PMP Lessons Learned

Hello Guys,

I passed my PMP exam in the earlier week. I used the pmbody blog (also the comments afterwards) and one of my fellow’s plan to make my personalized plan. I will give much credit to the trainer (pk.linkedin.com/in/fahmeds) with whom I took my boot camp, he guided me on each step :).

Allow me to start the story from the first when I thought to take PMP exam.

In May 2013 I enrolled myself in a PMP boot camp, took PMI membership, apply for PMP exam and scheduled my exam in July 2013. However, when I consult with Fahad, he asked me to reschedule it and he was right I believe. I wasn't ready, perhaps I didn't feel. Nevertheless, I rescheduled it in Sep 2013, however, I had to reschedule it one more time because I had taken in MS degree program and with office and MS I couldn't study, and I realized that one can’t study for PMP with many items in his plate. Afterwards, I can barely reschedule it to December 2013, at this point I was confirm that I can’t study it with much work in my hand therefore, I rescheduled for 10th April, 2014, at this time I made a personalized plan, and tried to execute it. So, I had three months in my hand, in short I decided that first month I will do Rita and 2nd month I will do PMBOK with doing sample tests and lastly I will revise the whole with attempting full mock tests but I couldn't do it due to some office issues, that wasted more of my time and in one and half month I could hardly do 70% of Rita’s PMP guide. I got very tensed and felt that I can’t do this time too. I consult with Fahad he gave me motivation. Another big factor which motivated me in achieving PMP is my wife she boasted my moral very much. They both said, what has gone has gone now concentrate on your credential. So, in actual, I had only one and half month plus 10 days, I started executing my plan which I made earlier in Jan 2014, I dropped my semester from MS program and took gap of whole month of march till my exam date.

My strategy was as follows:

• I first read the PMP exam book by Rita, 8th edition. I read all the book material, solved all the practice exams. I studied afterwards the key answers and wrote down why I got wrong. I did this on the score sheet given in the Rita book. I believe that first book should be read very thoroughly and as is. I took a month to do this.

• I then attempted Rita’s full mock test and scored around 65% in 200 question, completed on time.
• I then spent 5 days reading the PMBOK guide word by word.
• I then re-skimmed PMBOK according to process group structure in a day.
• I spent 1 day modifying notes from Rajesh Nair (http://pmzilla.com/abhisheks-version-rajesh-nair-pmp-notes-now-available-online) to make my own study notes (listing all key inputs and processes, tools and outputs in one sheet as well).
• I did question from Christopher Scordo book but couldn't complete it due to shortage of time.
• I started attempting mock tests, and in remaining time of the day I did some daily activities such as writing all formulas on a page, making PMBOK process chart, revising some key concepts and playing Rita process game on daily basis. (I performed these in last 10 days of my exam in which I did revision only using my notes, I found it very useful in exam for answering and attempting questions).
• I did 5 -7 mock test in last 10 days of my exam, and always see why I am getting wrong and try to remember the logic behind the question. This helped me very much while doing exam. Also, helped me in covering my gaps.
• I went to the exam, I took 15 mins of tutorial to write formulas and make process chart of PMBOK on the scratch paper they provided me and it took me almost all 4 hours to finish the test. I took break after 100 questions which I completed in 1.5 hours and then I completed next 100 question just 16 mins before the end of exam. In the whole test I kept an eye on the time constantly and marked all those question in which I was having confusion, also tried not to waste time in confusing questions. I took another break before reviewing the questions. After review of the marked questions only 2 or 3 mins were left. I left that time rolling itself: D and started praying to pass.

I passed the test and I am now a PMP :)

After looking at my journey, I will suggest,

• Do not rush for the exam, plan accordingly. The application procedure and all preparations for the test is at least a 3 months job however you take your time according to your needs.
• Schedule your exam in a way that you should have 2 months of preparation for the test.
• Make your own plan and follow it properly, this is very very essential for passing the PMP. This will increase your success rate and shows you as professional.
• Must take leaves before the exam day, 10 to 15 days leaves are mandatory, I believe, you can take as much as you want :D.
• You may join some forums for discussion (I found http://pmzilla.com/ and http://www.pmbody.com/ very helpful, it isn't mandatory but it will keep you boasted and sometime help you to find difficult questions reasoning)
• In first month read Rita’s book and practice with Rita software knowledge area wise it is very instrumental to make your concepts that much strong which are needed to answer the questions in exam, in first month you have to focus on making concepts. I will say one study guide (I prefer Rita 8th edition for Intermediate project managers & Head first PMP 3rd edition for beginners) is enough to make your concepts strong. So study with as much focus as you can. Solve all exercises, attempt all MCQs at end of each chapter. Build your concepts, don’t deceive yourself :P
• Reading PMBOK is a must but after you have made your concepts using any guide.
• In second month first you have to read PMBOK (read process group wise) and solve as much as questions you can, in this month you have to fill the gaps.  
• Solve questions and always look why you get wrong and write down the reason – and try to look the reason in PMBOK and relate questions to the PMBOK guide.
• Though I didn't study before attending boot camp, but I will recommend that boot camp is a boaster so you should attend a boot camp when you are 80% strong in all knowledge areas or after reading your guide book say Rita.
• Always keep in mind PMI’s point of view, reading PMBOK for your wrong questions will help you here.
• While reading you study guide, make your own handwritten notes/mind maps or small cards of concepts for revision in last 10 days, add concepts in which you are having problem while performing mock tests. You have to fill the gaps.
• To memorize ITTO, do some practice with this application, http://www.monkibo.com/pmp-exam-itto-trainer/index.html (You don’t have to learn by heart but make logical relationships in all processes, they will help you in answering questions), also put all the ITTO together in study sheets (for revision purpose).
• If you have time, you may re skim Rita and PMBOK process wise one more time, however,I will recommend to skim those things in which you are having issues.
• I will recommend to do all questions from Christopher Scordo book.
• Solve 7 – 10 mock exams before taking the actual test. Few good examples are Super PMP from Rita Fast Track, http://www.simplilearn.com/, http://www.examcentral.net/ ,  http://www.pmstudy.com, HeadFirstLabs (200 questions – pdf), Oliver Leahmann (175 questions – pdf), Techfaq360 (200 questions – online)
• Do not study too much a day before the exam, try to take your exam with a relaxed mind and enjoy your exam.
• You have to make your own strategy/approach to attempt the test, try to simulate the strategy while doing mock test ;)
• If you prepare properly you shouldn't see anything that you’re not familiar with, though there are some question which you may find coming from nowhere be ready for that, don’t lose confidence but don’t try to act smart.
• Take the tutorial time to write down all of the formulas (this will help you to attempt numerical very quickly) and process chart (process chart will help you answering ITTO questions and many other ways) - there around 18 formulas, practice it daily. This will help you in so many ways in between the exam.
• Last but not least just PRACTICE can make you successful in the exam.

The list given in pmbody lesson learned is also very good, I will share my list and my plan as well :)

I wish you all the best in passing the exam :)