 I passed my PMP exam on March 14th 2006. My thanks to everybody in this forum,your help and constant motivation really helped me to achieve this PMP credential.
The following are my lessons learnt(based on my experiences and mistakes) :
I used the PMBOK guide(3rd edition), Rita's 5th edition,PMHUB's articles and PMP Prep Exam(http://www.pmhub.net/) as a basis for my preparation.
a) From my personal experience, you only need to focus on the following for your preparation :
 - PMBOK guide 3rd edition.
 - Eric's Lunch Time series(47 video lessons and the PDF files)
 - Jim's write up on each knowledge areas.
Though I used Rita as a supplement book to aid my preparation - My view is that you can definitely do this exam without the help of Rita or Kim Heldman or any other commercial book in the market.
b) There is a tremendous wealth of info in this forum(http://www.pmhub.net/) - we should use it properly to get the best benefit.
c) Though I took many simulation tests - the " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep " promoted by TSI(Eric) was the BEST, since it very closely resembles the PMP exam.
In terms of the question description, " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep " will give a real feeling of the actual PMP exam. It will bend you in the PMI way of thinking and the questions are presented will make you think around the concepts. From my personal experience no other simulation test was able to do that.
Please do not get me wrong - I am not indicating that the " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep " will resemble the actual PMP exam - but it is built around the way of PMI's thinking,pattern and description.
Off course the actual exam was tougher, but if you have taken the " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep " - you are already a step ahead since your mind is tuned to taking tests in PMI's way of thinking.
I would ask everybody to make use of this wonderful preparation tool from PMHUB,TSI. It's a such a high value tool that it available at a low cost. The 76 page performance report that you get after 3 business days is a boon. Take a printout of that and use it to assess your weak areas and structure more scenario based questions(on your own) around that area. That will really help you.
d) Do not make the mistake of spending time in memorizing ITTO. It is not required, if you read the PMBOK end to end 3 times - you will automatically relate to the ITTO for each process. So don't waste your energy in memorizing them, since PMI will never ask a question - Find the missing input/output/tool?
e) This exam definitely needs a lot of hard work and focussed preparation.
f) Schedule your exam so that you have a definite target date to aim at.
g) During the last 10 days, spend all your time in reading the PMBOK ONLY. Do not read any other supplement book. Spending more time on PMBOK especially during the last week before the exam, will give you a definite edge.
h) All the questions in the actual PMP exam was scenario based. In my case the actual exam was tough by 30%-35%, compared to all the simulation tests I took.
Hats off to PMI for setting such difficult scenario based questions. Hence do not mug up anything, read and understand the concepts.
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i) Ensure you have read the PMBOK 3- 4 times(2 times - Forward Pass, 2 times - Backward Pass).
j) In my view, if you read the supplement book(Kim or Rita) once and attempt the tests at the end of each chapter - that's more than enough.
PMI will test your understanding of the concepts and methods given in PMBOK and NOT in Rita or Kim.
So the mantra is to focus on PMBOK,PMBOK and PMBOK only, nothing else.
For example - If you have planned to read PMBOK twice and Rita twice, re-frame your strategy. Read Rita/Kim Heldman only once and focus reading PMBOK thrice. This strategy will yield you better results.
My recommendation for PMP aspirants :
1) Start with Eric's Lunch time series - 47 video lessons.Listen to it first.
2) Then read the 47 PDF files again.
3) Read Jim's articles on each knowledge area.
4) Visit www.pmpdistilled.com
Join the "PMP Essential" module. It's an 8 hour module that provides you with the basics to kick start your PMP journey. Complete the "PMP Essential" module and earn your certificate.
By now you would have a attained good understanding of the basics.
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5) Read the PMBOK for the first time.
6) Go through Eric Lunch time series(47 lessons)Â and Jim's article's on each knowledge area.
7) Read Rita's (5th edition) or Kim Heldman's latest edition. Attempt all the test given at the end of each
chapter and know your weak areas.
8) Read the PMBOK for the second time.
9) Go through Eric Lunch time series(47 lessons)Â and Jim's article's on each knowledge area.
10) Now take up the " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep " low cost,high value simulation exam.
11) Know where you have gone wrong - Take a printout of the detailed exam report and try to build the scenario's around the concepts. One way of doing it is to develop your own scenario based questions, related to the questions presented in the " PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep ".
12) Now read the PMBOK for the third time. This time take a back ward pass - start from the last chapter and finish with the first.
13) Read Eric's 47 Lunch time series, Jim's article's.
Appear for the exam with confidence and you will win!!!
Inputs Tools Techniques and Outputs for becoming a PMP :
Inputs -
- Member of PMI.
- Member of PMHUB.
- Hard work.
- Focus and Commitment.
Tools and Techniques-
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- PMBOK guide 3rd edition.
- Eric's Lunch Time Series(47 video lessons and PDF files).
- Jim's articles.
- PMHUB's PMP Exam Prep(Low cost,High value tool)
- "PMP Essentials" module in www.pmpdistilled.com
- Rita(5th edition) or Kim Heldman(3rd edition) - To get the basic understanding from Initiating to Closeout . Single pass is enough.
- Navigation skill - To navigate the PMHUB Forum to reap the best benefit.
Outputs-
- Tremendous Project Management Knowledge.
- Enhanced Self Confidence and Capabilities.
- PMP credential from a reputed institute like PMI.
- Mature,Realistic and Professional Project Manager.
If you need any further help or info, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be very glad to help.
Kind Regards,
Bharath S
Srinivasan.Bharath@alcatel.com
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Watch a FREE Video and dowload a short manual: Short Guide to becoming a PMP - click 
Comments
Thank you for kind question.
This LL was from several years ago. The PMP Exam simulator has now been replaced by this PMP Exam Simulator:
http://www.premiumcast.com/vp/74111/13484
I was reading your http://www.pmhub.net, your ideas seems very promising.Thank you very much...
Could you please let me know where to take the course to complete 35 hrs of course requirement regarding appearing for the certification exam.Secondly,directions on how to fill up the applications for certification.