TOPIC: Should i braindump Knowledge Area & Processes just before the exam?

Hi,

Would you recommend that I should brain dump ALL Processes within Knowledge Areas as soon as the exam starts?
Would it help to score better, if i have all the Processes in front of me?

I did decent amount of practice on computer wherein i can write all 49 processes almost with 95% accuracy.

-Neeraj

Great job being able to write out the processes! In the Pearson Vue test centers, it's unlikely you'll get scratch paper and a pen. Instead, you'll get wipeable sheets/whiteboard style board and a whiteboard marker. In my experience, wipeable boards are fine for writing out a quick sum or jotting the numbers of questions you want to review etc, but not so great for a full brain dump. If you think it would help you, then you could, but it might be difficult to do it in the same way as you are used to at home. Also, if you can write them out accurately, they are all in your brain somewhere! I don't think it will make any difference to your result if you had the processes mapped to KA in front of you, but someone else may come along and weigh in on that!

Neeraj:

Weather to brain dump or not will depend on your learning style. Understand that the time you take "brain dumping" the clock is ticking on the exam. (There is no more "free time" on the exam at the beginning).

I can tell you how I approached it: I made up a set of 49 flash cards representing Table 1.4. On the front was the intersection of the specific process group vs. knowledge area. (Example: "Develop Project Charter") On the back of the card were UNIQUE ITTOs that the task represented. I omitted common ITTOs that are found in nearly every task. I would then shuffle the cards and the trick was to put them in order by either Process Group or by Knowledge Area. I then tried to recall unique ITTOs associated with each card (but I didn't spend a lot of time on ITTOs). Once you're able to do that a few times quickly (like in under 2 minutes) that table is burned into your brain deep enough for the exam. I found being able to recall where I was at in terms of Table 1.4 was a key factor in successfully completing the exam.

Everyone has a different learning style. Mine happens to be that when I write something down and put it in a box (i.e. the organization of Table 1.4) I tend to remember it.

Good luck!

Harry

Thanks Elizabeth/Harry for the response!!

These were exactly my thoughts, since I was not sure, if Pearson gives an option for paper rather than wipeable sheets.

I gave my first PM-Simulator mock test today and referred thrice to the typed process sheet ( i pre-typed it on computer notepad and it took me 8-9 min).
It helped to some extent since i encountered 3 questions wherein i was able to quickly glance at what's the next process, having said that while i haven't yet tried on actual writing on a paper, i am sure, it would be more time consuming that to hand write compared to the typing that I have been doing.

I will try my next mock test without referring to typed processes and would solely rely on my memory.

Harry, writing important unique ITTO on back of flash card is a very useful tip, thanks for the same.
Unfortunately, I guess, it's now too late for me to implement it since i have an exam coming Monday... on a 2nd though, i am thinking, may be i should attempt especially the Tools & techniques ..would you agree with me?

Nevertheless this is a very useful tip for future students ... err, hopefully i pass on coming Monday

-Neeraj

I did full brain dump and about top 12 formula during my actual test. This took me about 14 minutes, which was what was expecting. Although my reading speed is relatively small, I decided to do this as it became evident to me during practice exams that having a full process map in front of me helps overall. It was also true that I was 100% confident about remembering all process forward, backward, what before and after....I am mean all of it

The way I decided to have it is that I observed that even though I knew all processes, it took me few seconds to remember those I then use into question in front of me. I use to make silly mistake as everybody else but that problem went away later. So, after writing down at the beginning I calculated that even if I save 3 fewer seconds per questions because of having process in front of me, that will give me whole 10 minutes. So, I was almost recovering major part of it, despite some questions do not need these processes. Another advantage is that my accuracy increased by couple of percentage and that was big advantage.

I am statistical guy so based on my performance, I concluded that having full brain dump is giving me more advantage than risk of losing time. However one thing was sure that, no matter what technique you use, you should have ton of practice on it before facing real thing!

Thanks you for sharing your thoughts on this, appreciate it.
I gave the exam today and passed. I did not use the braindump at all.

-Neeraj

Congratulations!

Thanks Elizabeth, appreciate it.

-Neeraj