Passed PMP on 29th Aug 2011 in first attempt - Venkat Nedunuri
Dear All,
Now its my turn to Thank you all for your support in my PMP journey. I have successfully completed PMP certification & It is really an awesome feeling to be a PMP. The most useful point which I learnt is that PMP is a mind set not an exam. You need a right attitude to pass the exam.
Books referred: -
•PMBOK
•Rita
Online exams referred: -
•Head First - 200 qs - got 73.5 %
•Oliver Lehmann - 75qs - got 60 % (Failed)
•Oliver Lehmann- 175qs - got 67.5 %
•PMStudy - ( All 4 Simulation tests)
Test1 - 74%
Test2 - 80.5%
Test3 - 82.5%
Test4 - 78.5%
•Techfaq360 - Got 82%
•Rita Fast Track - I did Chapter End Questions got 70% on an average.
Other Sites referred -
http://brainbok.com - Very good for ITTO's
http://deepfriedbrainpmp.com - Very useful for concepts.
http://pmzilla.com - Very useful for knowing LL's from all. Based on this we can plan how to attack the PMP exam.
Brief about my study plan: -
1.PMBOK - Although not easy to grasp in first go. Read PMBOK atleast 3 times along with glossory. To pass PMP you must read PMBOK multiple times and understand the concepts. Understand the ITTO's like why these inputs for this process? why these outputs out of this process? Why not this input? Try to Visualize and try to understand the inputs, toos&Techniques and outputs. This is very important for the exam. Once you understand this then no need to memorize the ITTO's. Don't try to memorize ITTO's.
2.Rita - Studied in detail. Did all the chapter end tests.
3.Combine study of both PMBOK & Rita. Chapter wise. First I read from Rita and skimmed the same chapter from PMBOK.
5.Started doing the prectice tests. Stopped reading before 15days of scheduled exam and started doing mock tests. Started with Rita Super PMP but i could not finish all 200Q in 4 hours. Questions were very lengthy and i got only 60%. I was little disappointed and started looking any other mock tests in the internet to build up some confidence. I attempted techfaq360 and got 80%. Then Headfirst 200Q, oliver 75 and 175 etc.,
6.Attempted 3 full length simulation tests to make myself comfortable for that 4hr marathon. Attempted pmstudy test2,test3,test4 before the exam scheduled on 29th Aug. Started with pmpstudy test1 on 19th Aug. then I did Oliver 175 on 23rd. on 25th pmstudy test2, on 26th pmstudy test3, on 27th pmstudy test4. on 28th i referred PMBOK and Chowdary's excel summary doc ( very nicely prepared by Mr.chowdary). It really helped me to glance every thing that read in 2months in one day. Next morning 29th Aug is the exam.
7.In all the practice tests full lengths as well as chapter end tests I was scoring between 78 to 82 %. Pmstudy 4 simulation tests are really worth. Pay 60 dollors and get these tests. These are very close to real exam and i cannot tell you how impartant these tests are.
Before the exam day: -
•Revised my notes, ITTOs, PMBOK Page # 43 table , chowdary's excel summary notes & then had a good sleep.
On the exam day: -
•I reached the exam center somewhere abt 1Hr before. During the 15 min tutorial I wrote down the Page# 43 table of PMBOK & some useful formulas. I just used 10 mins of tutorial & clicked on the exam start button. Initially the Exam was looking too easy & giving me feeling that I can easily crack it. I completed 130Q in first 90minutes and took a break for 5minutes. I thought i could finish exam by 3 hours. Then started real problem for me. It took me to finish last 70 questions in 2hours. I just reviewed the marked questions for 20 minutes. Remember if you understand the concepts, then the exam is easy otherewise not.
My suggestions: -
1.Start preparing for PMP by PMBOK & restrict yourself for PMBOK & one other reference book( either Rita or HeadFirst). Not much books.
2.Try as many practice tests ( take 4 full length simulation tests) as you can before taking actual exam. Atleast last 1 week you should spend only for mock tests. This very key for the success.
3.In terms of ITTOs I should say that try to remember & understand them. Whatever is applicable to individual. ITTOs should be very much clear in terms like which one will be useful in what situation & in which Process. In my case I can say that there were so many questions on ITTO directly or indirectly. So remembering them with thoruogh application of these helped me a lot.
5.Religiously follow the Blog Deep Fried Brain. Thanks to Harwinder for providing so much useful information at no cost. I want to pass on a BIG THANKS to Harwinder as he is truely giving back to the entire PM Community. And PMZILLA helped me a lot. A Big Thanks to PMZILLA.
Last but not least KEEP FAITH in onself & go ahead.
My best wishes to all the PMP aspirants.
Best Regards,
Venkat Nedunuri, PMP
Kuwait.