My Experience:
I passed the PMP exam on my first try on 20-Jul-2015 with Proficient in all 5 Domains. I completed the exam in ca. 3.5 hours and used the remaining time to review “marked” answers.
My preparation lasted 15 weeks during which I learned ca. 2-3 hours/day:
- I first read the PMBOK guide once,
- then listened to PM PrepCast podcasts,
- applied for the exam and (as soon as eligible) scheduled an exam appointment,
- went through Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep book including sample exam questions,
- studied the PMBOK guide thoroughly
- while answering free sample questions / mock exams from several sources,
- took 4 full-length exams plus the ITTO one in PM Exam Simulator (in the last 4 weeks prior to the exam date).
I found the tips in PM PrepCast very useful to plan and guide my exam preparation and the sample questions in PM Exam Simulator high quality ones.
When applying for the PMP I requested a language aid in my mother tongue, but eventually did not use it on the exam being all prep material in English only.
Lessons Learned:
- Have a plan for your PMP exam journey and stick to it
- Set the exam date early on so as to have a clear target
- Study the PMBOK guide as if it were the textbook of a university exam
- One comprehensive “course in a book” is enough
- Attempt sample questions / mock exams from many different sources
- Try simulators of the full-length 200 questions 4 hours exam in preparation of the real test
- Do not rely too much on your work experience as PMP is more about an ideal framework
- Find someone to discuss your doubts and exchange thoughts (I missed that)
