day of the exam


·         From the Q&A that were incorrect, I supplemented those in my notes.


·         Again I read PMBOK and this time it was easier to understand since lots of concepts were much clear.


·         I started doing Q’s from Rita software and started securing around 70% in Super PMP and 75% in PMP (Super PMP has more difficult Q’s than PMP)


·         I also referred to freely available online Questions – Oliver 175 secured 65%, Exam Central secured 75%, PMstudy – 65%


·         Also downloaded various cheat sheets available and pinned on my soft board and study table


·         I also referred to a lot of blogs and forums – linkedin, PMzilla etc


·         Day before I only referred to my notes  and scanned through PMBOK


On the day of exam


·         I practiced the cheat sheet that I thought I would be doing in first 15mins.


·         At the exam center, 15 min tutorial usually is completed in 2-3 minutes. So rest of time I prepared my cheat sheet to dump all my formula’s. I made complete chart of 42 processes and 9 knowledge areas. I made a note of all formula’s (CPI, SPI, CV, EV, TCPI, EAC, ETC, PTA, PERT, FV, PV etc ), graphs etc 


·         First 15mins, I was very nervous and apprehensive but when I saw first 10 questions, I was able to answer well and that gave me confidence.


·         Ensure you read every sentence, every word carefully. I spent a lot of time on reading questions, I completed my questions in 3hrs 15 minutes, I had around 20 marked questions for review that I completed in 15mins and for next 15mins I did complete review. I clicked end exam button after 3hrs and 45mins.


·         After clicking End exam within 20-30secs a new window appears for survey of test center, post submitting survey ( 8-10 Q’s), within next 20secs, screen is displayed with Congratulations and a smile on your face J


·         Now there are no more percentage, you only receive proficiency level in the process groups. And for me all was moderately proficient.


 


Last but not the least, thanks to members of pmzilla for their contribution, notes by Rajesh Nair, lessons learnt by members. They were all helpful


Let me know incase I can be of any other help.


All the best for all those who will be taking the PMP exam!!


 


 


Regards 


 


 


 

Congrats Bhavnal.


 


Whats your total years of PM experience in real world and how many hours did you mention on your form?


 


Thanks,


KK...

Thanks KK


My total experience in project management is around 6 yrs .. and in the form I mentioned 6088 hrs (divided into 4 projects). Although requirement is only 4500 hrs

Excellent - Congratulations!


Which Free Test you found was the best i.e. close to the questions that you see in the PMP exam. Any recommendations for PMP aspirants like me.

Thanks Swaroopk,


Among free test Oliver and pmstudy were close... but Rita was closest to the main exam. Inspite of referring to different Q's, not a single Q was same in the main exam. PMP is all applied. It is all about how you understand the concepts and apply accordingly. Even the formula's you shouldn't cramp.. understand the terms like EV, AC, SV, PV, CV etc .. understand thr graphs.


All the best !

Hi,

Did you find exam difficult considering the changes in the exam pattern(professional and social responsibility)?

It is true that there was a change in the PMP Exam after aug 2011, that is according to PMI after the RDS. I read one time a post here in PMzilla that there was no change so why then should buy updated material? this one who said there was no change was totally wrong. By the way, he said this in support of his campaign for one product :-). here is the link to the PMI page. http://www.pmi.org/passport/dec10/passport_dec10_in-the-news.html

It was not difficult at all.. but it was all applied . I believe I had done Q's more difficult so maybe I found main exam easier! Don't worry about the change. Initially Professional and social responsibility was a separate knowledge area .. and now it is spread evenly across all other 9 Knowledge areas.. so Q's on professional and soial responsbility will be in every area.


All the best !

Congrats Bhavna PMP ;)


 


I am also preparing for the exam and going through study material.  I have submitted my application online and it was accepted .Now on site it is showing “You may now submit payment for your PMP credential". Can you please tell me when the application audit happens?


Thanks...


Max


 

Audit haopopens exactly the moment you pay the exam fees. Don't worry, if it happens, PMI gives an extension during that auditing period which is a maximum of two months. If your projects, which u mentioned in your application are done in various parts of the country or if those people are not available, you can request your present supervisor to sign on it. You have to send your PMP training certficate, your highest education credentials, all in xerox and you are done. Thanks, KK....

Thanks Max :)


You get to know abt the audit within couple of seconds after paying the fees. If your application is not picked for audit you will get an Eligibility Id (that is used to schedule in exam date on promteric website) and if your application is picked in audit then you get a audit package in your profile.


All the best !