a. PMP Exam preparation by Mr. Asad b. Rita Exam Prep Book c. PMBOK Page 70 only d. CBT Nuggets Video Lectures e. PMFastrack Software for sample questions
-) Skimmed through AUC slides while with studying with Asad at SSUET in July-Sept'08 group. -) Couldn't keep up with studying after that due to office business. -) Finally took a month off from office in early Jan'09. -) Went through Kim 4th Ed. once thoroughly and tested myself on chapter end questions (maximum wrong answers were 3 per chapter in Initiation & Planning and 4 per chapter in the other Process Groups) and skimmed PMBOK (total time consumed 9+3 days) -) Appeared in SSUET test on 18th Jan'09, scored only 610 but this gave me good confidence specially keeping in mind the only reading I went through. -) After that applied for membership at PMI on 21st Jan’09 and submitted the application the same day. -) Received approval on 27th and scheduled the exam for 5th Feb’09. -) So during 18th Jan’09 and 4th Feb’09, I went through Kim twice, PMBOK once and Process Group wise tests from Fast Track. -) Found weak areas in Execution, Monitoring & Control and Closing, so kept special focus on it. -) Kept a list of topics I faced difficulty at during testing with Fast Track, average score each time was 75%. -) Skimmed those selected items from Rita side by side. -) Attempted Fast Track many times but Process Group wise but Super PMP only once with a score of 70%, two days before final paper. Got moderately confident !
Final Day arrived, reached Prometric Center one hour early considering that one hour for revision but as soon as I informed them they prepared for the exam and gave me the option to either go for it or wait another hour, since my books and stuff had already been booked at the gate office in the locker so opted to go straight for it.
Finished the exam in 3hrs 30 mins, took another 30 mins for review and before I could know that the time is over the screen popped up saying the exam ended as the time is up. Screen went blank white for almost a minute and half and all of a sudden the heartbeat started to sound louder than anything else around me and it was the only thing during that time that I could hear. The screen turned up an optional survey but I passed it and did wait for another minute or so with my heart pounding so high that it made attempts to escape via my open mouth and then the screen came up…. & it said Congratulations !!!
For another few minutes I was short of breath as my heart was having a 100 meter sprint with the seconds needle on the clock.
I kept a very different approach in preparing for the exam.I personally believe that just passing these certifications to colour ur cv nowadays do not work.You should be able to apply these concepts in real life otherwise it does not help in developing ur actual career.
My Prep Period started in Oct 08 and i managed to give the exam on Jan 26th.In this period two eids plus my ongoing projects etc lot of other things i cant really explain.Wasted lot of time and i would say the actual time i spent on studying and preparing was not more than a month.I Studied :
a) Read RITA Mulcahy - RMC Handbook 2-3 times.(key to pass the exam) b) Never opened PMBOK guide- i just opened PMPBOK the last day to see Page 70 :)It means u can pass the exam just by reading Rita's book 2-3 times. c) Gave Asad's test 2 times which was very beneficial.First time i failed it .Had 45% lol and then passed it with 71% d) Gave Rita Fast Track exam only once.Got 75% in it
Being a Musician ...My approach was very different as usual :)- All i tried was to actually apply pmp methodology on my on going practical projects and instead of just focusing to pass the exam i actualy tried applying what was said by Rita in her book.such as using critical path analysis to actually estimate the longest path in my actual project.
I never learnt anything by heart.My preparation as compared to other people who passed the exam and posted their experience here was far low.This was a different approach followed by me and i was scared on the last day of the exam that i wil probably fail the exam bec i was totaly attempting the exam on my actual knowledge of project management mixed with the Pmp knowledge i got from Rita Mulcahy book only.I gave my exam in Dubai Knowledge Village.Excellent environment which helped me focusing on the exam really well.Finished the exam 45 min before and revised it thourougly.When finished it took 30 second to show me the results which was Passed :) I got Moderately proficient in all the areas except In closing which stated below Proficient.I actualy found it a lil difficult even to do it in my real life also :) So i personaly think this PMP does not only chek ur book knowledge but also ur actual skills.
Stick to Rita's Book Do as many mock tests as you can Don't keep anything to practice for the last day Memorize formulas Learn or Understand ITTO Eliminate wrong answers first Practice, Practice and Practice
My study plan includes thorough reading of RITA Mulchay Book for about 4 to 5 times and using PMfasttrack simulator really helped me alot to know about different types of questions and scenarios related to different phases and knowledge areas of Project management.As far as PMBok is concerned so to be very frank and truthful I only looked at it once and only used it to understand the definition of each process.
Focus on the input , output and tools of PMBOK. ( Expect atleast 10 to 15 questions in exam ). Try to understand the complete book of RITA. Solve questions from RITA Fast Track. ( understand the explanation/logic that why the answer is correct or wrong ) Try to solve Mock Test as much as possible Use Pmstudy website
In my opinion exam difficulty level is little bit above then average. Time management of questions during exam is extremely important. 50 questions should have been solved in one hour.
Try to remember the Input Tools and Output. this will help a lot. I got arround 20 question from EVM. Risk and Quality is very important. Both Processes of Closing are very important and remember what are tools in Closing. Study Rita book atleast twice.
I read PMBOK twice, read close projects, contract closure and social & professional responsibility from Kim Heldman, while reading I realised that its also a good book for preparation.
I solved 800 questions from the 4 PMI test and 1400 questions of PM fast track.Before the day of the day exam I spent whole lot of time trying to memorise Input, TT & Output.
I started my studies with Rita (book - explaination required I know ;)). I already posted a plan for that study. After that I referred Head First book to understand processes where I scored low in rita's end of chapter tests. When I appeared in first SSUET test, I scored 625. After that I started attempting questions from FasTrack. I selected questions knowledge area wise (only those areas where I felt I need to work e.g. I excluded cost and time questions as I scored very well during my first study of Rita exam prep). This was definately fruitful exercise as when I have given a PMP test from it, I scored 80.5%. After that I have attempted few from PMStudy and in each unique test I was scoring around 75%. Finally I have attempted Super PMP from FasTrack and it had cracked my nuts. I have attemted 195 questions during 4 hours and scored around 73% however it was a great confidence booster. If you want to test your self then you must attempt this test. My real time test was equally difficult accept that not as many questions were that wordy as it were in Super PMP of FasTrack.
The week before exam I read PMBOK. I tried to see System approach to Planning, Executing and controlling then I found its a 1000 page book. Dil ke urmaa aansoo mein beh gaye, mujhe PMP kerna tha PHD nahee so I only saw the index from Amazon :)
Tips and suggestions: ============ ==== 1. If you are starting up your study then start from Head First. It will give you good insight into all processes then you can move forward with Rita and PMBOK. 2. Attempt as many FasTrack questoins as possible. Also attempt PMStudy questions as those are quite brief questions but jolt you with your knowledge of material in PMBOK. 3. Register exam date when you feel fully confident. Remember you can complete and submit your form without paying PMI. PMI ask for credit information once your form will approve. 4. Dont ignore social responsibility questions. Try to take a grip on questions in this area too. To me at was toughest in exam. All Googlies and Doosras. 5. Take atleadt one break in exam. Take some snakes like fruits to instantly energize you. Exam time will continue during breaks however you should plan for it when you want to take it.I took when I completed 93 questions in 85 minutes. 6. Be watchful to your time and plan on what frequency you want to attempt each question ilke in my case 1 question/minute. Try complete your 200 questions round in 180-200 minutes so you have time left for review. Dont worry about how many you pressed for review during this exam. Take a look at the end. 7. Finally take some risk and give the exam. Good luck.
Learning Documents: a. PMBOK b. Rita c. Fast Track Software d. www.PMstudy.com e. Asad Sahib Test.
Method of Learning:
a. Concentrate on what Asad Sahib is teaching in the Class, i can assure you it will get around 60-80 Questions correct in the Final Paper. b. Revise every thing that has been taught in the Class before the next class, it will develop your foundations which are necessary for the paper. c. Learn the Names of the Processes, Inputs and Outputs i can assure you 15-20 Questions can be corrected in the Paper by Just Doing That. Use PMstudy for this purpose. d. Do the Numerical based Questions by Key word Search form Fast Track and Rita, i can assure you will get another 15-20 Questions. e. Concentrate on Tools from Risk, Quality, HR and Communication only this will help you get another 20 Questions right. f. Closing and Initiations questions are easy, Monitoring and Controlling and Executions are more situation based.
My lesson learned is that do one chapter in PMBOK, do that same in Rita, Attempt then questions from PMFasTrack. Repeat this again and reapeat and again and again till you are very sure about your self.
Do go through the numericals in Rita book and learn to solve problems. Group discussions are very very necessary because they clear a lot of points which one can be thinking differently.
1.) No need to get office holidays (its not necessary you can utilize sat and suns and few hours in weekdays) , as I didn’t take much holidays only 2 to 3 days in which I played with my small daughter as I cant study more than 4 hours J 2.) Go through RITA 3 times each (V.V Important) 3.) Go through PMBOK only 1 time specially areas marked by sir Asad in PM Exam preparation day . 4.) Go through slides only 1 time. 5.) Make a note of input, out put tools & Techniques specially for procurement, risk, time and scope and I would recommend understand and learn by heart (becz we don’t practise them in local market) 6.) Understand properly PMIsm like WBS , WBS Dictionary and others mention in RITA , it is V.V.V imporant, I have seen WBS 10 questions in my exam so make sure you get learned every corner of it. 7.) Practise numericals with formulae given at the end of RITA, practise calculating floats etc (this appear in 6 questions in my PMP. 8.) Procurement chaper is v.v important I got atleast 15 to 20 questions over it, make sure you learn every corner of it ( as I have never done procurements in my local & international projects). 9.) Quality control ,again this topic is v v important, Thanks God I have understand this properly , 7 to 8 questions over it. 10.) So you see all together there are few areas on which PMI focus so learn that , I will recommend to attempt rita fastrack , not a lot of 1500 questions, I only attemp 100 questions two time on 2nd last day. 11.) This should come first , pray to GOD , its v necssary.
Lesson learned from Naveed Azhar
ReplyDeletePMP Self Study (Feb 2009 to Mar 2009)
I used material
a. PMP Exam preparation by Mr. Asad
b. Rita Exam Prep Book
c. PMBOK Page 70 only
d. CBT Nuggets Video Lectures
e. PMFastrack Software for sample questions
Lesson learned from Muhammed Owais Siddiqui
ReplyDelete-) Skimmed through AUC slides while with studying with Asad at SSUET in July-Sept'08 group.
-) Couldn't keep up with studying after that due to office business.
-) Finally took a month off from office in early Jan'09.
-) Went through Kim 4th Ed. once thoroughly and tested myself on chapter end questions (maximum wrong answers were 3 per chapter in Initiation & Planning and 4 per chapter in the other Process Groups) and skimmed PMBOK (total time consumed 9+3 days)
-) Appeared in SSUET test on 18th Jan'09, scored only 610 but this gave me good confidence specially keeping in mind the only reading I went through.
-) After that applied for membership at PMI on 21st Jan’09 and submitted the application the same day.
-) Received approval on 27th and scheduled the exam for 5th Feb’09.
-) So during 18th Jan’09 and 4th Feb’09, I went through Kim twice, PMBOK once and Process Group wise tests from Fast Track.
-) Found weak areas in Execution, Monitoring & Control and Closing, so kept special focus on it.
-) Kept a list of topics I faced difficulty at during testing with Fast Track, average score each time was 75%.
-) Skimmed those selected items from Rita side by side.
-) Attempted Fast Track many times but Process Group wise but Super PMP only once with a score of 70%, two days before final paper. Got moderately confident !
Final Day arrived, reached Prometric Center one hour early considering that one hour for revision but as soon as I informed them they prepared for the exam and gave me the option to either go for it or wait another hour, since my books and stuff had already been booked at the gate office in the locker so opted to go straight for it.
Finished the exam in 3hrs 30 mins, took another 30 mins for review and before I could know that the time is over the screen popped up saying the exam ended as the time is up. Screen went blank white for almost a minute and half and all of a sudden the heartbeat started to sound louder than anything else around me and it was the only thing during that time that I could hear. The screen turned up an optional survey but I passed it and did wait for another minute or so with my heart pounding so high that it made attempts to escape via my open mouth and then the screen came up…. & it said Congratulations !!!
For another few minutes I was short of breath as my heart was having a 100 meter sprint with the seconds needle on the clock.
Lesson learned from Nabeel Nihal Chishty
ReplyDeleteI kept a very different approach in preparing for the exam.I
personally believe that just passing these certifications to colour ur
cv nowadays do not work.You should be able to apply these concepts in
real life otherwise it does not help in developing ur actual career.
My Prep Period started in Oct 08 and i managed to give the exam on Jan
26th.In this period two eids plus my ongoing projects etc lot of other
things i cant really explain.Wasted lot of time and i would say the
actual time i spent on studying and preparing was not more than a
month.I Studied :
a) Read RITA Mulcahy - RMC Handbook 2-3 times.(key to pass the exam)
b) Never opened PMBOK guide- i just opened PMPBOK the last day to see
Page 70 :)It means u can pass the exam just by reading Rita's book 2-3
times.
c) Gave Asad's test 2 times which was very beneficial.First time i
failed it .Had 45% lol and then passed it with 71%
d) Gave Rita Fast Track exam only once.Got 75% in it
Being a Musician ...My approach was very different as usual :)- All i
tried was to actually apply pmp methodology on my on going practical
projects and instead of just focusing to pass the exam i actualy tried
applying what was said by Rita in her book.such as using critical path
analysis to actually estimate the longest path in my actual project.
I never learnt anything by heart.My preparation as compared to other
people who passed the exam and posted their experience here was far
low.This was a different approach followed by me and i was scared on
the last day of the exam that i wil probably fail the exam bec i was
totaly attempting the exam on my actual knowledge of project
management mixed with the Pmp knowledge i got from Rita Mulcahy book
only.I gave my exam in Dubai Knowledge Village.Excellent environment
which helped me focusing on the exam really well.Finished the exam 45
min before and revised it thourougly.When finished it took 30 second
to show me the results which was Passed :) I got Moderately proficient
in all the areas except In closing which stated below Proficient.I
actualy found it a lil difficult even to do it in my real life also :)
So i personaly think this PMP does not only chek ur book knowledge but
also ur actual skills.
Lesson learned from Khalid Hussain
ReplyDeleteStick to Rita's Book
Do as many mock tests as you can
Don't keep anything to practice for the last day
Memorize formulas
Learn or Understand ITTO
Eliminate wrong answers first
Practice, Practice and Practice
Lesson learned from Danish Akhtar
ReplyDeleteMy study plan includes thorough reading of RITA Mulchay Book for about 4 to 5 times and using PMfasttrack simulator really helped me alot to know about different types of questions and scenarios related to different phases and knowledge areas of Project management.As far as PMBok is concerned so to be very frank and truthful I only looked at it once and only used it to understand the definition of each process.
Lesson Learned from Raza Masood
ReplyDeleteFocus on the input , output and tools of PMBOK. ( Expect atleast 10 to
15 questions in exam ).
Try to understand the complete book of RITA.
Solve questions from RITA Fast Track. ( understand the
explanation/logic that why the answer is correct or wrong )
Try to solve Mock Test as much as possible
Use Pmstudy website
In my opinion exam difficulty level is little bit above then average.
Time management of questions during exam is extremely important. 50
questions should have been solved in one hour.
Lesson Learned from Muhammad Mudassir
ReplyDeleteTry to remember the Input Tools and Output. this will help a lot.
I got arround 20 question from EVM.
Risk and Quality is very important.
Both Processes of Closing are very important and remember what are tools in Closing.
Study Rita book atleast twice.
Lesson learned from Khan Saad Ullah
ReplyDeleteI read PMBOK twice, read close projects, contract closure and social & professional responsibility from Kim Heldman, while reading I realised that its also a good book for preparation.
I solved 800 questions from the 4 PMI test and 1400 questions of PM fast track.Before the day of the day exam I spent whole lot of time trying to memorise Input, TT & Output.
Lesson learned from Alnoor Khimani
ReplyDeleteI started my studies with Rita (book - explaination required I know ;)). I already posted a plan for that study. After that I referred Head First book to understand processes where I scored low in rita's end of chapter tests. When I appeared in first SSUET test, I scored 625. After that I started attempting questions from FasTrack. I selected questions knowledge area wise (only those areas where I felt I need to work e.g. I excluded cost and time questions as I scored very well during my first study of Rita exam prep). This was definately fruitful exercise as when I have given a PMP test from it, I scored 80.5%. After that I have attempted few from PMStudy and in each unique test I was scoring around 75%. Finally I have attempted Super PMP from FasTrack and it had cracked my nuts. I have attemted 195 questions during 4 hours and scored around 73% however it was a great confidence booster. If you want to test your self then you must attempt this test. My real time test was equally difficult accept that not as many questions were that wordy as it were in Super PMP of FasTrack.
The week before exam I read PMBOK. I tried to see System approach to Planning, Executing and controlling then I found its a 1000 page book. Dil ke urmaa aansoo mein beh gaye, mujhe PMP kerna tha PHD nahee so I only saw the index from Amazon :)
Tips and suggestions:
============ ====
1. If you are starting up your study then start from Head First. It will give you good insight into all processes then you can move forward with Rita and PMBOK.
2. Attempt as many FasTrack questoins as possible. Also attempt PMStudy questions as those are quite brief questions but jolt you with your knowledge of material in PMBOK.
3. Register exam date when you feel fully confident. Remember you can complete and submit your form without paying PMI. PMI ask for credit information once your form will approve.
4. Dont ignore social responsibility questions. Try to take a grip on questions in this area too. To me at was toughest in exam. All Googlies and Doosras.
5. Take atleadt one break in exam. Take some snakes like fruits to instantly energize you. Exam time will continue during breaks however you should plan for it when you want to take it.I took when I completed 93 questions in 85 minutes.
6. Be watchful to your time and plan on what frequency you want to attempt each question ilke in my case 1 question/minute. Try complete your 200 questions round in 180-200 minutes so you have time left for review. Dont worry about how many you pressed for review during this exam. Take a look at the end.
7. Finally take some risk and give the exam. Good luck.
Lesson learned from Saim Zuberi
ReplyDeleteLearning Documents:
a. PMBOK
b. Rita
c. Fast Track Software
d. www.PMstudy.com
e. Asad Sahib Test.
Method of Learning:
a. Concentrate on what Asad Sahib is teaching in the Class, i can assure you it will get around 60-80 Questions correct in the Final Paper.
b. Revise every thing that has been taught in the Class before the next class, it will develop your foundations which are necessary for the paper.
c. Learn the Names of the Processes, Inputs and Outputs i can assure you 15-20 Questions can be corrected in the Paper by Just Doing That. Use PMstudy for this purpose.
d. Do the Numerical based Questions by Key word Search form Fast Track and Rita, i can assure you will get another 15-20 Questions.
e. Concentrate on Tools from Risk, Quality, HR and Communication only this will help you get another 20 Questions right.
f. Closing and Initiations questions are easy, Monitoring and Controlling and Executions are more situation based.
Lesson learned from Farrukh Baig
ReplyDeleteMy lesson learned is that do one chapter in PMBOK, do that same in Rita, Attempt then questions from PMFasTrack.
Repeat this again and reapeat and again and again till you are very sure about your self.
Do go through the numericals in Rita book and learn to solve problems. Group discussions are very very necessary because they clear a lot of points which one can be thinking differently.
Lesson learned from Muhammad Waqar
ReplyDelete1. PMP Fast track simulation software (Key to Success)- Attempt as much tests as you can.
2. Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam training guide
Lesson learned from Imran Raza Panjwani
ReplyDelete1.) No need to get office holidays (its not necessary you can utilize sat and suns and few hours in weekdays) , as I didn’t take much holidays only 2 to 3 days in which I played with my small daughter as I cant study more than 4 hours J
2.) Go through RITA 3 times each (V.V Important)
3.) Go through PMBOK only 1 time specially areas marked by sir Asad in PM Exam preparation day .
4.) Go through slides only 1 time.
5.) Make a note of input, out put tools & Techniques specially for procurement, risk, time and scope and I would recommend understand and learn by heart (becz we don’t practise them in local market)
6.) Understand properly PMIsm like WBS , WBS Dictionary and others mention in RITA , it is V.V.V imporant, I have seen WBS 10 questions in my exam so make sure you get learned every corner of it.
7.) Practise numericals with formulae given at the end of RITA, practise calculating floats etc (this appear in 6 questions in my PMP.
8.) Procurement chaper is v.v important I got atleast 15 to 20 questions over it, make sure you learn every corner of it ( as I have never done procurements in my local & international projects).
9.) Quality control ,again this topic is v v important, Thanks God I have understand this properly , 7 to 8 questions over it.
10.) So you see all together there are few areas on which PMI focus so learn that , I will recommend to attempt rita fastrack , not a lot of 1500 questions, I only attemp 100 questions two time on 2nd last day.
11.) This should come first , pray to GOD , its v necssary.
Nice blog, keep going....
ReplyDeleteGood job!
ReplyDeleteFor comprehensive informnation on all facets of PMP exam, I invite you to vist http://wannabeapmp.blogspot.com
http://msacademy.in/wordpress/management-scholars-academy-blog/2010/05/10-tips-for-passing-pmp-exam/
ReplyDeleteSome tips from a trainer
Ganapathy
I am glad that you have shared this idea. It is really helpful for those people who wanted to take PMP certification
ReplyDeleteThis is nice blogs in training on Project Management Training VA
ReplyDeletePMP Training VA