Here are the details of my PMP journey-I had taken the REP Course for 35 PDU’s way back in April 2006. I had scheduled the exam once in Sep 2006, but had to postpone it due to personal reasons.
Finally I took the exam on Monday, 04 Dec 2006, in the 5-9 PM slot. Me being a resident of Pune, this took good care of the 3 odd hrs journey to Mumbai, earlier that day itself.
For my approx. 1.5 odd month preparation, the exam was reasonably tough, and multiple references (Rita esp. for Procurement, Kim Heldman, my REP study material) and the practice tests (from any and every source on the Net) did come in handy!
Not to mention the informative discussions and exercises I had in the REP prerequisite-PDU’s class together with our Instructor’s apt coaching on the same; those were the differentiators that worked for me.
I am primarily a “listen-learn” kind of a person in contrast with “read-learn” persons.
Nevertheless, I had borrowed Rita’s book from our Co. library, and most of the questions there are a bit tough, so it helps to be prepared for the few grilling questions (and those with ‘surprize options’) the real test has.
Kim Heldman’s ‘Exam Essentials’ that is at the end of every Chapter were also of considerable help to me.
I solved a lot of tests rather than plain reading. Wherever I could get questions, I would just attack those.
I need to have this as a special mention: The material and forums on www.pmhub.net and lessons learnt section have been immensely useful. I remember logging into PMHUB almost every day (whenever I could find some time), for a month before my exam; and return with at least one brand new learning everytime.
Few suggestions to exam takers –
* Refer to the PMBOK Glossary often, and revise key terms from there before the exam.
* Have the PMI Code of Professional Conduct pasted on a wall, prominently visible in your Cubicle (I still have it here!).
In addition, if you could lay hands on multiple simulated tests, it will do wonders to build competence for the exam.
Remember more and tougher the tests, the better!
One input, try to start the exam only after you do a little deep breathing and feel like you’re on top of things and raring to go!
I wish All the Best to all the To-Be-PMP/CAPM’s, here!
Best Regards,
Ashish Vijay Borikar, PMP, CSQA, Lead Auditor (ISO 27001), SCJP
Kanbay – A Capgemini Company, Pune (India)
