Passed PMP 5/7/2012

Submitted by prwong on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 13:46

Hello everyone. I passed the PMP exam today in my first attempt with 4P and 1MP. I got some useful experience from this forum, so I also want to share mine and hope it can be useful to someone who is preparing for the exam.

Study materials used:

PMP diamond package from PMChampion.com (PM Prepcast, PM Exam Simulator, etc)
PMBOK guide Fourth edition
Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep Seventh edition
PMPerfect Practice Exams - http://www.pmperfect.com/

Summary of my studies:

I spent around 4 months to prepare for the exam
First, i started by watching podcast from PM Prepcast included in the PMP diamond package on my ipod touch when i was traveling to work and read PMBOK when i was at home. I spent around 2 months on these.
After that i bought "Ruby Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep seven edition" and read through it once. I spent around 2 - 3 weeks.
Then i tried to do some simulation exams from PM Exam Simulator to find out my knowledge gaps.
I read the PMBOK guide and Prep book back and forth to understand something i got wrong in the simulation exams and created my study note on Evernote so i can read it on my iphone any time. Actually i read the PMBOK completely twice not including when i just read some sections.
Before the exam, i took 2 weeks holiday to do the final preparation.
I completed 9 simulation exams from PM Exam simulator and almost all practice exams from PMPerfect. I think i did around 2000 - 2500 questions overall. In the beginning, i only got around 70%, and at the end i got average 80% to 90%.

Something that i find useful:

Remember ITTOs - although it is not really recommended to memorize all the ITTOs, but i did try to do that. Finally i could not remember all. But during this, i understand more about all the processes, what they are supposed to do, what are the interrelationships between the processes. Take an example for "Plan Quality", when i tried to remember the ITTOs, i also think about why we need this input and where it is from, how to use the tools and techniques and what should be output from them. If i have something unclear i read the corresponding section of the PMBOK guide again.
Buy a Exam Prep book and Practice exams - they include information we will need to know but cannot find from PMBOK guide. For myself, i think PMPerfect is very helpful.
Read and understand the PMBOK thoroughly including the glossory

Good luck!

Priscilla

Forums:

PMP Exam Tips, Tricks and Lessons Learnt.