Hey Everyone,

I passed the PMP Exam on 6/15/09 with 2 months of preparation. Below is my documented lessons learned.

PMP Exam Time table:

4/16/09—joined PMI and subscribed to PM Prepcast

5/1/09—completed PM Prepcast contact hours and Completed PMP application

5/5/09—scheduled exam

6/15/09—took exam

Study Materials:

1.       PM Prepcast (to officially verify 35 contact hours)

2.       PMBOK Guide 3^rd Edition

3.       PMP Exam Prep 5^th Edition – Rita Mulcahy

4.       PMPerfect (Professional  PMP Exam Preparation)

Study Method:

1.       Listened to all 89 episodes of the PM Prepcast (over 2 weeks)

2.       Read the PMBOK—once thoroughly over 3 week period

3.       Read PMP Exam Prep 5^th Edition –once thoroughly over 3 week period and answered all questions

4.       Took free PM Study exam (200 questions) and scored 66%--took this exam when I was halfway completed with Rita’s book.

5.       Took full 200 question Headfirst exam (free). Scored 81% (168 out of 200)—took this test after completing Rita’s book.

6.       Subscribed to PM Perfect and took all 22 exams averaging 81.57% (571/700)—starting taking these exams 1 week prior to actual test.

7.       Read PMBOK a second time—skimmed through. It’s easier the second time around.

8.       Read PMP Exam Prep 5^th Edition a second time—paid closer attention to areas that I had more difficulty (Cost and Procurement).

Commentary:

·         I have been in project management since 2001 (Project Coordinator, Project Expeditor, and full PM).

·         I accumulated 50+ months of non-overlapping project work and over 5300 hours prior to applying for the PMP certification—in addition to a Bachelor’s degree.

·         I used PM Prepcast to verify that I have 35 contact hours—although my undergraduate in Business Administration more than accounted for the contact hours (But I didn’t have supporting documentation besides a transcript).

·         PM Prepcast was a good source for the 35 contact hours. I listened to the prep cast in the car, while working out, at my desk, and at home on the couch.

·         I was able to do about 4 hours a day in PM Prepcast learning

·         I am not a good auditory learner so I learned more by going through the PMBOK. The PMBOK is easier to read the second time through for sure.

·         That’s where Rita’s process chart came in the picture. Rita’s process chart worked wonders. There were several times on practice exams and on the real test where this chart –I had memorized—worked wonders in helping me answer some questions.

·         I spent about 5-10 hours on memorization, recall, and consistently practicing writing and/or typing out the processes on a spreadsheet (at work and at home)

·         I also memorized the Table 3-45 on page 70 of the PMBOK guide (Knowledge Areas, Process Groups and Project Mgmt Processes). Several questions on the test are extremely easy when you have this memorized.

·         Much like what I did for Rita’s process chart, I created a spreadsheet of the process groups on top and knowledge areas on the left side and filled in the processes several times a day until I could go a week and still remember where each one went.  I did the same for Rita’s chart.

·         I didn’t memorize the ITTOs, but wished I did so I could confidently answer to 10-15 questions where knowing these for sure would have allowed me to easily answer the questions. There were definitely some tradeoffs when attempting to study and take the exam within 2 months (4/16 through 6/15) and neglecting to memorize the ITTOs was the main one.

·         I attempted to do a last minute review/memorization, but I wasn’t able to accomplish this in time to take the exam.

·         I took off from work the day of exam, but made sure all my thoughts were on the exam—this included reviewing ITTO’s and the PMBOK guide glossary. I didn’t want any distractions or outside thoughts creeping in prior to the test that would allow mind to drift in any way. This included not having the radio on while driving to the test center. Extreme, but I think it paid off.

·         I entered the test site 30 minutes before my scheduled exam and they checked my driver’s license (Government issued ID)against their list, provided my with a key to a locker, and let me know to put everything I had brought (except my glasses) into the locker and proceed to the testing room.

·         The proctor/supervisor checked my license, signed me in, made me pull out the pockets of my pants, and then provided me with 4 sheets of paper (in booklet form)—8 sheets including front and back—and 2 pencils.

·         I asked the lady if the test would begin at the scheduled time and she said it will begin when you are ready.

·         I was able to be seated at my desk and had about 5 minutes before my tutorial began—a popup screen appears saying I needed to begin. Once clicked on the button to begin, the tutorial then started and the 15 minute countdown began.

·         During this time I did write down all the earned value formulas as well. I made sure to write down the description of when each formula should be used. I found this most helpful.

·         I wrote down Rita’s process chart only because I was trying to fill my time during the 15 minute tutorial and felt that it could do me good later on in the test if I got tired. I could just refer to it and not have to think so hard.

·         What I tried to do a week before the exam was to practice writing at a hurried pace and get in shape because all that writing tires out your hand, wrist and forearm. I felt I was in pretty good shape—as I never write anything anymore.

·         I was able to sit in one place and go through all 200 questions in about 2.5 hours. I then took a 3 minute break and came back and reviewed all the questions that I had marked during the remaining 1.5 hours—about 60 questions were marked for review.

·         I found that after second review, I only changed about 10 answers. Some were glaring mistakes and some were made clearer by taking my time and thinking through the questions and provided answers.

·         After I submitted my test with 1 second left—I did this for dramatic effect—the screen went white for about 30 seconds, then a screen came up for me to take a survey about the Prometric testing experience.

·         They allocated about 15 minutes to answer 9 questions.

·         The only issue I had with my testing center was very warm. I had on pants and a t-shirt and was sweating throughout most of the exam—even though the air conditioning was supposedly on. It was way too hot. I would have worn a t-shirt and shorts if I had known it would be this way.

·         After the survey was submitted, it took about a minute for the “Congratulations…” message—from PMI—to display on the screen.

·         After this I clicked on the “Next” button and my results came up.

·         My overall score was “Pass”

·         My results for each process group were: Proficient (Initiation, Executing, and Monitoring and Controlling) and Moderately Proficient (Planning, Closing, and Professional and Social Responsibility)

·         I’m not sure what my percentage was. I wish this was displayed to see how close I came to my practice exam scores of 81%.

·         I left the test center and the proctor/supervisor printed out my score sheet and signed me out.

·         I gathered all my belongings from my locker, dropped off my locker key at the front desk, and proceeded to walk out the room, into the night, as a newly crowned PMP!