Hello Guys,

First of all many thanks to all of you for your genuine comments and feedbacks here in this forum that has always worked as a guiding start in the journey of PMP for all of us!!!

I have cleared the PMP certification examination yesterday and this was my first attempt. I always look forward to this forum for any guidance whatsoever and i beleive that now this is my time to give back!!!

I started my study some 2 months ago by reading PMBOK guide 4th edition and Rita M atleast 2-3 times. Then i submitted my application and scheduled my PMP examination for a date 15 days ahead.

During these 15 days I prepared the following:

1. Re - revise PMBOK and Rita M

2. Made a handy Notes/Diary covering the important points/concepts. I use to carry this small notebook everywhere and always flip through the pages while travelling. It helped me a lot!!!

3. Took following free full length MOCK tests:

http://www.pmstudy.com/indexde.asp - Good practice session. Must to take atleast ONCE.

http://pmpforsure.com/pmp/ - Very Easy. 

http://www.examcentral.net/pmp/pmp-exam-questions - Very Easy. Good to start with!!!

http://www.simplilearn.com/  - Very Easy.

http://www.oliverlehmann.com/contents/free-downloads/175_PMP_Sample_Questions.pdf - Some Good

Questions for fundamentals.

http://www.headfirstlabs.com/PMP/free_exam/ - Good practice session of 10, 25, 50 or full set of questions. Good to start with!!!

4. Read Rajesh Nair notes - good for last minute revision BUT this should NOT mean that you skip flipping through PMBOK 4th edition OR Rita M during kill hours of preparation.

5. http://www.deepfriedbrainproject.com - for the concepts of Point of Total Assumption (PTA) and other topics for which you want to refer OTHER sources for good understanding.

6. REMEMBER or MEMORIZE 42 processess w.r.t Knowledge areas as well as Process groups. I did not memorize the entire ITTO though tried to understand it logically and it really helped.

7. DO MEMORIZE Rita M's Process Chart for PLANNING group (remember it in the same order as given for Planning group ONLY). Belelive me if you remember and understand this you will not require to

memorize ITTO and this will help you to go a long way in understanding the exact logic behind ITTOs;

8. MEMORIZE all MOTIVATIONAL theories from HR.

9. MEMORIZE all CONTRACT types the relationship of Cost reimbursable, T&M and Fixed Contracts with Cost, Time and Performance.

10. Do NOT take INITIATION Group LIGHTLY!!! One of the toughest questions (scenario based) will be from this group.

11. Memorize all formulas from Time (Free float and Total Float), Cost (EVM) and Contracts (Final Fees/Incentives and PTA).

12. Keep scrolling pmzilla as this website is store house of knowledge and invaluable feedbacks from all you guys.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN EXAM!!!

1. Lots of EVM questions - both numericals and scenario based.

2. Lots of critical path and network diagram and float questions.

3. Good HR theory and Procurement questions.

4. SCENARIOS, SCENARIOS, SCNEARIOS!!!!!

Do not consider the EXAM easy as it is no where near to that!!!!!

I would suggest to keep Marking the questions that you are not able to understand and revisit them again rather spending time to solve them. 

This is a test of nerves and you have to HOLD them for good 4 hours!!!!!!!

MUST DO LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Revise Revise Revise!!!

2. Prepare your OWN notes - preferable BY HAND (not on MS Word, Excel etc). When you yourself write your notes you actually are also learning them simultaneously. Beleive ME it sometime makes difference!!!

3. Do not take Communication Management, and Integration Management lightly (Proj Charter and Identify Stakeholders).

4. Remember all Formulaes - If you are week with numbers....you have to prepare real hard!!!! Trust me...EVM and network questions are a real CAKE walk and they will give you handy numbers of CORRECT questions!!!!

5. Risk Management - Diffrnce between QA, QC!!!

6 . Good 8 - 10 hours sleep before the Exam!!! Require to keep you fresh for the KILL!!!

7. CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after all you have cleared PMP!!! :) :) :)

8. Once your hangover is gone...give Lessons Learn/feedback HERE on this forum for the benifit of others!!!! REMEMBER - you were also the one who was anxiously flipping the forums/topics for sometihng or the other.....Its time to give back!!!!!!

So my dear friends ......All the Very Best Guys for the Journey and hope to see you all coming up with flying colours!!!!!!

Am really happy that my hard work and dedication has earned me my PMP credential...

Feel free to ask anything and I would be more than happy to guide to the best of my knowledge.

Until then...

Happy Learning..