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Gauge readiness to take the exam

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Vipin Verma Project Supervisor| Infinite Computer Solutions Pte Ltd Singapore, Singapore
Need guidance on taking PMP exam. I started preparations with an online course for 35 contact hours and to kickstart the preparations in July. I have a hectic work schedule that leaves very less time over weekdays to devote time for study and at times have to look at work over weekend as well. I finished the online course mid-Aug and started reading Rita Mulcahy. I finished reading quality and found it difficult as compare to all other Knowledge Areas. My initial intension was to take the exam mid-Oct but I am clearly behind schedule. I will be pushing the exam to mid-Nov instead. I am taking 20-30 PMchallenge questions daily and have correctly answered some 750 questions since July. I am also using PMwars feature with score in rage of 9-12. After Rita, I have plan to read Agile Practice Guide and will look at 49 Processes from PMBOK guide (not planning to read PMBOK page-by-page). I have already read the scrum guide and also "loosely" practicing scrum at work, handling the role of a PO in a small operations team. My PMP application is approved and the next step would be to make fees payment and then book exam slot. I am inclined towards appearing for exam at a test centre.

Since I already took 3 months and may require another 1-2 months before I sit for the exam, I fear I am forgetting some of the terms and concepts that I read several days ago. I want to ask you for suggestions on how I should prepare for the certification with constraint that limits my study time to weekends minus time with two small toddlers. I feel I have enough to read but no time in hand for continuous study. What should be my approach on the material that I have read, so that I can retain enough to succeed in exam. Should I consider prepcast? My organizations learning portal do have some sample exams available that I can use.
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Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
Community Champion
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace Corps Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon
just add up some little more effort...
you will make it
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Vipin -

I'd suggest taking a quality full length practice exam from a reputable provider and see how you do. If you score in the mid-80s or higher, you are likely good to go!

Kiron
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1 reply by Danielle Bolden
Nov 17, 2021 11:50 AM
Danielle Bolden
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Kiron, I notice your answers on most threads and you give really good advice. I am appreciative coming from a begginer
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Danielle Bolden Crestwood, Il, United States
Sep 29, 2021 7:43 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Vipin -

I'd suggest taking a quality full length practice exam from a reputable provider and see how you do. If you score in the mid-80s or higher, you are likely good to go!

Kiron
Kiron, I notice your answers on most threads and you give really good advice. I am appreciative coming from a begginer
...
1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Nov 17, 2021 3:00 PM
Kiron Bondale
...
Thanks Danielle - those of us who have been working in the profession for many years are just paying it back as we were all helped earlier in our careers by one or more seasoned practitioners.

Good luck with your PMP aspirations!

Kiron
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Nov 17, 2021 11:50 AM
Replying to Danielle Bolden
...
Kiron, I notice your answers on most threads and you give really good advice. I am appreciative coming from a begginer
Thanks Danielle - those of us who have been working in the profession for many years are just paying it back as we were all helped earlier in our careers by one or more seasoned practitioners.

Good luck with your PMP aspirations!

Kiron
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Hector Ojeda Project Manager Tampa Bay Area, FL, United States
I read Rita's book and learned her layout for processes. What benefited me the most was taking the chapter exams on Rita's book (and other books as well as some free online sources). I would take the exams and review anything I got wrong. I attempted to UNDERSTAND why I got it wrong: Did I not understand the concepts? - Go back, read again. Was it a mistake induced by the wording of the question? I would make a note of it and understand the reasoning behind the verbiage.

I also downloaded an app that gave me random questions. You are right DO NOT read the PMBOK! Understand the verbiage of the questions, learn to look for buzzwords, and understand the overall process. Not sure how it goes now with the new PMBOK version. I took the exam 18 months ago and it helped to print out a HUGE poster of how all the processes fed into each other. I did not try to memorize it, I would just stare at it and trace it with my eyes in a logical sequence (like Rita's process).

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