Hello everyone!
I did what they always tell you not to do, which is not set a date for the exam ... I actually had a date and pushed it back until it was announced that the exam was changing from the 5th to the 6th edition. So I finally buckled down and hit the books! I use the PM PrepCast as my main tool because Cornelius' is voice is very soothing! I complemented with Rita's book and Head First, which I borrowed from my local library, for topics that required a bit more from me. I had already done a single pass of the PMBOK last year.
I am a visual and tactile learner so it was important for me as I was listening and watching the PM PrepCast to take notes and draw out the concepts. I created mind maps for each knowledge area as I went along, and reviewed them regularly as I continued in my studies. I've enclosed the one I created for the introduction/framework. They definitely got more intricate the further along I went into my studies.
Though I was sitting for the CAPM exam, I studied mostly PMP material, as from what I understood prior is that the CAPM exam is based more on book smarts and concrete knowledge of the processes, while PMP is mostly situational. I did have situational questions on the exam but I was pleasantly surprised by how few there were.
Cornelius and many others have said it; memorizing the ITTOs is not enough! I found that instead of that order, I learned the Inputs and then the Outputs first, which helped me understand and remember the associated Tools and Techniques.
My exam was at the start of May and I was successful!! Best wishes to everyone studying, you can do it!
