Finally I am PMP certified... so happy and excited. Passed with 2 P and 3 MP.

First of all I would like to thank this forum and all who have been continuously supporting, helping and encouraging others for being PMP.Whenever I was off track, this forum inspired me to study in right direction and notes, lessons learned inspired me a lot. 

I just completed my 7 years of work experience this July. PMP became my ambition since January 2012 when I first attended PMP internal training sessions organized by my company, and completed 35 PDU hours August 2012, targeting exam December. However, I had to move to different location, as I got a new job, adapting to new environment delayed my plans. Finally I was determined to give exam anyhow before new syllabus comes in place.

Study Plan 

Books reffered: Head first, Rita 7th Edition, PMBOK4 primarily, Kim Heldman

Mock Exams: RITA- end of chapter, PM fast track, Kim Heldman end of chapters, PMzilla tough questions, Headfirst. 101 Maths questions scoring average 75 to 80%

~ It doesn't matter you study for 2-3 months  or few weeks but yes what matters most is you put your mind completely, gain the understanding, identify gaps and revise.~ Its easy to forget things if you are not revising enough and that sometimes makes you lose confidence in forgetting terms even when you have studied all.

~Its better to write notes while study, as when you write, it helps you remember as well and it acts reference later for final revision.

~ Solve end of the chapters question after reading chapter – MUST to identify gaps.

~ Rita Process Chart, understanding of which process fits in initiation, planning, what comes first what next is very essential, helped me lot in exam (e.g: Collect requirement always comes before Develop Project Management Plan).

~ Memorize the 42 processes as per each process group helps a lot like Initiation (2), Planning (20), etc, Understanding how inputs and outputs are related.

~Definitions, understanding concepts (Rita and PMBOK is the key here), memorizing formula, all tips mentioned by members in this valuable forum is MUST.

~ Solving as many mock exams as possible - Though I couldn’t much , but I wish I had.

Exam 

~~Exam seemed to be completely based on PMBOK knowledge, so even missing one concept would have cost me a lot.

~~There were questions where you had to find which  is the correct option , interpret what means what. 

Tips: Gain Understanding of quality control tools like control chart, scatter diagram, run diagram, what means ~~what in it how it works, RACI matrix, RAM what’s difference, etc..

~~Problems were good to calculate and similar to ones in mock exams- Earned Value, Critical path, etc

Tips: understand how free float is taken into account, network diagrams with fast tracking, crashing, EVM, etc.

~~Many ITTO questions, indirectly, what is best to do from almost all knowledge areas.

~~Many questions were what to do best before project is initiated or project is being terminated, closed, so understanding of what comes in what process group is must (Kim heldman helps a lot)

 The time you submit, when your heart beat is fastest during blank screen and survey... finally when you see CONGRATULATIONS!!! The moment cannot be expressed, its like your hard work pays off..

Once again thanks to the forum, people who have contributed to all LLs, notes and other valuable information, my family to support me so much and all the best to all PMP aspirants.. I am very sure you all will experience the moment of joy very soon 

Regards,

Mamta Gupta (PMP)