Hi All

    I am a silent user of this site for last few weeks. Below is my prep details and the whole story.

Exam Result:  Proficient in Executing  and rest MP in 4 other areas.

Application and Background :Applied and got approval for the exam on Sep 2011. Went on hibernation mode till June 17 th ,2012.. Brought Rita Mulcahy 6 th edition around Sep 2011 . Also, got the PMBok 4 th edition from PMI in a pdf format. Did not even read one chapter till June 17 th 2012.

 I have around 8 years of Project management experience as lead/manager etc..

Sudden Change of Plans:  Realised that i have to clear it by Sep 2012 and decided to take it up asap.

Booked the date of July 9 th for the exam.

Preparation:

June 17 -24 th : Spent around 12-15 hrs in total.  Didnot start from page 1 of Rita but went to Time Management chapter directly and then to all the chapter where there were some calculations/diagrams..

Not followed any order but wanted to cover as many pages i can..

June 25 -July 1 st:  Spent around 50 -60 hrs :  Took off from work for 2 weeks till 9 th..Went though most of RITA book and also went through PMBok once(very quick one in 2 days non stop)

July 2 -July 8 th :

        Used PMBok as the primary source and also referred to RITA book once in a while.

Also, went through Head First for few topics but for  a total of less than 1 hr..

Took  the below tests:

 Oliver ( found it very tough and demorolising --Stopped the test in the middle)

 Techfaq360 ( got 75% and also confidence)

  PMStudy 1 ( 69% )  

  Paid test PmStudy3 -got  73%

  Headfirst 200 q - just glanced through them

  Did all RITA chapter tests and revised once 

Exam Day: July 9th :

    Woke up at 3 am and revised the notes i have prepared from PMBok  once and revised my notes from  RITA book.  till 7 am.

   Went to the exam hall at 8.45 am  and the test started at 9.15 am.. For the first 15 mins, i wrote the P.43 from PMBok and formulas .

  I have completed the first round of questions in 150 mins.. i have marked around 80 q and had plenty of time to revise them and also complete some incomplete ones..

  I was done by 3.30 hrs but didnot want to close the exam.Spent next 30  mins revising all other questions and after 4 hrs , the exam got timed out and after few mins , got the congrats screen.

 i have not taken any break during this time as i didnot feel it necessary..

 I AM WRITING WHAT EVER HAPPEND IN MY CASE AND HOPE NO ONE GET OFFENDED HERE AS I COULDNT FOLLOW ANY PREFERRED STUDY PLAN ETC AS I HAVE NO TIME ..PLEASE TAKE IT AS JUST AN EXECPTION AND TAKE ONLY THE GOOD STUFF FROM MY EXPERIENCE.I AM NOT TRYING TO PROVE ANYTHING HERE..

Important suggesstions from my experience:

1. Buy a PMBOK print edition first..PDF was so painful ..

2. start drawing the data flow diagrams from each of the 42 processes and try to connect them where ever you can.. no need to remember here but just put everything in paper..as  many as you can,,

this way, you will have no issues with atleast inputs/outputs..you will easily be able to unserstand the big picture ..

3. for all the T&Ts, try to understand their actual meanings and use some samples,...

4. go through pmbok glossary 

5. use other guides to cover problems/examples./ and any missing items from pmbok...

rest in my next post

all the best folks..

Big thanks to pmzilla ...i used to login here to go through others posts..

have to step out now.will post details with more soon

regards

sk