Passed pmp 6/16/2012

Submitted by rmgraves on Sun, 06/17/2012 - 17:30

 Hello all,

 

Posting the LL seems to be the thing to do after passing the exam, so here are mine, in all their glory!

I prepped as follows...

1. Earned my PDU's to qualify for the exam through regular MBA coursework. Ex. Quantitative reasoning, management, and leadership classes. 

2. Enrolled into the University of Phoenix PMPCE 6 week program (first two weeks were a waste of time).

3. Made sure to have the pmbok read before the prep classes began.

4. Attended a weekly study group held on Saturday mornings and organized by the Phoenix chapter of PMI.  To me, the 3 hours we spent together once a week held mor value than the $220 per week prep classes.  We covered 2-3 chapters per week of Rita's 6th edition and discussed our indinvidual areas of opportunity based on the practice exams as a group.  Check your local chapter for similar study group sessions.

5. Established a rigid, 3 month study regiment that led to my scheduled exam date of 6/16/2012. It involved going through Rita's book one more time, reading head first PMP book, and taking two full length, timed practice exams.  The folks that were facilitating the study sessions recommended taking the head first exam last, as it was the most realistic free exam in their opinion.  All in all, it was 2-3 hours Mon-Fri and 6-8 hours on the weekend.

I would reccomend taking as many practice exams as possible.  The Exam Mojo light app has a great 200 question exam that isolates the questions you missed for further examination.  The paid version of the same app gives you access to tons of questions (literally 1000's).

This brings up a great topic. You can find plenty of free questions through online searches, but be careful which ones you take stock in! One of the great things about the actual exam is that all of the questions, with the exception of 25, have been tested and deemed valid by a panel of experts. Most of the free exams you will find consist of ridiculous questions that are centered on obscure sentences in the pmbok. Some are even based on magazine articles that have nothing to do with the concepts needed to understand to pass the test. After studying for a while, the "less than quality" exams will become obvious and annoying. The PMP exam questions are straight forward and not based on obscure references in the pmbok.  I found the "Head First PMP" free 200 question exam to be accurate, as was  Rita's practice exams that were provided after each chapter.

To sum it all up, having a firm grasp on  the tools/techniques used in planning, QA, QC, procurements, and what to do in the event of an early termination (there were at least 4 questions centered around this topic) served me well. Be sure to understand the process chart and lay it out on the scrap paper they give you if possible. I referenced this multiple times throughout the exam for the "what de the PM most likely forget to do," or, " what should you do next," type questions. Understand network diagramming and  earned value concepts. There were some questions that provided  limited data and one had to  figure out EV before they would be able to use the formula needed to gain the correct response. Rita's book was the most helpful in this area and I highly recommend going through it at least 2x's. For  cost and time concepts, I found "Head First PMP's" curriculum superior than anything else.  Headfirst does an amazing job in covering these topics and their critical path drill was extreemly helpful (http://www.headfirstlabs.com/PMP/criticalpath/).

All in all, it was hard work, but it felt great to show up to work and modify my email signiture to include "PMP."  Good luck for those preparing, and congrats to those who have passed!

Yours in managing projects,

Ryan Graves, PMP

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krantikumar50

Sun, 06/17/2012 - 21:15

Hi Ryan Graves,


 


Congrats on passing your PMP exam and getting the excellent certification.


 


I also wanted to tell you, I wish I never say the same again, that your LLs are one of the WORST I have ever read on this forum. Simply bad. A case of self-glorification, to put it mildly.


 


Take care and enjoy the fulfillement.


 


Thanks, KK.......

rmgraves

Sun, 06/17/2012 - 21:56

 Kk,

Thanks for the congrats.  Not sure what upset you about my LL. This was the approach to preparing for the exam that worked for me.  Perhaps being more constructive with your critique will help me identify any offensive verbiage so I can re-phrase accordingly.  last thing I want to do is offend someone with my lessons learned and it appears that I have.

Do tell, how did I come off "self-glorifying?"

rmgraves

Sun, 06/17/2012 - 21:58

 _

KevinSorbo

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 07:31

Congratulations on your PMP.


Not sure, why you wrote such a de-motivating LL, are you not happy with your PMP credentials? I also failed in the PMP exam the first time and they way you have put fingers on us, as if we should be put under neglected humans ignored categories. I hope, you understand that we as a human can prepare good and try our best, but we cannot decide the result.


It’s great to know that PMP questions are not based on obscure references in the pmbok. I have learnt from your LL that references in the pmbok are also obscure. Thanks for explicitly highlighting that Exam Mojo app has a great 200 question.


Once again congratulations on your PMP.


Kevin
 

krantikumar50

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 08:31

Mr Graves,


 


Ideally one should concentrate on writing on the books that one referred to, thrust areas, what one could have done better, what one should do and what one should never do in his or her LLs.


PMZilla is a forum which attracts people across the globe, however, aspirants from the country India outnumbers all. You did your PMP training and formed a group in US, presumably, and we being in India can not do that.


 


LLs should only concentrate on what I did and what I could have done better because what worked for you  might NOT work for others. The ground should be common, the ways could be different.


 


I have always tried to pep people up. I am a seond timer and my way of studying is that I am getting myself completely accustomed to one particular area and then move to other. Right now its ITTO for me, then formulas, et al. My eligibility ends 3/15/13 and before that I shall surely appear.


 


A gentleman named Saket is always there to bail lesser mortal like us out of any confusion. Then I have Mr Anmol Sinha from PMPforsure to give his valuable guidance as need be. For ITTOs, I am only going through Brainbok. Its a paid site and brilliant. I will tell you an incident. I liked the questions on PMPforsure so much that I wanted to subscribe to the questions which so least priced as against its standard, however, Anmol discouraged me saying buying his product would be best suited if I go for it 5-6 weeks before the actual test. Such is the conviction as people like Saket, Anmol et al want others to join the cadre of PMP and not simply trying to make moolahs.


 


Last but not the least. Congratulations again on your PMP. Be blessed and wish the same for us as well.


 


Thanks, KK.....

rmgraves

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 19:36

KK and Kevin,



After reviewing my LL post, I can see what could have been interpreted as being "negative."  I think after I explain what was intended by my comments pertaining to certain topics, you will see that I meant no malice or dis-respect.

First of all, I am extremely proud of the credential.  It took a lot of hard work and mental preparation to pass the exam and I will support all those preparing in any way possible.

Let me explain what I meant when I mentioned the threads created by those who were unsuccessful in their first, second, and some third attempts at passing the exam.  If I had not passed, I would establish a thread with the intention of gathering advice/support particular to my situation.  As someone who had no idea what the test was like, my level of preparation led to a belief that I had a good chance on passing on my first attempt.  I read a few of the threads and that belief that I could pass on the first attempt was immediately diminished.  The advice they were seeking would hold more value if I was in the same situation.  Having not taken the exam already, reading the level of preparation that someone else had taken to prepare and finding that they were unable to pass led me to believe that I myself would not pass.  No disrespect was meant toward anyone who was unsuccessful in their attempts and I am glad there is a resource such as this website where one can reach out for support if needed.

Also, the pmbok is not "obscure" as was interpreted.  The pmbok is an amazing resource, perhaps the best, for preparing.  It's too bad it is so boring to read though.  The pmbok contains "just the facts," while the study manuals such as Rita and Headfirst PMP has to include a lot of additional verbiage in interest of making their book more readable.  The point I was trying to make was that some practice exams will center an entire set of possible answers based on one small and insignificant sentence from the pmbok.  The questions had little to do with understanding the required concepts that one would need to pass the actual test.

I hope I was able to clarify some misunderstandings here