Debra's 10-23 Post Test Brain Dump

I'm happy to announce that as of Friday, October 22nd Debra Evans passed the Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification test. Woo Hoo! I didn't score as highly as I wanted, but I PASSED.

Thanks to Raj Ganesan and others for their support and help over my ordeal that began earlier in summer 2004.

Below is some of my advice to Raj regarding her last 3 weeks plus of studying:

• The last few weeks, concentrate on taking the assessment tests over and over.
  - Mainly to get used to getting through 200 questions in 4 hours
  - Helps you know what to concentrate on for the last hours before the test
  
• I went through the test the first time in about 2 hours
  - 3rd hour spent going through the questions I skipped or marked to go back to
  - 4th hour spent going through the whole test again from beginning to end
  
• The test seemed to be a combination of materials from sources other than just the PMBOK
  - PMStudy, http://www.pmstudy.com/
  - Kim Heldman's PMP: Project Management Professional Study Guide, 2nd Edition
  - Rita Mulcahy's PM FASTrack: PMP Exam Simulation Software, Version 4.3
  (check my eBay auction to see if mine's still available)
  - University of California, Santa Cruz extension, Project and Program Management certification classes
• Don't neglect the ITTOs (inputs, tools and techniques and outputs) since there are literally thousands of variations they can ask you about
  
• There was quite a few questions on content not in the PMBOK but in the study guides.
  - That's why it's important to get study materials and not just memorize the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
  
• Take a trip to the testing facility, Prometric, in advance to get a "lay of the land" if you get nervous about such things.
  - You can get facility information when you sign up for the test.
  - Bring two picture IDs and your letter that confirms you can take the test.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TEST!