I'm excited to announce that I passed my PMP yesterday, 8/25/2011. This is fairly lengthy, so I'm apologizing in advance.

I'm not like most of those posting saying they passed on their first attempt. I initially took the test in November 2009 and FAILED. I was so distraught after my initial time, due to the amount of effort I put into studying (4 hour day for about 30 days), that I didn't want to retake the exam. The difference I learned about this time and last time, I was studying wrong...

To help others that are in my same situation, let me explain what I did.

First, I thought Rita's book was the PMP Bible... Therefore, for the second time, I invested in her full PMP Exam Prep System (Book, CD, and Flash Cards). I had the 5th Edition from when I took the test in 2009. I followed her study suggestion: 1. Take a 20 question exam in each Knowledge Area and Process Group without reading any of the materials. This is a Benchmark and focusing on the areas you did poorly. 2. Read her book, review the Quick Test. 3. She recommended reading the PMBOK; I did not do that, in correspondence with her chapter. 4. Take a 20 question exam again in that Knowledge Area.

I started my independent study session a month ago. However, my company was offering a weekly class where certified PMPs would walk through the PMBOK for each Knowledge Area per week. I felt this was a waste of my time, because I was familiar with the material, since I had studied before, I just needed chapter focus materials. Therefore, I realized I needed to start studying. I took two weeks and read Rita's book focusing on a Chapter a day. Did everything noted above, with the exception of reading the PMBOK. (Not a great idea, but we will discuss later.) After I read her book and took the 20 questions for each Knowledge Area, I then focused only on my weak areas (Score of 70% or Below). Therefore, I continued to do Rita's simulation exam and then reviewing the answers to the ones I missed in both Rita's book and the PMBOK. While reading the PMBOK, I realized I was missing a lot of material that Rita's book did not capture. I started panicking. Potentially the reason I FAILED the first exam. At this point, I was two weeks away from my exam date. I spoke with peers that were in the company's PMP prep class, and learned they were also using other materials to study. Therefore, I did away with Rita's materials, and started using the free exam simulation from www.examcentral.com. What a major difference. Exam Central questions were tailored from the PMBOK. So, any questions I missed, I reviewed them in the PMBOK. I still never read the PMBOK, but read the areas thoroughly that I was missing on the simulation exams. That's when I learned that the PMBOK had valuable information and that I probably should have read it. But because at this point, I was exhausted from my studies, I couldn't see reading that book in its entirety. In addition to taking Exam Central test, I also created an ITTO study sheet. I started reading that twice a day. I didn't do that with my previous test. Finally, in 2010 someone reference the Head First PMP book. When I thought I was ready to take the exam again last year, I purchased that book. But because it was so different from Rita's, I didn't too much care for the style. However, to change up my test questions, I started taking those tests. Once again, focusing on questions I missed reviewing in the PMBOK.

Finally the week of the test:

Sunday - I took the 200 question simulation on Exam Central - Scored 80%

Monday - I took a 50 question simulation on Head First website - Scored 82%; I took Oliver Lehmann 75 Questions - Scored 55%, and then I took 30 question simulations on PM-Prepcast website - Scored 50%. By now, I was worried...

Monday Night - I took a 50 question simulation on Rita's CD - Scored 75%, and then I took another 30 question simulation on PM-Prepcast website - Scored 55%. After scaring myself so with PM-Prepcast, I decided not to go back to that website. I learned that for the answers I was missing, it was referencing other materials outside of the PMBOK. For others, the questions seem word for word from the PMBOK.

Tuesday - I started reviewing all areas I missed on the previous exams. I started practicing on my Brian Dump (42 Processes, Project Selection, Quality Theorist, and Earned Value).

Tuesday while at work, I was speaking to a co-worker about my concerns for not being able to do EV without them giving me the actual numbers (i.e. the verbiage EV questions). I had the Head First PMP book and was just showing her how I've referenced the book, and low and behold, Head First had a step by step in solving verbiage EV questions.

Tuesday Night - Focused on Head First EV and finding EV questions to practice on.  This was the best information I found on EV.  I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND this material to anyone struggling with EV verbiage type questions.

Wednesday - I continued to review areas I missed; only in the PMBOK, reviewed my ITTO study sheet, and Brain Dump. By Wednesday, I was simulated out... I figured, at this point, I just need to review what I have.

Wednesday Night - Reviewed Rita's Flash Cards, the PMBOK on areas I was weak, and reviewed my ITTO study sheet.

Thursday (Test Day) - My test was scheduled for 5 PM CT. I worked a 1/2 day and then at Noon, went and had lunch alone (a great salad). After I ate, I reviewed study guide of key things from each chapter, my ITTO study sheet and practiced my Brain Dump. Afterwards, I headed to the test center. I arrived at 3 PM and they let me take my test. After 3 hours, 2 Breaks (10 min - after 100 questions and a 5 min after the second 100) and only going back through the questions I "Marked for Review", I PASSED!!! I had Moderately Proficient in all areas.

My Recommendation:

• Read PMBOK; I know it's a boring book but I promise, if I had not focused on it when I was reviewing my questions, I would have failed...


• Don't focus on one set of materials, if you have others, I would use all text materials you have and look for gaps. When you find gaps, one have something that the other doesn't, default back to the PMBOK.


• Create your own ITTO study sheet. I find that using others material don't help as much as if I create my own. In 2009, I used a ton of other people materials but found when making my own study sheet, I was learning as I was creating.


• Do not stress...I recalled in 2009 when I took the test, during the test, all I could think about was Failing, Food, or something else. This time, I focused only on the test. When I left, I realized that I didn't let other thoughts creep into my mind.


• Finally, plan a celebration!!! Before taking the test, plan a celebration, its encouraging thoughts. I found that this time around, I continued with encouraging thoughts. But this time around, I knew more. Especially partially reading the PMBOK and studying the ITTOs. In 2009, I didn't think either were important, how wrong I was and what a foolish mistake to depend on only one set of materials.

With all that said, I know others who are scheduled to take the test will do great. Keep a positive mindset and if someone tells you they passed without reading the PMBOK, I would say their study style may be different from yours. But if nothing else, I would strongly encourage you to read the PMBOK...

Good Successful Testing...