My PMP certification journey - Exam Date: 21 March 2014

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 8^th 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 2^nd time exam fee. When PMP is important, we do not have to worry about money spent. Plan with that contingency). 

All the best.