PMP 4th edition exam lessons learned and tips for folks planning on taking the PMP exam.

1. Hello: I passed the 4th edition of the PMP exam on October 29th, 2009. This presentation was created to enable me to share my experience without compromising any PMI ethics violations. I presented it to my fellow peers and they enjoyed it. I thought posting it in Linkedin with additional background information will enable others to enjoy it too. By the way, it is best to view the slide deck in presentation mode. If you have any questions or need additional tips, send me an email via LinkedIN. Good luck in your PMP certification! Best Regards,Hector

2. PMP Exam Experience and Lessons Learned What it felt like after passing! PMP Exam By Hector Fundora,PMP, MBA, ITIL, BSEE, Green Belt Candidate

4. Recommendations

5. Key Topics – What should you focus on?

6. Brain Dump – What I did and how to use it effectively

7. Summary

9. The rooms of the Deerfield, IL Prometric Testing Center looks like this: Room #3: Sign in again, And review rules Room #4: Testing Room Room #2 – Sitting & Sign in area Room #1 – Reception Area Essentially you feel like a cow getting ready for slaughter as you go from room to room.

10. Details of the big Day of Exam– What happened? 12:45pm – 1:00pm Did my brain dump as soon as the timer for the tutorial was started by the Prometric person. Finished in 12 minutes and then clicked enter to start the exam. 1:00pm – 3:30pm Completed all 200 questions and I marked the ones that I was not 100% sure I had correct as I did them. (2.5 hours) 3:30pm – 4:30pm Reviewed all my 70 marked questions. I wrote down how many questions I knew were not 100% certain to be correct and already knew I had a high probability of passing the exam. 4:30pm – 4:45pm Reviewed all questions quickly. Then click to submit my answers. 4:45pm – 4:46pm The screen goes blank for a few seconds and it was very NERVE RACKING! Then…..

11. …you get a survey questionnaire about your testing experience. Then…

12. “Congratulations you have passed the PMP exam. ….bla bla bla” Then you hand in your notes to the guy in room #3. He gives you the examination report. Be careful driving home because it will be rush hour traffic and you are just freakin exhausted.

14. Key Topics – What should you focus on? 1) Once you memorized the 9 knowledge areas X 5 process groups plus do a number of practice exams: - Start understanding how the inputs and outputs of the processes are interconnected. Skim Rita’s book to give you a better understanding. 2) Don’t forget to understand AOA, see Rita’s book. 3) Planning session does have higher percentage of questions. 4) Continue to understand why you got a problem wrong when you do a Self-test practice. The knowledge and understanding you gain will help in the real exam questions.

15. Here is exactly what my brain dump looked like on the first page: Brain Dump PMIS CMS CC Contract CV = EV – AC PERT=(P+O+4ML)/6 SV = EV – PV St.Dev= (P-O)/6 CPI = EV/AC Var.=((P-O)/6)squared SPI = EV/PV FV=PV(1+i)raised to N BCWP = EV ACWP = AC BCWS = PV TCPI = (BAC-EV)/(BAC-AC) VAC=BAC-EAC %VAC=(VAC/BAC)*100 EV=%complete*BAC “Typical” EAC=BAC/CPI or ETC=(BAC-EV)/CPI “Atypical” EAC=AC+(BAC-EV)=AC+ETCnew or ETC=BAC-EV “CPI Negative w/schedule same” EAC=(BAC-EV)/(BAC-AC) N(N-1)/2 LS LF ES EF 1stdev=68% 2stdev=95% 3stdev=99.7% 6stdev=99.9% EF=ES+DUR-1 LS=LF-DUR+1

16. Brain Dump Here is exactly what my brain dump looked like on the back page: (see background slides for tips) Project Charter Scope Baseline Stakeholder Register Note: Try to add as many details as you can remember!

18. BACKGROUND

19. How to memorize the 9X5 (9-knowledge area by 5processes) Tips: 1) Knowledge areas sentence to remember: “I saw two chipmunks quietly having coffee reading poetry” the first letters of this statement correspond to the 9 areas. 6 5 6 3 3 4 5 6 4 2) Process group acronym to remember: “I.P.E.C.C” 3) Noticed that processes has same name as 9X5 headers. (see underlined letters) 4) Start with single letters (see diagram at right), then memorize the rest of process word entry. I found it very easy to memorize the Initiation and Closing processes first. 5) Time and Risk has 5 processes. Time: “D SEED” takes time to plan Risk: “PIPPP” planned to monitor Michael. (as in Scottie Pippen is planning to monitor and control Michael Jordon) 6) The number of processes by rows and columns ensure you did not miss any items. 2 20 8 10 2 42 entries