Let’s structure the report in four parts. Part 1 brief fact list, part 2 study approach, part 3 lessons learned, and part 4 recommendations.
Fact List:
• Experience to date: 8 years of experience in project management
• Overall PMP study time: 3 month; 2h a day (average)
• Study material: PMBOK-Guide, PM PrepCast, PM Exam Simulator, and Achieve PMP Exam Suc-cess 5th Edition from Diane Altwies and Janice Preston (including Exam simulator)
• PMP Exam: 1st attempt; result: 4 Proficient, 1 Moderately Proficient
Study Approach:
1. Watching PMPrep-Cast videos; (3-4 weeks)
• Using commuting times
• Mind-mapping the key points to memorize the content
• Understanding the key structure of the PMBOK-Guide and PMI’s best practices of project management.
2a Starting exam simulations
• 5 full-time simulations
• Many 10-50 question quizzes
• Mind-mapping open issues and knowledge gaps
2b Reading “Achieve PMP Exam Success” (3 weeks)
• Repetition of PMBOK content
2c Studying PMBOK-Guide (3 weeks)
• Memorizing the dependencies between processes and the serveral input/output-documents
3 Explicit Learn Phase (3 weeks)
• Focusing on knowledge gaps identified during exam simulation and quizzes
Lessons Learned:
• PMBOK-Guide isn’t as boring as it seems. It’s quite easy to read, if you understand the structure.
• PM PrepCast, PMBOK and exam simulators would have been enough (I didn’t really need the preparation book).
• No brain dump needed
Recommendation:
• Focus on the purpose of every process and understand, why this process is important.
• Focus on the document-flow and information-flow through the processes (where are documents/information created; where are they used).
• Know the PMI-terminology (understand what terms are used for inputs, output and tools & techniques)
• Use 2 different exam simulators. It gives you a better feeling.
• Exam tips: Arrive early at the location. Be comfortable. Be calm. You studied hard, you are prepared. Nothing to worry about. Go through the exam like you did in the exam simulation.
