Finally I have done it and with 5 Ps in my first attempt. I remember reading somewhere someone asking if anyone achieved 100% in PMP, it sounds little weird but that triggered my mock exam practices towards getting 100% especially in last few exams. It was quite a journey and experience. First I was out of that 1% lucky person who got audit in my application which I was able to clear in less than a week. I must say, PMI is really fast in processing. I have been a silent member of PMZILLA and in last 3 months there was not a single day I would have not visited the site. Information from different lesson learned did really help me. Thanks to all the people who shared their experience and doing a wonderful job in sharing their knowledge. So now it’s my chance to contribute, I would list down my learning:

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Preparation around 3 months

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Read PMBOK and Rita and referred Headfirst for Time, Cost, Risk and Procurement. Headfirst has very good explanation of Critical path and float exercises and shortcut

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First time studied book based on functional area and 2 times each book based on process area as exam is based on process area, this helped me to get 5Ps I believe

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Practiced more than 5000 mock up questions, all free exams. Somehow I was not keen to buy paid exam when there are lots of free exams available. My average score was 75% .All exams taught something new. Oliver 75, Oliver 175 is really tough; I liked PMPFORSURE because it gives you exactly same result as actual PMP and tells your weak area.

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Practiced almost 5-6 full length 200 question exams and was watching my timing and breaks

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Prepared my own study notes for revision

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No need to memorize the ITTO but you really needs to understand and probably remember for some critical areas like Risk, Quality and Schedule and Procurement

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Rajesh Nair’s note really helped but I had to correct it and I modified it to my own version and added new points and updated few but hats off to Rajesh, he did a great job in consolidating the book in one place. I am planning to publish Abhishek ’s version of Rajesh Nair’s Note sooner.

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Overall exam is not tough if you have prior experience and have studied following a plan.

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Memorized all the formulas and Page 43 of PMBOK which is must. That helped me to keep my confidence up all the time

Exam day:

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Reach at least 1 hour before and try to visit the center before so at least you would not get nervous on exam day

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Completed survey in 2 mins and wrote down all the formulas, page 43 of PMBOK

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Make strategy for breaks and follow it, I took my first break after 101^st question and 2^nd after 165^th and last after exam completion

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Mark the questions which you are not confident but don’t try to mark everything, I had around 15 questions marked

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Read the questions very carefully and all the answers, sometime second best answer would be first choice and tempt us to choose that one if your tendency to choose the first right answer. Don’t forget question may be asking for the best answer or first or next thing to do

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While reviewing the answers don’t try to change it just for the sake of changing it

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Keep your speed in such a way that you have enough time to review the question if possible, I was able to complete the exam in 3 hours 10 min and reviewed for 40 mins and finally closed 10 mins before 4 hours.

Finally, I ended the exam and filled survey. And here comes the last but longest period between submitting the survey and getting your result. And I finally saw CONGRATULATIONS and in next page 5 Ps. My all last 3 months effort paid off, thanks to my wife for her support and special thanks to Rita Mulcahy, she did an outstanding job in writing the book. Good luck all for your preparation ..please feel free to reach out to me @ abhip2907@yahoo.com if anyone need any help.