PMP Lessons Learned: PMP Questions are Difficult but Solvable

Good news keep coming! Thanks and congratulations to Aswathy Viswambharan who just passed the PMP Exam! Before the massive changes to the PMP Exam mid next year, it is high time to begin your PMP certification journey right now!

The lessons learned by Aswathy Viswambharan on this PMP Exam prep project is detailed below:

My PMP Story begins with Simplilearn virtual class room 36 Hours. I started on July 13th, and I also started using there slides get an overview of the Exam content. Also took membership with PMI and bought PMBOK® Guide digital version. First 15-20 days, I got an overall idea of each knowledge area and process groups.

I was curious to see how much I understand. So I attend my First mock test of Simplilearn (which is also part of the package) and the score was 40%. I have decided to beat it, and prepared a plan to deep dive each topic in another 10-15 days.

Went through the PMBOK® Guide in more detailed way, understand the concept of ITTO for each processes. Went through my wrong answers and attend a new mock test. Thank God, I scored 68%. This increased my confidence level. So I have scheduled my Exam on October 14th.

Hardly One and half month to go. Next, I started preparing my own notes, graphical representation of ideas, connectivity of processes and formulas. I went through the PMBOK® Guide again with more focus on ITTO. Almost three weeks before the exam, the next Mock test scored 77%.

During this period I want to see whether this score Ok to go on. I searched internet and I found this website. Thank you so much Edward once again. I tried all the free mock test and score average was 73-75%.

Now, I have used everything from this website to close my knowledge gaps.

• Glossary
• Confusing Terms
• EVM Formulas and Practice questions
• Edward’s PMP Study notes.

With God’s grace I have passed my PMP Exam on my first try, October14th.

My Tips to other Aspirants:

• You use PMBOK® Guide as your story book to understand things. It contains everything . I didn’t get any questions from outside PMBOK® Guide.
• Understand things by repetitive reading. Do not try to memorize things.
• ITTO is very important, you should understand in a conceptual point of view rather than memorizing.
• Prepare your own notes to understand ITTO and other important concepts.
• Questions are difficult, but you will be able to find answer from your conceptual understanding.
• Stop attending Mock test a week before your exam. This will affect your confidence level.
• During the day before Exam, just use your own notes to recollect things. Do not try to study anything new during this time.
• Relax and Go for the Exam with full confidence.
• During the Exam time, first 50-70 questions was really tough for me. Do not loose your attention and confidence. Easy questions are yet to come!
• Check your remaining time and plan to reach question number accordingly. For me I lost most of the time in first 70 questions. That should not happen. You should pick an answer, mark for review and go on!

Last but not the least, don’t worry about all these lessons learned compare to your own preparation. Get the best things from all the post and and make your own plan suits your strength and weakness and that will be the best!

And try to imaging the ‘Congratulations’ screen after the exam and plan for your celebrations. This will definitely improve your motivation.

All the best!

Edward, apologize for the long story

~ Aswathy Viswambharan, PMP

Thanks Aswathy Viswambharan for the PMP Exam lessons learned!