Cleared PMP on 3-Aug...my experience of this journey

Posting this after a long time. However still useful.

I have successfully cleared the exam on 3rd August 2011. Sharing my experience of this journey. Hope this helps to all the aspirants. This is my personal experience, preferences and I have no intention to hurt anyone’s feelings.


Before I begin, special thanks to PMZilla Admin and all the users of this wonderful site for sharing their lessons learned. You guys were the main motivating factor for me to complete this journey.

Part I: Initial days and collecting PDU’s
I started thinking about PMP somewhere during Apr-May 2010. I had around couple of years of project management experience during that time. First requirement was to get 35 PDU’s. Enrolled in a 4 day PMP course arrange by local institute in Jul-2010. The course was wonderful. The trainer really charged up everyone to go for the PMP within three months. He explained everything from taking PMI membership, how to fill the applications, audit process etc. He asked everyone to take the membership immediately which I did. The course ended really well. I was fully charged up because of the course and trainer’s motivation and decided to achieve PMP within three months. However I was unaware that the journey will take one full year. I created a MPP and planned all the things. Spend around 2 days to define and refine the planned tasks. Immediately after the course, started reading soft copy of Headfirst book. Successfully completed first 2 to 3 chapter within couple of days. This was my first attempt. Next five months went very quickly due to work pressures. I didn’t spend a time in study, though achieving the PMP was always on my mind. It was just that I was unable to start.

Part II: Start…end…restarts…delays…final start

In Dec-2010, made up my mind and decided to really start the study. I purchased Headfirst PMP book since reading a ebook was not working for me. Initially I found the book wonderful. The approach taken in the book is really good. Many of the concepts are explained in simple language. The graphics/images are very useful. Will I recommend this book? Certainly not. Read ahead to find the reason. Started the study on 30-Dec-2010 (second attempt). Decided to finish one chapter a day. Completed first three chapters once again and lost the steam after that. In January-2011, I hardly studied for 2 to 3 days. Reached till Chapter 5. Then there was gap of another month. During every restart, I used to create a new MPP. However the study was not progressing as expected. On 2-Mar-2011, decided that enough is enough and I must get everything together and start seriously. Studied for few days (third restart) and gave up within a week. I was trapped in a dark tunnel with no sight of the end of the tunnel. In May-2011 there was the first light. Received Rita’s book from my wife’s friend. This friend had purchased this book however never used it. My real preparation started during the first week of June 2011 (fourth and final attempt). Rita’s book and LL’s on PMZilla were the real motivating factors. Another important factor was the news of PMP exam changing on 31-August-2011. This news was sufficient to scare me. I had only 2 months for the preparation and 1 month to re-attempt if I fail on first attempt. Studied for 2 hrs on weekdays and 4 hrs on weekends.

Part III: Ups and downs…distractions…confusion…tension
There were frequent ups and downs due to office work, personal commitments. Tried to stay away for everything for two months. However I could not resist watching Formula 1 races on weekends and the Tour de France. My wife used to yell at me seeing me in front of the TV. I survived somehow. There was another twist in the story. It was June end and I realized that my PMI membership was expiring in July. I got really confused whether to renew or not. I was not sure whether it’s ok to apply for exam during membership period and appear for it when you are no more a member. Spend couple of sleepless nights due to this. So decided to renew the membership on 26-Jun-2011. There goes another $119. During last week of June, started working on the PMP application which itself is a separate project and very complex. Spent few more sleepless nights and days. The preparation was really taking the toll on me. However I was very serious this time. I decided to take the exam on or around 10 August. The application process is definitely very difficult for a new person. Now since I have gone through it and felt the heat, I think it’s straightforward. Found few blog sites which explain the process. Prepared all the experience sheet, other details and submitted application on 28-Jun-2011. Prayed to God for not selecting my application for audit which will delay the exam scheduling even further. Received email from PMI on 3-Jul-2011 (I don’t know why they took almost one week) stating that my application has been approved and asked me to pay the exam fees. I was ecstatic and didn’t read the whole email (note to all PMP aspirants: whether the application will be selected for audit or not is decided after you pay the exam fee). I thought that there will be no audit. However destiny had something else decided for me. Paid the necessary exam fees on 4-Jul-2011. Immediately received email stating that my application has been selected for audit. Why me?……by this time, the tension and anxiety was really building up. Took the printouts of experience sheets and gave to my manager. Took photocopies of degree and PDU certificates on next day. Packed up everything on envelope and send to PMI office through express courier. Another $60 dollars down the drain. Received email from PMI that the audit material has been received on 7-Jul-2011. Then I waited for one full week to hear from PMI. Every day, my anxiety and tension was increasing by few percent. More importantly this was wasting valuable days and I was worried that I might not get planned date for exam. Contacted PMI customer care and asked them to confirm why it is taking more time for audit. On 15-Jul-2011 i.e. exactly after 8 days after sending the audit material, received email that I have successfully passed the audit and now I can schedule the exam. Immediately I checked the prometric site. Another twist…10-Aug was not available. Only slots between 27-Jul to 3-Aug were available. Booked the slot on 3-Aug 12:30pm since I had no other option.

Part IV: final preparation
So I had only 17 days to complete my preparation. Revised the MPP once again and aligned the milestones which are now driven by exam date. I found Rita’s book extremely helpful. She has used extremely demotivating and scary language in almost all chapters. Sometimes you feel like throwing the book in trash…I could not throw it since it was not my book J. This book also contains one chapter “Reasons why you will fail on first attempt”…simply crazy. However there’s no other option to this book and I recommend it to everyone. Rita does cover whole lot of things than expected on the exam. This book has definitely made me a better project manager…forget about the exam.

Completed Rita’s book with exercises two times. Hey, I haven’t mentioned about PMBOK. Read PMBok once quickly. Never went back to Headfirst since there’s no comparison with Rita. I found Headfirst immature and found few gaps compared to Rita. Whereas Rita’s book was more complete and very difficult exercises. Trust me you need such difficult exercises for the preparation which I realized after giving the real exam.

Part V: first eye opener
Solved the Headfirst sample test (200 questions) on 23-Jul. Scored only 75%. My score was very less as compared some of the members. Solved Kim Heldman’s 70 questions from ebook and scored only 64%. These two scores were my eye opener and set the tone for my further preparation. I got really tensed. Realized that I need to study PMBOK carefully and must not rely only on Rita.

Part VI: Final lap
On 24-Jul started reading PMBOK line by line and also started preparing my notes. This was the real turn of events. I uncovered and understood many things during this pass. Finished PMBOK on 29-Jul. I had applied for leave from 27-Jul to 3-Aug which really helped getting things under control. From the PMZilla forum got to know about hotel stay options near Mumbai center. Though I live in Pune and can reach Mumbai in 4 hrs, I never took the risk considering monsoon conditions. Risk avoided J

Attempted many sample tests during last one week. This is a must and prepares you for the real exam. Tests and Scores are as follows;


Booked Ace residency hotel and reached Mumbai on 2-Aug. This hotel is very very close to the exam center. It’s exactly 5 minutes’ walk which was really helpful. They charged 3500 Rs. for single room. Room was descent, food was really bad. It’s a small hotel with not many facilities. However good to spend just one night.

ACE RESIDENCY HOTEL

Address : Opp.N.G.Complex, Ashok Nagar, Military Road, Marol, Andheri (East). Mumbai 400 072

Phone : +91-22 29250604 , 29250608 , 29250629,

Fax: : +91-22 29250629

Email : info@aceresidencyhotel.com hotelaceresidency@gmail.com





Part VII: D Day

I was reading my notes, sometimes PMBOK, Rita intermittently on last two days mainly on the gaps identified during the mock tests and ITTO. This gave me much needed confidence. Went to the exam center 1 hour early. The center is like a fortress, believe me. The security guard asked me to remove everything (except my clothes) and keep it in bag. Another security person checked my pockets, even asked me to fold my full sleeves. Another employee took my identify proofs (pan card and driving license) and hold it in front of my face to verify that I am the real person. After the security checking circus was over, I though it must be over. Went inside where they asked me to fill exam form. Another person explained the exam process, rough sheets, pencils etc. He also verified identity proofs, re-checked by pockets. He took me to the computer room and asked me to sit in one cubical. I put down page 43, EVM formulas within 10 minutes.


Part VIII: the exam…hypertension and finally the ecstasy

The exam is tough…really tough. Within first 2 to 3 questions, I started sweating, my blood pressure must have hit the highest peak. Told myself to calm down. Due to the pressure, I was reading same questions 5 to 6 times to understand what the question is really asking. Don’t get fooled by the mock tests. The real exam is really difficult. To summarize the question types; around 65% questions were really wordy and of 4 to 6 lines long which was the most difficult part. It’s very difficult to sit for 4 hrs. After completing 50 questions, I thought I am gone and definitely going to fail. From the mock test, PMStudy comes the closest to the real exam. However, be aware that the real exam questions will really test your skills and knowledge. Took only one break after 50 questions. Marked only 10 to 12 questions. From the EVM questions (total 7 to 8) three questions were really confusing which I marked. I could not identify the variables from the question details. Took my best guess and choose the answer. Finished all questions in 3:45 minutes. Reviewed all marked question, first 20 questions and last 20 questions. I had observed during my practice exams that I tend to choose wrong answers for first and last 20 questions the most. Changed answers of 5 to 6 questions during second pass. With only 15 seconds remaining, hit the End Exam button. Closed my eyes and started praying. There was white screen for around 2 minutes. Then there was a 9 questions survey. Which I filled diligently. Again there was the white screen. I said come on…please don’t play such games with me. After another two minutes the white/blue screen flashed “Congratulations” yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Finally I made it. I had tears in my eyes and in a moment, last two months flashed in front of my eyes. I recollected all the hard work, not spending sufficient time with my wife and daughter. Special thanks to my family for helping me achieve this.

Part IX: recommendations

1. Read the questions carefully
2. Spend full 4 hrs
3. Evaluate the options carefully
4. Think in PMBOK way and not how you do project management in real world
5. Try to stay calm…yeah it’s difficult
6. Believe in yourself
7. Don’t lose hopes at any cost
8. Practice at least 4 to 5 full length exams. Physical aspect is very important.
9. Even if you get less score in practice exam does not mean you are not ready.
10. Dedicate at least two months to this project.
11. Read PMBOK thoroughly atleast 3 times

Part X: Thank you

Once again thanks to my wife and daughter, PMZilla, its members, deep fried brain pmp.com, pmstudy.com. Without your contribution this was not possible. In one of the LL, the member has mentioned that he has thrown the books in trash after clearning PMP. Will I do the same?…noooooooooo. PMBok and Rita are too good to throw away. I will keep these books forever.