Passed the PMP

bcairns

Passed the PMP yesterday with:

Initiation: Proficient
Planning: Moderately Proficient
Executing: Moderately Proficient
Monitoring and Controlling: Moderately Proficient
Closing: Moderately Proficient

Spent about four months studying, had to take a break as I had corrective eye surgery and needed to heal.

I took the entire four hours on the exam, I am sure it could be done faster, my eyes were bothering me and I had to read slow.

Books and Materials:

PMP Exam Prep, Seventh Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam Paperback – July 11, 2011
by Rita Mulcahy
ISBN-13: 978-1932735413
ISBN-10: 1932735410

PMP Exam Prep, Eighth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam Paperback – June 12, 2013
by Rita Mulcahy
ISBN-13: 978-1932735659
ISBN-10: 1932735658

The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try, Fifth Edition Paperback – June 15, 2013
by Andy Crowe PMP PgMP
ISBN-13: 978-0982760857
ISBN-10: 098276085X

McGraw-Hill's PMP Certification Mathematics with CD-ROM Paperback – February 25, 2010
by Vidya Subramanian, Ravi Ramachandran
ISBN-13: 978-0071633055
ISBN-10: 0071633057

I had both versions of Rita's book, have had the 7th edition for years just never got around to it, then the PMBOK changed so I got her new book along with Andy Crowe's book and the PMP math book.

I also joined PMI as I could get the PMBOK and a discount on the exam.

Have to say - Rita's books are perfect, if you have the 7th edition, it's probably enough to take the exam, but there is new material in the 8th.

Andy's book while informative was not really very helpful compared to Rita's - it was just a user friendly version of the PMBOK.

I thought the math book was a total waste of time...until I took the exam...that math book helped me immensely...there was only one question I was stumped on and I am confident I was able to make a good guess. (I simply forgot the formula).

As I am sure others have echoed - Rita's book is an amazing resource - don't just read it - learn it, live it, know it forward and backwards.

zxbane

Congrats! I am actually studying for the exam myself right now and I am using Rita's 8th ed. I am glad I didn't pick up the Andy Crowe book after reading your review. I just finished my first pass through Rita 8th ed and am almost done listening to the PMPrepCast. I am going to look into the McGraw-Hill's PMP CD you mentioned because I know the math questions will trip me up.