You can follow the discussion at:
http://forums.pmhub.net/viewtopic.php?t=8055&sid=8001f8d75c8f8079861d77286bf
96c2d
But here is what I have posted so far----
I thaught that it may be helpful to share my experiences while I am on my way to attempt the CAPM exam.
To begin with I have bachelor’s degree in Economics. During undergrad and afterwords I worked on a number of projects, but bear in mind I was not running them. I was in a projectized environment. I was more on the quality assurance/quality control side of business. And in the past couple of years my involvement in projects has decreased. Now I am in a matrix environment.
I have the qualifications to attempt the PMP exam but I would prefer going the CAPM route. First off, I do not have an incentive to take the exam, because one, it is not required by my organization, and two I am not planning to leave this position as I enjoy my work. But I have embarked on this journey because I see the value in learning project management techniques and processes. If not today it will be helpful in the future.
I am also taking a graduate coursework to finish my Masters in Management Information System. I also passed my A+ computer certification about six or seven years ago.
In mid September 2005 a friend mentioned about the PMP exam. I was immediately interested. I did a little research and found about the CAPM exam. I decided that I would prepare for the CAPM exam. I am always pressed for time as I have work and school to attend. I have been spending a lot of time during school breaks and a little bit on the train to work studying for the CAPM exam.
Well this is my background, and in the upcoming posts I will share my experiences with you all on my journey towards successfully passing the CAPM exam
ez
-------------------------
Ride with me (resources)
I have purchased the following items already
1) Books
-CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management Exam Guide with CDROM by Joseph Phillips
- Hot Topics Flashcards For Passing the PMP and CAPM Exams by Rita Mulcahy
- Q & A's for the PMBOK Guide by Frank T. Anbari
2) Subscriptions
Wall Street Journal (ended in November)
Fast Company
Time
News Week
PMI newsletter and other materials
3) Exams:
- 400 questions from PMCAMPUS.com
- There are two full length exams with the Joe Philips book (one on CD and one online)
4) Other Books
- Freakonomics by Steven Levitt; Stephen J. Dubner
- Good to Great by James C. Collins; Jim Collins
---------------
Ride with me (September/October 2005)
Mid September I got interested in preparing for the CAPM exam. I researched (i.e. googled) online and for no particular reason bought ‘CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management Exam Guide with CDROM by Joseph Phillips’. But I did find it helpful. I finished reading the book by mid October. And in early October I concluded that it was worth becoming a PMI member (www.pmi.org). By late October I was a member, and it is well worth it. I have mentioned the subscriptions and other non project management books as my resources for a reason. You have to read the and comprehend the questions properly in order to answer them correctly. If you read at a higher level you will have a better chance of comprehending the exam questions. Princeton review and Kaplan (not sure) give there students a six month subscription to the Wall Street Journal or the Economist when they register for the MCAT exam (Medical College Admission Test) which is one the tougher exams out there. Just reading the PMI material is helpful.
-----------------------
Ride with me (November 2005)
The first time I read the Joseph Phillips book I wrote down extra terms that I felt were important. The book has a word list at the end of each chapter; I added my terms to this list. I also wrote down the page numbers next to each term. Each chapter has summary and quick tips after each chapter. In late November around the thanksgiving break I read the summary and quick tips. And also reviewed the terms my terms and the ones listed in the book. I took the first exam on the CD that cam with the Joseph Phillips (JP) book. I scored around 75% and this is considered not good according to the reference material. I compared the JP book with the PMBOK CD that came with my membership, and they are similar.
-------------------
Ride with me (December 2005)
In mid December I applied for my CAPM eligibility online. They replied back within a few days. I ws eligible to take the exam, but I could still be audited. On December 21st I ordered the Rita Flashcards and Q & A's for the PMBOK Guide by Frank T. Anbari. I started reading online forums etc. Rita’s books came up quiet often in discussions. I did not want to spend a lot so I only bought the flash cards. On December 22nd I took a sample exam (25 questions) offered by PMCampus.com. I scored 60% which is not good. I forgot what I read. I downloaded an ITTO table from PMHUB. This time I referenced the JP book with the ITTO table. I had a better understanding after reading the book again. I re-read the entire book between December 23 and 26 (i.e Christmas break). I got busy with school and could only get back to CAPM preparation after the fall term.
After reading the first three chapters I took a chapter test on pmstudy.com. I scored around 80% on a 50 question framework exam. Then I was able to take a 12 question test for 3 pdus. I scored a 100%.
On December 27th I retook the sample exam (25 questions) offered by PMCampus.com. I scored 80% this time. I reviewed the ITTO and skimmed through the JP book. I downloaded some more files from PMHUB. I still felt that the ITTO file was the most helpful.
On December 29th I took a 200 question PMP exam from pmstudy.com. I scored 60% hich was not good, but I felt ok as this is a harder exam then the CAPM one. I liked the chapter test from pmstudy.com but the sample exam was not very helpful. May be if Ipaid for one of their exam I may get a better exam.
December 29th-Jan 2nd I was on a road trip.
--------------------
Ride with me (January 2006)
January 2nd: I did a quick review of the ITTO document and the JP book (summary and quick tips). I took the online bonus exam offered by the JP book. I got 118 correct out of 150. That is 78.7 %. Even though it is considered not good I felt ok.
January 3rd: I received the Rita flash cards and the Anbari Q and A book. I went through the flash cards, and decided to go over the Q and A’s the next day. I was not impressed by Rita's flashcards. The one thing that I read in the begining that was helpful was that the CAPM exam does not cover the professional responsibility section.
I also bought the 400 question package from PMCampus.com. They only take paypal or echeck. Eventhough these are PMP oriented question, I was impressed by the sample exam. It gives you a breakdown by process group and by knowledge area.
January 4th: I am planning to register for the exam. I would like to take it before January, so that there is no conflict with my next term. My next term will be very hectic. Hopefully I will not have any problems. I would like to finish the Anbari questions (200). Take the two PMCampus exams (400). Retake atleast one exam from the JP book (150). If time and money permit take an esti-intl exam (150)
---------------------
Ride with me (1/4/06)
No offense taken guest. One if there were 2000 people doing this then I wouldnt be doing it too. Just not my style. Two you can always learn from the experiences of others.
Thanks for the positive vibes elceem and jimowens. Elceem, I did get the inspiration to write about my experiences from another writer (not that I can consider myself anything close to one), I forget her name but she wrote a series of ten columns on gannthead.com I believe. By the way Jim I meant that I was not the project manager or director. As far as experience is concerned I had a lot of responsibility and decision making authority on the projects I worked. But it does not matter as I am more concerned about passing the CAPM exam now. Also I am trying to keep my expenses down for this exam.
Jan 4th: I finished the Anbari Q & A's. I did not fare too well. I got 144 out of 200 correct. That is 72% which is very close to the 65% needed to pass the CAPM. I will go over the inputs and outputs again. Does any one know where I can find an ITTO based on the PMBOK 3rd edition.
I did not do much today. I was not feeling well and decided to rest. But then again, I ended up watching the Texas-USC game. wow what a come back.
----------
http://forums.pmhub.net/viewtopic.php?t=8055&sid=8001f8d75c8f8079861d77286bf
96c2d
But here is what I have posted so far----
I thaught that it may be helpful to share my experiences while I am on my way to attempt the CAPM exam.
To begin with I have bachelor’s degree in Economics. During undergrad and afterwords I worked on a number of projects, but bear in mind I was not running them. I was in a projectized environment. I was more on the quality assurance/quality control side of business. And in the past couple of years my involvement in projects has decreased. Now I am in a matrix environment.
I have the qualifications to attempt the PMP exam but I would prefer going the CAPM route. First off, I do not have an incentive to take the exam, because one, it is not required by my organization, and two I am not planning to leave this position as I enjoy my work. But I have embarked on this journey because I see the value in learning project management techniques and processes. If not today it will be helpful in the future.
I am also taking a graduate coursework to finish my Masters in Management Information System. I also passed my A+ computer certification about six or seven years ago.
In mid September 2005 a friend mentioned about the PMP exam. I was immediately interested. I did a little research and found about the CAPM exam. I decided that I would prepare for the CAPM exam. I am always pressed for time as I have work and school to attend. I have been spending a lot of time during school breaks and a little bit on the train to work studying for the CAPM exam.
Well this is my background, and in the upcoming posts I will share my experiences with you all on my journey towards successfully passing the CAPM exam
ez
-------------------------
Ride with me (resources)
I have purchased the following items already
1) Books
-CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management Exam Guide with CDROM by Joseph Phillips
- Hot Topics Flashcards For Passing the PMP and CAPM Exams by Rita Mulcahy
- Q & A's for the PMBOK Guide by Frank T. Anbari
2) Subscriptions
Wall Street Journal (ended in November)
Fast Company
Time
News Week
PMI newsletter and other materials
3) Exams:
- 400 questions from PMCAMPUS.com
- There are two full length exams with the Joe Philips book (one on CD and one online)
4) Other Books
- Freakonomics by Steven Levitt; Stephen J. Dubner
- Good to Great by James C. Collins; Jim Collins
---------------
Ride with me (September/October 2005)
Mid September I got interested in preparing for the CAPM exam. I researched (i.e. googled) online and for no particular reason bought ‘CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management Exam Guide with CDROM by Joseph Phillips’. But I did find it helpful. I finished reading the book by mid October. And in early October I concluded that it was worth becoming a PMI member (www.pmi.org). By late October I was a member, and it is well worth it. I have mentioned the subscriptions and other non project management books as my resources for a reason. You have to read the and comprehend the questions properly in order to answer them correctly. If you read at a higher level you will have a better chance of comprehending the exam questions. Princeton review and Kaplan (not sure) give there students a six month subscription to the Wall Street Journal or the Economist when they register for the MCAT exam (Medical College Admission Test) which is one the tougher exams out there. Just reading the PMI material is helpful.
-----------------------
Ride with me (November 2005)
The first time I read the Joseph Phillips book I wrote down extra terms that I felt were important. The book has a word list at the end of each chapter; I added my terms to this list. I also wrote down the page numbers next to each term. Each chapter has summary and quick tips after each chapter. In late November around the thanksgiving break I read the summary and quick tips. And also reviewed the terms my terms and the ones listed in the book. I took the first exam on the CD that cam with the Joseph Phillips (JP) book. I scored around 75% and this is considered not good according to the reference material. I compared the JP book with the PMBOK CD that came with my membership, and they are similar.
-------------------
Ride with me (December 2005)
In mid December I applied for my CAPM eligibility online. They replied back within a few days. I ws eligible to take the exam, but I could still be audited. On December 21st I ordered the Rita Flashcards and Q & A's for the PMBOK Guide by Frank T. Anbari. I started reading online forums etc. Rita’s books came up quiet often in discussions. I did not want to spend a lot so I only bought the flash cards. On December 22nd I took a sample exam (25 questions) offered by PMCampus.com. I scored 60% which is not good. I forgot what I read. I downloaded an ITTO table from PMHUB. This time I referenced the JP book with the ITTO table. I had a better understanding after reading the book again. I re-read the entire book between December 23 and 26 (i.e Christmas break). I got busy with school and could only get back to CAPM preparation after the fall term.
After reading the first three chapters I took a chapter test on pmstudy.com. I scored around 80% on a 50 question framework exam. Then I was able to take a 12 question test for 3 pdus. I scored a 100%.
On December 27th I retook the sample exam (25 questions) offered by PMCampus.com. I scored 80% this time. I reviewed the ITTO and skimmed through the JP book. I downloaded some more files from PMHUB. I still felt that the ITTO file was the most helpful.
On December 29th I took a 200 question PMP exam from pmstudy.com. I scored 60% hich was not good, but I felt ok as this is a harder exam then the CAPM one. I liked the chapter test from pmstudy.com but the sample exam was not very helpful. May be if Ipaid for one of their exam I may get a better exam.
December 29th-Jan 2nd I was on a road trip.
--------------------
Ride with me (January 2006)
January 2nd: I did a quick review of the ITTO document and the JP book (summary and quick tips). I took the online bonus exam offered by the JP book. I got 118 correct out of 150. That is 78.7 %. Even though it is considered not good I felt ok.
January 3rd: I received the Rita flash cards and the Anbari Q and A book. I went through the flash cards, and decided to go over the Q and A’s the next day. I was not impressed by Rita's flashcards. The one thing that I read in the begining that was helpful was that the CAPM exam does not cover the professional responsibility section.
I also bought the 400 question package from PMCampus.com. They only take paypal or echeck. Eventhough these are PMP oriented question, I was impressed by the sample exam. It gives you a breakdown by process group and by knowledge area.
January 4th: I am planning to register for the exam. I would like to take it before January, so that there is no conflict with my next term. My next term will be very hectic. Hopefully I will not have any problems. I would like to finish the Anbari questions (200). Take the two PMCampus exams (400). Retake atleast one exam from the JP book (150). If time and money permit take an esti-intl exam (150)
---------------------
Ride with me (1/4/06)
No offense taken guest. One if there were 2000 people doing this then I wouldnt be doing it too. Just not my style. Two you can always learn from the experiences of others.
Thanks for the positive vibes elceem and jimowens. Elceem, I did get the inspiration to write about my experiences from another writer (not that I can consider myself anything close to one), I forget her name but she wrote a series of ten columns on gannthead.com I believe. By the way Jim I meant that I was not the project manager or director. As far as experience is concerned I had a lot of responsibility and decision making authority on the projects I worked. But it does not matter as I am more concerned about passing the CAPM exam now. Also I am trying to keep my expenses down for this exam.
Jan 4th: I finished the Anbari Q & A's. I did not fare too well. I got 144 out of 200 correct. That is 72% which is very close to the 65% needed to pass the CAPM. I will go over the inputs and outputs again. Does any one know where I can find an ITTO based on the PMBOK 3rd edition.
I did not do much today. I was not feeling well and decided to rest. But then again, I ended up watching the Texas-USC game. wow what a come back.
----------