So here I am, now doing my part to pay back, what I gained from this great community. Time for me to add my lessons learned to the repository and hopefully help others.
My story in short:
To start off I’ll say, that I consider myself generally a smart guy, with a fair bit of experience, and also one who doesn’t have to prepare too much to “pass” exams or courses. That being said, I knew that I should probably at a bare minimum memorize the 49 processes and formulas, which I did and then also took an in class prep course, and thought that that would be enough. I barely skimmed the PMBOK guide at best, and I didn’t even open Rita Macaulay’s book, and it was provided as part of the course I took.
I failed. Not by much but failed.
Then my one year of eligibility was coming to a close, so I figured I would write again, and without really changing anything except for the fact that I added the Udemy Joe Phillips course. I did also make sure I still had the 49 process names memorized and the formulas.
Also since I wasn’t too far off the pass the first time, I thought I had prepared “enough”, and besides I was running out of time with my eligibility so I felt that I had to write. I failed again. Similar results to the first attempt but actually slightly lower.
Key Tip: If you end up running out of time on your eligibility, and you still have an exam attempt remaining, contact PMI and they will usually extend your eligibility by 90 days, they did of me.
The Adjustment Required:
So then having failed twice, I FINALLY realized that this PMP certification was different than anything I had attempted in the past. I needed to face the fact that my experience and smarts weren’t going to cut it, not this time. The contents and the nature of the exam are unique, and the only way to understand it is well to understand it. No short cuts. Knowing the names of the processes isn’t enough; you need to understand the way that they fit, the flow if you will.
So here is my final plan that allowed me to achieve a pass with 5 ATs, yes 5 ATs across all domains, it is as follows:
First off I don’t want to discount the course on Udemy it was an easy watch and allowed for a good basic understanding, not enough by itself, however. This time, I purchased the Prep Cast System including the PMP Exam Simulator, but I knew that it by itself also wouldn’t be enough. I created an 8-week study plan and decided which chapters I was going to read in Rita’s book per week, and as a reference, I used the PMBOK Guide. I didn’t have enough time to read both. I also bought Rita’s flashcards… Did not do the end of chapter quizzes, as I just needed to get through the content first. This is imperative. Once in a while I would randomly do Rita's Process game, online:
rmcls.com/process-chart-game-v9
, also a good resource to solidify process flow.
I was a man on a mission. Simply put I needed to get through the reading. Started getting up at @ 5 am and read the chapter as per plan, then throughout the day, I listened to the corresponding Prep Cast. When I could, I also reviewed the corresponding chapter flashcards. The key was I had to stick to the plan.
Key Tip: The Prep Cast videos are thorough but they are LOOOONG, so long in fact, that I wasn’t able to keep up with my schedule, I ended up reading ahead and then catching up with the Prep Casts when I could. I was listening to Cornelius, everywhere I went, to the point that I had my earbuds in at work all day and then in my car where ever I went.
Key Tip: Pulling it all together is a key piece. Ricardo Vargas’ process flow is great. I went as far as printing it off and taping to my wall at home, and as I read I would think about where I am and how the integration piece is working.
Key Tip: The PMP Exam simulator is the best tool. Keep in mind the first time you do each exam is the only true result, so don’t waste it, be prepared, have read the contents. After I had read Rita’s book, studied the flashcards and heard Cornelius, I started on the Exams. My last 9 days before the exam day was doing a 200-question exam a day. This allowed me to build up my stamina and better understand my pacing.
Key Tip: When doing the exams use the mark feature for the questions you aren’t sure about. Those you will need to cover and read about. But when you analyze your result, focus in on the ones that you got wrong but thought you were comfortable with ie the ones you didn’t mark, those are you real gaps. I analyzed and reviewed each exam on the average for 4 hours, using the filters in various ways. You need to obtain an understanding of where you are week, and this is why the simulator is hands down the best tool to assess where you truly are.
Pearson experience:
It was different that Prometric in the following ways:
- They allow you to do a brain dump while you are still in the 10-minute tutorial, use this time.
- No paper, but a 8 page laminated paper book.
- There is no ability to strike out, but you can mark, but I think that is known now.
- At Prometric at the end of the exam you were asked to complete a survey, and after that, it would “calculate” you results. Which took like 3-5 mins.
- At Person that is not the case. As soon as the exam was over, I was expecting the survey, it didn’t happen, and my results were displayed right away, in a blink of an eye, I had a prayer ready to go and didn’t even get the chance. After that, you are asked to do the survey.
Moral of the story:
Do not do what I did, well after the adjustment part sure. I wish I had done that for attempt 1. Give this exam the respect that it deserves off the bat… It took what it took for me to pull up my socks up and actually prep. In fact, I now believe that the exam is written to challenge people like me, had I passed on one of my prior attempts, I would not have the knowledge that I gained, nor would I have the respect for this exam and certification that I now do.
Sorry if I rambled on, but I wanted to pay back to this great community…
Simulator results for reference were:
PMP Exam 1 76%
PMP Exam 2 77%
PMP Exam 3 75%
PMP Exam 4 76%
PMP Exam 5 76.5%
PMP Exam 6 77.5%
PMP Exam 7 82%
ITTO test - didn't do - I felt that I was comfortable with my understanding of process flow.
