TOPIC: Loss the Game - Recap

Hi All - While many share the success, I want to share my disappointment.
I took the test 28th and failed. Although I prepared for the test, I was not fully confident , thought of giving a chance before new one rolls in but it is a great disappointment. However, thinking back, I was able go really good until 89th question, then suddenly test switched back to review of past 89th questions. Once I figured my way out, I lost time saved from the fist half about 15 min because I spent that time to review past questions, and also lost additional 8 minutes from second half. I also faced with 111 questions in 115 or so minutes. In second half, I encountered onslaught of long questions, probably more than 50 of them, and then I began to fall behind. Although I finished all the questions, I had to pass quickly many question on the way.

I do not think I found anything that I did not read or did not know at all in the test. Pepcast resembled many questions and actually there were couple of them exactly like in the simulator. I still do not have clear picture what I have to fix for next time around. I lost the race with stumbling blocks . I want to share my story.

Hello Tilak! I lost the game on DEC 28th as well. I was extremely nervous going into the exam center. I chose to take the test at a center rather than at home because I have 3 kids, a wife, and a little shitzu that won't leave me alone and it will be hard to lock myself away for 4hrs. I felt that I was very prepared going into the exam. I took 4 mock exams where I averaged an 80% on, but that was after take the mock exams twice. On my first attempts I got around 55%. I reviewed the questions that I got wrong and guessed at and made flash cards. I labeled sandwich bags for each exam and as I took an exam I placed the flash cards inside the bag and referred to them for studying purposes preparing for the 2nd attempt. The questions on the exam was really long and often found myself struggling to figure out where I was in the question far as which domain, process, knowledge area, etc... I felt like the prepcast simulator prepared me for the test as well. I wish I would have discovered it a lot earlier in my studies. It wasn't until I purchased the simulator that I started to really dive into the PMBOK. Are you going to try to retake the exam this year or wait until 2021?

Hello, I also took the exam on the 28th and failed. The first half of the exam I felt good about but took too much time. The second half I had to rush through and then when they switched proctors the second proctor said she couldn't see my video feed so she stopped the test and then re-connected. I didn't lose time since the clock also stopped but it broke my concentration and I got flustered for the rest of the exam. I am starting a study group if you're interested. I plan to re-take the exam in March (or Apr) depending on how ready I am. If you're interested in studying together, let me know.

Hi Sharon - Thanks for sharing your story. I always take failure as a first step to the success. At the same time, I want to rethink carefully if this is really what I want to do. Does PMP make me a better project manager? My Engineer/Project manager job will be the same anyway. Does PMP give me 25% pay increase or higher position. None likely to happen in my job. New exam has 50% agile content that means, more studies, more preparation. Since I invested some time and money and came long way, I might give it a try one more time. However, I do not want to burn myself too much, take easy approach and target 3-4 months ahead.
I will post again a note, once I come to a conclusion, may be in 2 weeks.
Take a rest and give a good though- remember benefit cost analysis. It might be best for you to do it.
Thanks
Tilak

Hi Martin - Thank for sharing your story. I know it is hard work. I also reserved a center and it was closed for COVID and end up taking test from home. As I said, the midway mishap messed me up and second half had too many long questions and I had sweep through the weeds to get the key words - something one could not do in one minute. I had two questions PDM and each had 3 paths and 8 nodes, and you have to find critical path in one minute in electronic white board with mouse pen. I am not sure if that is the way PM should solve problems in real life. But for PMP, PMBOK is right and we need to do it.
New test format has 50% agile content and rest in traditional. This means, it can be more complicated. I will not rush to take it but seriously think if it really worth the effort. As I said above for Sharon, it will be well worth for you. Failure is a stepping stone for the success. Take a step backward and leap forward.
Thanks
Tilak

I am forming a study group. You are always welcomed to join at any time. My boss is making it a requirement for me so I have to take it. Probably no financial increase for e either though.

That sucks! I would think that there would be a promotion behind going through this brutal punishment to sit for this exam. I'm doing it as a personal goal for myself. My company is just now starting to promote this certification. Once I obtain this certification, I'm hoping to makes some moves within my company and negotiate my next increase in salary. Although this journey has been stressful working towards obtaining this certification, I'm having a little fun with it along the way and I've been learning something new just about everyday. The more and more that I read and take mock exams, the more I realize how much that my company and management team has been using the wrong approach according to PMI far as applying key principles associated with project management