Hi Friends,

I am happy to share the news, I am passed the PMP yesterday (4^th Oct) with 1P (Planning) and 4 MPs.

I am thankful to the forum members especially by names, Pawar ji, KK, Saket, admin and one & all.

The Abhishek’s version of Rajesh Nair PMP notes is wonderful, thanks to Rajesh and Abhishek.

KK, you are wonderful; your words are boosted my confidence level; with your example of a person, who cannot get through pmpforsure mock test but passed PMP exam. The same happened here too. Special thanks to you man.

This forum is very informative and mind blowing in giving so much of inspirational ideas and increasing confidence level of PMP aspirants.

While reading the LLs of successful candidates, I used to imagine when I can write mine. And today I made it & happy to share my LLs too. J

Let me tell you my LLs. Pardon me if it is boring to read.

Preparation:

My plan was to study seriously for 2+ months and give exam in first week of Oct.

Books:

1. PMBOK 4^th Edition      

2. Rita 7^th Edition

3. Abhishek’s version of Rajesh Nair PMP notes

I am started preparing in end July 2012, but the first round of studying PMBOK and RITA is just read through, couldn’t grasp anything.

In the end of August, I did my schedule analysis and EVM calculation; it seems I am behind schedule and deliverables are not meeting the objectives J I mean, preparation is not as planned.

Then, did the impact analysis and decided to do schedule compression by fast tracking.

I am started serious preparation from 1^st week of Sep, by studying 2 hours daily in weekdays and 6-8 hours in weekends. Read through RITA 2^nd round and went to PMBOK.

Mock Tests (all free tests only):

1. Exam Central

2. PMPforSure

3. OliverLehmann 75 questions online

4. PMStudy

5. HeadFirstLabs

6. Simplilearn

7. PassionatePMP

8. Course Providers mock test

Gave mock tests in last week of Sep and got some up & down results, meaning few tests 70 - 80% and some 58 – 65% only.

On 30^th Sep, I gave a mock up test in my course provider’s website and passed with 70%. Then I decided to schedule the exam on 4^th October.

Last 3 days prior to exam started revising the PMBOK through process group wise. A day before the exam, I read through the Abhishek version of Rajesh Nair notes, which is wonderful tool, helped revise whole course one more time.

Exam:

I took almost 3 hr 45 mins to complete all the 200 questions. First 50 qts took almost an hour, so I decided to do right in the first time itself as I came to know that hardly I get time to review later. So read through every word in the question and answered. In the last 10 – 15 mins reviewed around 10 qts and changed answers of 3 questions.

Most of the questions are situational, few direct ITTO questions, but can make out without memorizing ITTOs (my opinion). The math questions are simple and strait forward. I couldn’t notice any direct questions on “Professional & Social Responsibility”.

After reviewing 10 qtns, run out of time, submitted the exam, took few minutes for processing and then the wonderful word “Congratulations” is popped on the screen.   

To close the project, got the signoff of the deliverable i.e., passed the PMP certification.

Advice to PMP aspirants:

1. Read RITA book along with PMBOK thoroughly.

2. Take mock tests two weeks before the exam, dedicate a full week for them and based on the results, brush up the process groups/KAs which you are not doing well.

3. Then schedule the exam once you are confident.

Thanks again to forum.

Regards,

Laxman