TOPIC: Please Share your PMP Study Plan with me

Hello everyone!

I'm currently in the process of writing an article in which I address the question of how to create a PMP study plan. As part of this I would like to be able to include a few samples of study plans from our students.

Here is a link to the article: Creating Your PMP Study Plan - The Complete Guide

So if you have developed your own plan and would allow me to share it as part of the article then please respond to this message and simply attach the document for me.

Thank you so much!
Cornelius

Cornelius
I started my PMP journey by creating this project charter.

You may use this and edit it to fit within your article.

CHARTER
Purpose: Deepen my skillset to enhance my professional abilities.
Use my broadened education to expand career opportunities
Measurable Objs: Pass with 85%, memorize 47 processes and formulas, and ITTOs
High-level requirements: PMP Certification, Four months, $600, and study space.
Assumptions/Constraints: Work-Home Drive time, other work projects.
Boundaries: PMP certification, four months
High-level risks: Missing study time one day a week
Summary Milestone Schedule:
September-October 2013 PMBOK 35 hour class and examination application certified
November 2013- PMBOK reading #1, test exam #1, join PMP newsgroup and mentorship, and study
December 2013- PMBOK reading #2 coinciding PMP guides and sample exams, test exam #2
January 2013- PMBOK reading #3, more study guide prep, sample exam, and test exam #3
February 2013- Dictionary Review, Formula Review, more study guide prep, test exams #4, #5, Final Exam
Summary Budget: $700 for application, membership, testing materials
Stakeholder List: Family, co-workers, me
Project approval requirements: PMI decides if I'm certified based on exam score.
Project Manager: Me
Sponsor: Family

Hi Cornelius,

Below is my study plan which you can freely use and edit to fit within your article.

My study plan would seem a bit elaborate (4 months) but that's only because I'm a slow learner. No wait, actually I'm not a slow learner I'm a terrible procrastinator. I love to keep things for the last minute and it's my biggest curse. Knowing that about myself I started to make my study plan. Before I get to it, let me list down the resources I used to study:

1. PM PrepCast

2. PMBOK 5th edition

3. The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try, by Andy Crowe.

4. Head First PMP

So with those resources in hand, I set out to make my study plan. Now knowing that I'm a serial procrastinator, I knew I was going to start slow. So I made a ballpark estimate stating that since there are a total of 13 chapters (Knowledge Areas + Introduction to processes + Ethics), I straight away allocated one week per chapter. This was keeping in mind that I work 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, leaving the weekend for the major chunk of the study time dedicated to the chapter allocated for that week. In that week, for each chapter, I would first go through the lessons in PM PrepCast, then followed by reading that chapter from Head First, then Andy's book and finally PMBOK. I also did the exercises provided by all the aforementioned resources and kept a track of all the answers I got wrong in a separate document which proved to be an invaluable resource for my last stage revision just before taking the practices tests. So that's more or less 3 months right there. The final and fourth month was for practise tests, wherein I re-tested the chapter-wise questions that I had gotten wrong (and made a note in a separate document). Also, I did four full length tests and thoroughly analysed the same.

Do let me know if you would need any clarifications or additional details from my end.

R

Michael,

Wonderful! I've copy/pasted your input into a word document, did a little bit of formatting and will make it available in the article as a PDF document.



Thank you!

Rahul,

Many Thanks! I've converted your plan into a simple PDF document that I will include in the article as a download. I'll let you know when it's up!



Thank you!

ok

Hi Rahul, were the two books/resources helpful for you to study? in addition to the Prepcast and simulator.

My PMP Certification Plan: Madhu Kopalle Time Planned Activities/Milestones Lesson Learned started 5 months before the application process - finished 3 months before application process. "Finished Project Management formal education contact hours." didn’t require the time lag but wrapped these ahead of schedule inorder for me to gather details and put together a plan in place. It is always better to have slightly more hours to credit than just the required 35 hours. I completed upto around 50 hrs. Friday 13th Completed application and submitted My biggest road block was to contact my old bosses for reference and fill the application form to submit. I lagged on every single activity towards this. I had lamest excuses every night for not doing what was planned. 2 weeks Head First Read the whole book for perfection in concepts 2 days Chapter tests of Head First chapter tests were attempted all together and at the end of reading to help understand the weaker concepts. 1 week Glance/View PMBOK 1 day Chapter tests of Kim Heldman(20x12=240) 1 week Glance/View Rita Mulcahy's Chapter tests of Rita's 2 days PMI Lexicon Compile highlights from the texts above. Complied a 150 page bullet points from all different sources 15-20 days Mock tests/PMP Practice Exams These tests are the biggest reson for my all those Proficiency ratings I got in the final exam. If I have to pick one single cause of success it is these tests. Head First(200Q) A mock test(200Q) a day. And review the mistakes and weak concepts encountered in that day's test. PM Exam Simulator I had consistently score over 175 in most of these full length exams which improved my confidence level. Andy Crowe's(200Q) I think, roughly I solved 5000 questions all together before the exam. Christopher Scordo(18x50=900Q) Steve Caseley PMP, Ward; Ginger Levin PMP & CAPM TestPrep by Skillport(350Q) Michael G. Solomon Oliver Lehmann (275) The day before the exam Reviewed my notes and ITTOS Exam day PMP Certification Exam Yes I was able to dump more than 90% of ITTOs on the scratch paper in 15min. Wasn’t useful during exam but calmed my nerves. Didn’t dump any formulas as I didn’t find a need to. First attempt with highest degree of Proficiency ratings.

Hello Everyone

Thank you for sharing your input with me. The article can be found here:

PMP Study Plan Template

I appreciate that you shared these with us!

1. PMBOK 1 good read.
2. How to pass PMP on first try - 1 good read.
3. Notes from edward-designer.com/ - 10 reads.
4. PM Prepcast - Simulator - 5 tests.

Result: PMP certified.

That is all.

well done article. The test is not easy, but preparing is easier with a well-informed plan. And with a good plan, you can be confident to pass.

Lena Galindo wrote: Hi Rahul, were the two books/resources helpful for you to study? in addition to the Prepcast and simulator.

While I hadn't taken the simulator, the two books were definitely helpful! They gave me a different protective to the same topic and also because they provided me access to more chapter wise questions.

Cornelius Fichtner wrote: Hello Everyone

Thank you for sharing your input with me. The article can be found here:

PMP Study Plan Template

I appreciate that you shared these with us!

Great article Cornelius! Captures all the nuances perfectly.

Just a little correction. I am Ms. Madhu Kopalle.

Thanks

Hi,

My name is Hardik Patel and I have passed PMP Exam on First try

Here is my study plan
I have gone through PMP PrepCast Videos for first month and started reading PMBoK around same time
Along with these material, I had also prepared notes for final days.
On Second month, I had read Rita's book.
Also along with reading book, I had given many full exams (around 12).

Best way to prepare for the exam is to try as many questions as many you can.

Best of Luck!!

Hardik Patel

Hi Cornelius
i attached it here

rgards,

Excellent article Cornelius...so many great tips!