Big Milestone with small story behind.

 

Well before taking up the PMP certification, i consulted with my wife and parents that i'm planning to take this exam, as it requires lot of time for studying. Well they said Ok.

 

After that i took the print outs of PMBOK4th edition as well as Rita Mulcahy made spiral binding of the book and took 9 pages of ITTO as well separately. I followed my Close friend Arun Prashanth LL's which i kept that as my base plan for studying.

 

Day of studying started on April 10th, with PMBOK 4th edition, i took around 29 hours for first pass and completed on April 21st.

 

Started Rita Mulcahy on April 22nd and took around 42 hours for first pass, completed on May 1st, Overall i scored 62% including Professional and responsibility chapter.

 

Didn't loose my hope, started with second pass on May 4th, not exactly in parallel(NOT reading topics in parallel), i read Rita one knowledge area fully and then read PMBOK of the same knowledge area. Second pass took around 55.3 hrs totally including both Rita and PMBOK completed on May 20th. Overall i scored around 76% which is good improvement. Here i used to mark my wrong answers and write them on my notes and read it when i get time.

 

My results where OK where i can improve so i decided to "GO" for the exams and uploaded all my details in the PMI website and submitted. After 5 days i got the information saying my application has been processed, please pay the fee. I paid the fees, once after paying the fees i got the immediate reply from PMI saying i have been selected for the AUDIT process. Well its unfortunate.

 

Then collected the details from HR person, Duly signed from project manager along with degree certificate i courier the letter to US address on June 6th. Please note, Project Manager has to sign across the closed envelope to make sure no tampering happens. Courier reached on June 13th, on the same day i got the confirmation that they received the documentation and also they approved on the same(Lucky here, as PMI takes 7-12 working days to approve, this information i got it thru customer services). Well next day i saw the mail and i was very happy, scheduled the exam on July 8th(The date which i decided long back) but only one slot I had which is evening 5-9PM.

 

In the meanwhile, Started taking Mock tests in the weekend and Read the PMBOK and RITA 3rd pass from May 23rd and taken notes on the mistakes which i make in the mock.

 

On an average I was scoring between 70-75%, here below the details of all the mock tests. Due to lack of time in the last, I didn't take PMP fast track, Super PMP, PMSTUDY2.

 

During the last 2 weeks of time, I was fully reading PMBOK line by line and read the details which are extras like Mcgregor's X and Y, Hezberg motivation,etc in Rita Mulcahy.

 

I remembered the ITTO in a different way, well not exactly mug up kind off, but understood in a flow so that I can easily answer the question.

Mock exams	Marks
Rita Mulcahy Chapter End (1st pass, 2nd pass)	62,78
techFaq360	79.5
PMZilla 30 tough	53,83
Skill Sign 50 questions	68
Exam central	75
Edwel programs	63
Christopher Scordo(7-12)	82.83
Christopher Scordo(13-18)	72.67
PM Study1	74.29
Headfirst PMP	79
Simpli Learn	70.3
PMSTUDY3	78
PMP FOR SURE	66
Oliver Lehman - 75 Question	76
Oliver Lehman - 175Questions	72.5
Frank T Anbari	92.7
PM Study4	75.5

 

 

 

Day before and on Exam day:

 

I started revising whole book, notes, formula as well as important topics as well, main things is what each subsidiary management plan contains, eg: what and all communications management plan can handle ? Which is more important.

 

Then going through ITTO, important topics like conflict resolution, Team development stages, theories on HR, formulas, etc, before going to exam hall I was just reviewing it once again as my heart saying you will get questions on this, believe it I got those questions. Totally I might have got 6-7 questions.

 

Well 2 levels of security check-in is done in the exam centre, no watches, no hand kerchiefs, pockets empty, nothing is allowed except the proof of ID and locker key which they give.

 

Then all the instructions were given to me and you will monitored fully on camera and also physically. Here they will allocate the cubicle number for you, and you will accompanied by exam instructor.

 

You need to identify yourself within a min, were instructor was with me. So I didn't face any problem on the initial formalities as the chennai promoteric center were totally professional.

 

I did my brain dump for the 15 mins, written the page 43 and then few formula on CV,SV,CPI,SPI,NPV,etc etc and few more details which is important for the exam.

 

Well started the exam, first question is from Cost which is a problem well I made it but marked as review, and going thru each question, well I was going in very good pace till 100 questions. I completed in 90 mins. Later tricky questions started, 101-150 I took around 1 hr for completion, were i'm left out with remaining 50Q and 3-5 unanswered questions and questions marked for review. When I completed 200 questions I have only 28 mins left out, then answered the unanswered questions where I have only 20 mins left for review and I have 30+ questions for review. Selected few questions at random and read through the question and changed 2-3 question were I believe I made a wrong choice and nothing more I could do as it is TIMED OUT(“YOU HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME”). :(

 

At Overall level, questions were moderate I should say, I didn't get lengthy question, maximum I got is 6-7 lines. I have got 8-9 cost problems, 3-4 network problems, 2 questions on EMV, 1 questions on NPV.

 

Cost and Network problems fall into easy and moderate level as it involved direct as well as indirect and also with leads and lags respectively.

 

HR theories from Rita, Team development stages, conflict resolution, matrix organizations, in the last set of the questions I got more ITTO direct questions.

 

Many scenario questions which I faced in the mock exams which I have taken.

 

 

And I haven't taken single break, totally exhausted. Computer went blank for 2 mins, asked me to fill the survey about the test center, I filled and submitted waited for the results.

 

Well prayers and hard work were answered, Yes computer showed, CONGRATULATIONS on acquiring PMP certifications and I was totally relaxed and exhausted.

 

Exam moderator asked whether the exam was tuff, I said it was moderate and lot of tricky questions and he gave me the printout with seal and signature of the promoteric centre.

 

3 Months of studying ended successfully :)

 

Books/Materials/Sites followed:

1) PMBOK 4^th edition

2) Rita Mulcahy

3) Headfirst PMP for the doubted topics and also to understand the network diagram clearly.

4) Raga's 355 points(Pmzilla.com)

5) Anilkumar Tanguturi formula list(Pmzilla.com)

6) Abishek's Nair PMP notes for revise

7) Memory Aids in Pmzilla.com

8) Deepfriedbrainproject.com

9) Arun prashanth LL's as that I kept that as base plan for my studies.

10) My own notes on wrong answers.

 

Suggestions to PMP aspirants:

 

1. Read PMBOK daily atleast for 1 hr so that you can answer 60-70% of the questions.

2. Don't leave even single line, tabular column or graph, because I have got questions from there. You can easily hit it.

3. Read the definition or explanation of what is what ? Eg: Estimate activity resources means what and definition given in PMBOK

4. Make a note of wrong answers and read it before taking any mock exams as well as before the exams to make sure your not doing the same mistake again.

5. Take print outs of the extra material from PMzilla.com as its very useful for revising.

6. ITTO full flow – you get atleast 5-6 Questions

7. Well Time management which is very important, mark the questions if you feel its not correct or time consuming or if you don't know. Answer that after completing the full 200 questions. WATCH THE TIMER ON YOUR SCREEN..!!!

8. Read Lessons Learnt(LL's) in Pmzilla.com, which will suggest you more methods of study plan.

9. Deepfriedbrain project site, to understand confusing terms and more details on each topic is available especially on risk.

10. Write as many mock test as possible, which will let you to answer more questions easily in the exam, as I got nearly 10-15Question very similar to mock.

Well have more dedication and determination when you want to pursue it..!!!

Thanks to God ..!!! As the Hardwork and Prayers were answered..!!!

 

Thanks to all stakeholders especially few like my wife Padma, son Abhinav, my parents and in-laws, Arun prashanth(AP) and few if i have missed any.

 

 

-Regards

Sriram Mukundan,PMP