The objective behind my PMP is
professional learning and accomplishment. My journey to PMP started on 2 Jan
2014 as a new year resolution. My reading material was (soft copies):
1) Rita Mulcahy’s “PMP Exam Prep 8th Edition”
2) PMBOK Edition 5
Important Tips for Exam:
1) Before you start the exam, write the formulae on yellow
papers given by Prometric centre. Your 4hr clock won’t be ticking at that time.
2) Take breaks judiciously as the clock won’t stop during
break time.
3) Do not spend too much of time on 1 question (not more
than 2mins).
4) Keep doubtful questions for review (by clicking Mark
button) after giving the best answer. Do not keep anything unanswered. Do not
mark more than 15 questions for final review.
5) Do not wait till the last second for submitting the
answers. When it shows 30 -50 seconds time left, click on “Go” button for
submission.
Important areas to be covered based on my exam paper:
1) Spend a lot of time on exercises for cost calculations
(CV, SV, CPI, SPI, EAC). I saw close to 20 questions on this. If you have good
understanding, you will get all answers correct.
2) Close to 15 questions were asked on handling scope
changes (situation based) – No straight question, all of them need thinking
3) Around 10 Project closure tasks – Lessons learnt and
sequence of activities involved
4) Around 10 questions on team formation stages (Form-storm-Norm-Perform-Adjourn). Situation
is given and we have to mention the stage.
5) Around 15 Risk response strategy questions - Situation is
given and we have to provide the strategy being applied.
6) Around 6 questions on number of communication channels.
Sometimes, the count of total channels is given; we have to identify
stakeholders from it.
7) Around 8 questions on estimation (Gamma method) using optimistic,
most likely, pessimistic estimates
8) At least 6 questions on conflict resolution- Situation is
given we have to identify which strategy was applied
9) 2 questions on tools and techniques, 2 questions on
outputs, 2-3 questions on decision tree
There are at least 60 questions
based on formulae, graphs. We have to maximize our score there.
My Preparation-Planning, Execution, revision:
Both Rita Mulcahy and PMBOK have
600 pages each to read and based on my first chapter reading, I planned to
spend 2hr/day during week day, 6 hr/day during the weekend. I repeated the following cycle for 3 times:
I used to study Rita’s book for
2 hr after office, preferably 1 complete chapter. For bigger chapters, I used
to take 2 to 3 days. The chapter wise exams in Rita’s book are very tough and excellent
to test our knowledge of understanding. I never missed them. I recorded my test
answers in a flat file with chaptername, date, %wrong answers as file name. When we do the second and third round reading,
we will know if we are improving or stuck. If score is < 70%, we need to
read the chapter 1 more time. If score is coming down, time to read the chapter
one more time.
All important points, formulae
and calculations, notes on questions where I went wrong in tests were written
in an exclusive PMP notebook. On the next day, I used to read the same chapter
in PMBOK, which gives the inputs, tools and techniques, outputs clearly and
explains them in detail whereas Rita’s way is covering all the important points
from understanding and exam perspective. I registered myself in http://pm-prep35.com/chaptertests1.aspx
(free portal) and took free test after PMBOK chapter. This site covers all the
concepts from PMBOK in chapterwise tests. Read ethics from Pmi site.
Notes were taken from PMBOK too.
I used to put a heading like “Rita 3 –
Project Integration Management” or “PMBOK
3 – Project Integration Management” to distinguish the source of
information in my notes. However, the notes for the same chapter from both the
sources will be one after the other in my notebook. During the free time at
office, I used to continue reading to crash my schedule. Notes should be frequently read. It was very handy during last 10days
before the exam. I read the notes during my journey to office in train for a
week.
Mock tests: I
spent last 10 days before the exam on mock tests. Some of them are too simple
or 2 liner questions. Some of them have so many typos and I lost interest. I do
not advice looking at mock tests from a lot of non-standard/non reputed sources.
It will create confusion and may result in loss of confidence.
Rita Mulcahy’s chapter tests are
at the same level as exam questions. Take the test seriously. The more you read
Rita’s book, the better it will be for the exam.
Actual Exam hall Experience – Before the
test:
1)
Went
to the exam hall at 1230 PM, 21 Mar 2014 and my appointment was 1 PM. They asked me to keep
every thing except passport in a locker (not even pen, water bottle were
allowed).
2)
My
pockets, ankles, wrists checked and then, I was scanned. I was
given a 4 yellow papers, 2 pencils.
3)
I
was allowed in at 1242 PM,21 Mar 2014. The machine already had my name and test’s start
screen opened up.
Actual Exam Experience:
1)
A
tutorial with 8 to 9 screens appears. I did not wish to work on it. I was not
sure of the impact of skipping the tutorial. Prometric guy suggested me to read
it rather than skipping it.
2)
One
question comes at a time. Click on Mark
for questions you want to revisit.
1)
There
will be 200 questions, 4 hr time. We can take a break for rest room, water,
etc. Our 4hr clock won’t stop. Every time we re-enter the exam, checking and
scanning happen.
2)
Prometric
center organizers keep doing the rounds.
3)
In
first 2 hr, I answered 83 questions. Only in the last 15 minutes, I have got
less number of questions to answer than minutes left. I spent 4 mins to review
my answers (marked questions). When I had 30 second still left, I submitted my
responses by clicking “Go” button.
4)
After
submission and before result, it will take us to a survey, which will take
5 mins. Then, exam result will appear.
5)
Prometric
center will give the result in print out form. I my case, I passed.
Post exam step:
Within 24 hrs
(consider only business days), we will get congratulations email and we can
download soft copy of the certificate. By the way, I passed the exam in my
first attempt.
Final word:
Do not lose
focus on the exam. Starting the journey, executing with a proper plan and completing the preparation are critical. If end date is not frozen, you will not take the test. If you have good preparation (plus an element of luck), you
will clear the exam. If you cannot clear it, the experience will definitely
give you a very good understanding of the pattern so that you can clear it next
time. It is a win-win situation. (I am not considering the 2nd time
exam fee. When PMP is important, we do not have to worry about money spent.
Plan with that contingency).
All the best.
