Hi,

I had passed PMP in my first attempt yesterday (29^th August) with 3Ps and 2 MPs (Planning and Closing). I should admit that the project experience that I’ve had in real world was limited to that of a Project expeditor or a co-ordinator for small projects and I wanted to take PMP exam to move towards the bigger picture. It’s difficult to unlearn and re-learn. So, I wanted to learn it right the first time. Glad now that I did it.

As I had already mentioned in this forum, I was strictly pressed for time that I took a month’s sabbatical from work, finished my PMP prep at one stretch and gave the exam successfully in 30 days (honestly, that’s all it takes to get the understanding right and do a few mock tests)!

My prep was simple; to consider PMP exam as my project and apply PMP principles to manage my preparation and thus gain my first real project managing experience through PMP itself. Here is how it goes:

1. As it was a short duration project, it did not require all the 42 processes. I applied whatever necessary wherever necessary.
2. I went through the PMI website and forums to analyse the merits that a PMP certification can bestow and decided I would do it (Business Case). One known risk was my application getting selected for audit (Uncovering early risks). Though I would have been able to provide the documents required for the audit, it would have taken time, affecting the start and end date of my PMP prep project. Lucky for me that my application skipped audit process and I got a go for the exam. I considered that as my project charter with ‘Clearing PMP exam’ as the objective. I was my own project manager.
3. I defined the scope, i.e., what materials were I going to read within the one month. I limited myself to online course from Simpliearn, PMBOK and Rita’s PMP exam Prep (just one read each).
4. I created WBS by combining related topics from the scope statement. In my case, Framework, Processes and each knowledge area made one WBS with description of the topics under it. My scope baseline.
5. I estimated the time to complete each WBS, documented it in an excel sheet and decided the dates when I will study those chapters. I had planned to study two knowledge areas per day approximately. That was my project schedule baseline.
6. Cost estimate involved estimating the total cost, i.e., PMI membership cost, exam cost, cost of the materials required to prepare and loss of one month salary when I was preparing for the exam. I added contingency reserve (for re-exam, in case I failed the first time) and management reserve (if the test had to be postponed because of guests at home and things like that) and created my project cost baseline.
7. My two year old son, demanding my attention at an inconvenient time was a known risk. I arranged for a nanny to look after him from morning to evening when I could study and gave my evenings and nights to my family.
8. All planning done, I discussed it with my hubby. He smile an okie and sanctioned the budget. Project management plan approved!
9. I was executing my preparation as per my plan. My husband did quality audits now and then by testing me on Rita’s process groups and ITTOs. I didn’t memorize the ITTOs, I never can!!! When I prepared, I tried to visualize and understand the processes through and through and that helped with getting the ITTOs right. I also took chapter end tests every day.
10. Since, I was my team, I motivated myself (Rewards and Recognition) with a yummy fattening snack whenever I finished a milestone (which was finishing Simplilearn, PMBOK and Rita each) J
11. I was watching PMZilla forum for tips and tricks to identify my knowledge gaps (Process improvement). Some of the PMZilla members suggested ‘PMStudy’ and ‘PMP for sure’ as effective mock tests. I had to include those two tests (apart from the planned test from Simplilearn) and thus made a change request to my scope. I re-baselined my schedule by using up weekends for studies too. As these were free tests, my cost baseline or budget didn’t change.
12. I monitored and controlled my preparation by checking my progress with my baselines (excel sheet) and influencing factors causing variances (like nanny taking day off). Risk audit by practing full length mock test to eliminate the risk of getting stressed out during the 4 hours test.
13. My hubby was my sponser. I reported performance to him everyday J
14. Project progressed without slippage in schedule or cost, I gave the exam yesterday and PASSED! Phew!
15. Now in the closing phase, I’ve got customer acceptance (my PMP credential) and am in the process of updating knowledge base (sharing my prep with PMZilla).
16. That done, I am now officially finishing my PMP project and am going to CELEBRATE with my family!!!

I might not have followed PMBOK guidelines to the word during the processes but whatever I did helped. Helped me not only get my certification but also a very good project management experience for nearly 5 weeks. Thanks to all the members who shared their valuable experience.

My only tip to the group from my experience. Do not over study! Instead, try implementing what you’ve studied. PMP exam is not all that difficult once you get the understanding correct. Thanks again to people who helped and best wishes to other PMP aspirants.

Regards

Archana