I had passed the PMP exam on May 8th 2021 with above target on all the three domains (People, Process, Business). Thanks to the entire Prepcast team for creating such a nice product. Using PM Prepcast Simulator provided me the opportunity to experience how the actual exam would be, and also helps me to focus down on the topics where I need to concentrate more. Here I would like to share my experience and the lessons learned I learned from the exam which might be useful to someone who is going to take in the future. I took the exam at Pearson test center.
Exam Preparation including the material used.
1. I started preparing for PMP probably 4-5 months before the exam. Since I was working, I usually spend 90 minutes during the weekdays and 4 to 10 hours during the weekend.
2. I watched PM PREPCAST videos chapter by chapter right from the introduction section. I referred PMBOK guide while the video is playing, and I used to mark the important keywords that was told by Mr. Cornelius Fichtner in the videos. For the Agile sections I referred both Agile Practice Guide and Scrum Guide while watching the lessons regarding Agile Topics. Marking the important keywords was really handy when I was revising each chapter in PMBOK later.
3. After completing each chapter I always use the Prepcast simulator to test my understanding on the chapter I completed before proceeding to next one. I atleast take 2 sets of 30 questions in each chapter without selecting the option "Include Exam Questions". This is done because I don't want to see any exam related questions until I take the Full test (4 exams) so that I can assess myself later. I used to review the questions I answered to make sure I understand the reason why that particular option is right, why other options are wrong, and if I still had question or concern with that particular question, I contact Prepcast team. The option to contact Prepcast team regarding a particular question is available in the review section within each question. They will reply to you in a day or two at the maximum.
Note: The reason I took 30 questions in a set because as I said early, I spend only 90 minutes during the weekday, so I take 30 minutes to answer the questions and spend 45 minutes to review.
4. I completed first iteration of all the chapters in PMBOK guide six weeks before the exam date. Then I started reading PMBOK guide again chapter by chapter without the video section. This time I spend only 25 percent of the time I took it during first iteration. But again, I used the Simulator to practice and review without the exam questions options selected.
5. After I completed the first four knowledge areas (Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost) I took the first full exam and reviewed the entire 180 questions. So, for the exam it will take me around 3 hours to complete and the review section took me around 4 hours atleast. The reason I spend more time on reviewing the questions because it will help me to identify the mistakes, learn new concepts (Yes sometimes I learned something new from the review section which I have missed during my study) and I make sure I do not repeat the same questions.
6. I took the second full exam after I completed next three chapters (Resources, Quality, Risk). Then third exam after I completed last three chapters. Technically it took me whole day (8-9 hours) to take one exam and review it. The last and fourth final exam I took after I reviewed Agile and Scrum Practice guide. I can see my scores improved test by test. (1st Full exam- 66 percent, 2nd Full exam- 75, Third and Fourth Full exam - 85 percent). This exam scores are approximate because I can't remember it exactly now.
7. After I complete all this, I had 10 days probably, so I just revised important topics in each chapters and took some additional quizzes and reviewed agile book for one more time. This time I read the appendix section.
Materials Used: PMBOK Sixth Edition, Agile Practice Guide, Scrum Guide 2020, PM PREPCAST Simulator. I tried other books/ material, but I did not find something that really suits my style.
Lessons learned.
1. Don't memorize the process. Try to understand the process and note down the keywords while studying it will be really helpful in later stage when you are revisiting them. Even if you had a compulsion/ fear that you would forget just do it at the end of your preparation during that time you will automatically remember most of the things because you would have read and understand everything at this time.
2. I took the exam at the center because my apartment would have internet issues sometimes. I do not want to take any chances. If you can't take your exam at your home/ somewhere because of some issues, feel free to take it at the center. Based on my real experience Pearson took great care in sanitizing all the equipment before each person use. But you need to wear mask all time keep that in mind. They will provide you locker to keep your things. They allowed me to use water and my snack which I kept in locker. To keep it simple and avoid any unnecessary tension do not bring any electronic items and study materials to the center. During my visit at the center one person brought his phone they ask him to go down to keep his phone at his car.
3. Never skip your break. Just go out and stretch yourself. I drank a sip of water during my break to keep myself hydrated. When I back from each break there was hardly two minutes, but I still didn't start until 30 seconds left. Use the break time to keep yourself motivated and relaxed. Never think about the performance of your previous section.
4. Avoid brain dump if possible. I took CAPM exam two years back during that time brain dump was really useful even one of my friends used brain dump for his PMP exam last year. As you know the format of the PMP exam has been changed this year. In this new format we are hardly getting any formula questions because most the questions are based on Agile and Hybrid. So, there is no need for brain dump. If you felt to take one just complete it within five minutes. I hardly used the scratch booklet they gave it to me. But to let you know I brain dumped some of the keywords and formula and it took me ten minutes. I really regretted that decision during my first 60 questions. Because I wasted nearly ten minutes of valuable time. So, I pushed myself to complete the first 60 question on time. But I completed around 80 minutes more than five minutes of my planned time.
5. As you know the total exam time is 230 minutes excluding the two 10 minutes break time. Clock will start running from 230 the moment the first question is displayed, and it will keep running except during break time. So, there is really no one to tell you or even the system will tell you hey your time is up for these 60 questions set. They clock will keep run. In other words, you can take whatever time you want to complete each 60-question section but your time for other sections will be affected still the total time for the exam is only 230 minutes. So
time management is important. Complete one section (60 questions) of the exam in approximately 60 minutes and use 15-16 minutes to review the marked/ incomplete questions. This review time frame will be applicable only if you marked less than 10 questions. If you marked more questions try to complete the section even faster. Maintain consistent pace don't spend too much time one question. Mark the question and move on. Don't leave any questions unanswered there is no negative mark.
6. Second Section I completed within 60 minutes including the review time. Third section was little tougher for me when compared to second section. So, I marked nearly 22 questions for review, but I had 30 minutes left. I completed the exam five minutes before. Result was very instantaneous when compared to CAPM exam there is no anxious waiting time.
7. Wherever you take your exam either at the test center or at your home do not move/ get excited even after you passed the exam. Raise your hand and wait for your testing administrator (TA). TA at my exam center she came only after five minutes because she was attending somebody else. Let them guide you out of the exam room. Make sure to collect the printout if you are taking exam at the center.
8. Overall my exam was little tougher to me when compared to Prepcast Simulator but overall, it's not possible for me to clear this exam without the simulator and preparation. I do not know how many questions I got specifically from Agile/ Hybrid, but I know it was lot than I expected. So be prepared for this. By the way I just read exam content outline only once because I could not relate them to the chapters really specific.
You can use any material you are feeling comfortable and available to you. But refer to PMBOK and Agile Practice guide read at least once. Make sure you practice for the exam using some simulator and review it. Even Cornelius Fichtner suggested this in everyone one of his videos. I also watch every one of the Cornelius Fichtner videos regarding the PMP exam he has doing recently, it's a great place to know more about the exam. Refer PMP handbook regarding exam related thing atleast once before your exam to avoid any unnecessary surprises. If you have any question regarding my post feel free to comment below I am happy to answer to the best extent I can.
Finally I would like to thank once again the entire Prepcast team for this nice product and keep up your good work.
I know it's a long post. But I thought rather than just leaving a thank you note I feel I thought I should share my experience so that it will be helpful to someone who is taking this exam in near future.
Good luck!!
Disclaimer: All the time related things I have specified above is completely from my point of view & experience and I am just sharing it. Your preparation time would be even less than mine.
Note:
I have also provided the link below which is my exam experience I had posted during CAPM preparation. Although most of them may not be applicable for this PMP exam but still there are some useful points there too. I have shared this link for couple of people who took CAPM recently they say it's still useful for them as the exam format is not changed for CAPM yet.
www.project-management-prepcast.com/kune...passed-capm-6-1-2019
It's always nice to hear our products have helped people achieve their goals.
