PMP - Ways and Means

A feeling of great exhilration, a sense of achievement and a ireestible need to have a beer, these were the emotions that ran through me at 5:15PM IST on Aug 5 2011. Yes, I had cleared my PMP. That was the reason for all this.


While it still fresh in my memory, I wanted to jot down some quick points that might help others feel the same.


- A few questions on direct formluae usage were there. PERT, EV/AC/TCPI etc.
- A few indirect formulae questions. Eg., 2 variables given, calculate a 3rd and then use that to caluculate a 4th variable.
- Some question quite confusingly states what is the "process" and the options listed out are 3 KA'a and one process. The key is to read the questions properly and keep an eye open for "keywords"
- PSR - If PSR is involved, throw all option out of the window and go with the one that supports PSR
- Remember, in the "fisrt or best" question, the project is always the priority, the PM always has the responsibility. However, in PSR, it is safety, honesty, responsibility, fairness that is main.
- Sometimes a very early question say 10th, might be the answer for a very late question say 130th. So concentrate on your exam.
- Input, Tools & Techniques, outputs (ITTO) are a must to remember. Write them down every single day along with all formulae and the process group to KA mapping. Make your very own "logical flow" that is the best way to remember, rather than just trying to blindly "mug up", as we say.
- QA vs QC. ITTO's and process here are crucial. As they are indeed confusing.
- Risk and procurement are another 2 areas that I felt a little confusing
- Control and Verify scope, QC - Read and understand the relation that these have with the Closing process group.
- Role of PM and PMO. Understand the differences
- Project doc and Project management Plan -What are the contents. Helps to understand the difference and remember these.
- There are many many books on "clearing" PMP exam. Stick to one. The reason is that every author has his/her own way of teaching. If you try and emulate more than one, you are bound to confuse yourself and eventually fail. Stick to one. While you go through a process or knowledge area, refer PMBOK for that section.
- Remember PMBOK is the ultimate reference, but you are bound to fall asleep without a strategy, which is what one of the exam preps help you.
- The last 1/2 weeks try to take atleast 3/4 mock tests every week. I mean the full 200 ones. Not the 50/75. Those have to be done earlier. But always remember to take a test that provides you with
 (a) standard questions - meaning do not go for every/any mock exam. Try some reputed ones.
(b) answers explained - ensure before you take the exams that the answers are explained at the end. Otherwise, it is not much help. The answers and the relevant explanations always increase your understanding of how you need to read, infer and understand a question. Correct understanding of the question is half the battle won.
- The day before the exam sleep well. You need all the concentration. I did not do this and ended up falling asleep for about 2/3 mins actually.
- Wear warm clothes or carry a jacket etc, esepcially in the warmer places, since the testing centers are normally cool and outside temperature being warm and being cool inside the testing center, coupled with the silence. It is like a lullably :-) Read above point.
- Try to get a realy in the day slot. Or a late in the day slot. Never in between. You neither breakfast nor have lunch properly for those inbetwen slots and they do not allow food inside the center. Hunger could kill your concentration. It did to me. I took a 1 PM slot and suffered.
- Take a 2 mins break every 1 hr. It will help your concentration.