PMP study group

[metroguy]

I think quite a few people are interested in getting certified.

I will be away for the most part of Feb. Once I am back, I will contact all the interested parties and we can get the ball rolling.

I am a member of PMI and ex-member of SPMI. I know a few people who are still active in SPMI. We can all help each other to reach the ultimate goal...the PMP certification.

Cheers!
MG.

[sm2009]

Thnxfor the prompt reply...... I checked the site, and got a lot of information about how to register for the exams and what to expect and much more.
However, one thing is not clear. If I take the membership suggested by you, what are the benefits?
Will I be meeting the other people who are studying for the exams?
Since I am working, I am available only on Sat and Sun. Do the members meetup regularly at Bukit Timah for discussions? I have this doubt since I saw some dinner and other events organised for members in the site, which I am not actually interested in and also donot have much time for it.

Please suggest if it is worth taking a membership with only PMI certification as the goal.

regards

[metroguy]

I think the events organized by SPMI give you great opportunities to know other members, both PMP certified and wannabes. You can then form your own group of those preparing and arrange your own group study sessions.

As far as I know, SPMI doesn't have any meet-ups for those who want to get certified. I could be wrong. When I first joined PMI, I opted for SPMI membership as well, though it was at an additional cost of $40. I was hoping that SPMI would organize something for those preparing for PMP.

I attended a few of those dinner events and got to know a few people, some certified and some preparing for.

[Strong Eagle]

The SPMI has in the past, organized PMP study sessions. It really depends upon the call by the membership for such a program, and the willingness of a volunteer to organize it.

[metroguy]

Thanks for the info SE.

I'll check with SPMI to see if they can organize one for us in 2009. I don't mind to volunteer.

I may have to re-join SPMI

Cheers.

[sm2009]

hi,
pls let me know as well, when you do so, if you dont mind me joining...... I would like to join to study, and I would love to be a part of a group who is into PMI only from the exam point of view......
I would like to be able to appear for the xams within the next 5months.... Please let know if your target is also around the same time.....

regards

[metroguy]

Well,

My current PMI membership is until June'09. Hoping to get certified by then.

I will drop you a line once I have talked to SPMI.

[sm2009]

thnxfor the prompt reply....... I will wait for your message....

regards

[sm2009]

It's been a longtime and I didnt hear from you yet. Please do let know what you planning to do and whether you are still interested in PMP......
I am planning to join PMP course this month (march end). Anyone interested, pls do let know, as it may help in group studying, sharing materials from different institutes and also in getting discounts.
for more info pls send me a message or reply here.

regards,
SM

[metroguy]

still travelling. Will be back by end March.

[MaumitaBiswas]

still travelling. Will be back by end March.

Hi all

Kindly take note that the PMP exam is going to change starting from July 2009. The new exam will be based on the PMBOK 4th edition.

This may not impact you in a big way but there will certainly be differences. With each new edition that PMI releases, the content is updated to reflect the latest in project management. If you have been studying based on the 3rd edition, my recommendation is to take the exam within July 2009.

The new edition has a different naming of the processes. They have used the verb - noun (example: estimate-costs) for all the processes. Considering there are over 40 processes, participants may get confused if they have studies the 3rd edition and take the exam after July.

For those studying for the exam and dont have much time to go through everything, here are a few tips:

1. Get your Earned Value concepts right. The exam will have aound 21% of the questions coming from the monitoring & controlling process group.

2. Use process of elimination as much as possible. Read the question, eliminate the obvious wrong answers, choose between the remaining ones.

3. Get your concepts on the different tools used for Schedule Development right (CPM, Critical Chain, Resource leveling etc.,)

4. PMI is big on terminology. When you see a term, try to remember if you have come across the term in the PMBOK.

5. A few of the situational questions can be very lengthy and daunting. However, read through carefully and you may find the answer to be easier that it looks.

6. Get very familiar with Page 70 on the PMBOK guide third edition. My recommendation is that you DONT memorize it. Rather, try to fit each process into respective process group and knowledge area by UNDERSTANDING the process. (Example: Process Activity Definition. What does this process mean?, which knowledge area is it likely to be in?, Which process group is it likely to fall?) The process is about defining a set of activities, hence it is a planning process group. activities are definied so that duration can be estimated, hence time management knowledge area.

edited to remove obvious solicitation - moderator

Cheers,

ikompass

[metroguy]

Hi SM,

Here you go!

Finally, the PMP preparation boot camp is being organized by SPMI. Details are below.

I'm typing this reply from Sydney. I wish I do not need to travel for a few months, so that I could concentrate on my PMP study.



One-Day PMP Prep Boot Camp


April 21st 2009
Special Announcement
One-Day PMP Prep Boot Camp - Saturday, May 2nd 2009, 9 am to 5 pm
Due to overwhelming demand and requests from our members for more of the PMP Prep Boot Camp (the last two were held on February 28th and March 28th 2009), we have decided to hold the last Boot Camp based on the current syllabus using PMBOK Version 3 on May 2nd 2009. The new syllabus will take effect from June 2009 for students preparing for the September PMP Exams.

This Boot Camp aims to help the young PMP Aspirants in facilitating their exam preparation.

Date: Saturday May 2nd 2009
Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: School of Economics and Social Sciences, SMU, 90 Stamford Road, #04-71, Seminar Room 4.3 (walking distance from Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Fees: 80 SGD for SPMI members, 200 SGD for non-SPMI members
Facilitator: Ms. Lavanya Arul, PMP, PMI-SP, CSOEP, ITIL V3 (F), MCSD, OCA

Miss Lavanya has worked for a couple of MNC's in Projects and now is into full time training. She has traveled around the Asia-pac region to deliver training and has conducted training for more than 6000 students world wide. Her knowledge and expertise has guided many students to clear the PMP examination with ease.
Limited Seats. Register Early to Avoid Disappointment. Click Here to register for the event. Additionally you can visit www.pmi.org.sg and select the event listed on the homepage.
PMI Singapore Chapter Executive Committee
Education & Certification Committee
Lavanya Arul (Chair), Pradeep Mulky (Co-Chair), Tan Kim Khim (Co-Chair)

[batliwala]

Providing below a break up of my observations and inputs which helped me and I guess will help future aspirants too. This was my first attempt at PMP, was nervous all along with time hitting my nerves all through my rolling wave planned journey for PMP preparation.

Time Distribution :
Total Time : Approx 3 months ( 2hrs weekdays/ 3- 4 hrs weekends mainly took exams).
PMP training course : PMP prepcast cost me USD50 dollars to sign up and take the test after 2 weeks of preparation to get my 35 contact hrs. Thumbs Up from my side, excellent and cheap way to Grasp the PMIism with easy to learn concepts from Cornelius Fischner

Read thru PMBOK : 20 days ( 2 readings) - Alternately with 2 readings through of Rita MUlcahy PMP book. Listened to PrepCast on the move, while jogging, travelling to work on those topics I completed readings for the day.

Read Thru Rita Mulcahy PMP book : 20 days ( 2 readings )- First PMBOK then Rita Mulcahy alternate 2 cycles. Listened to PrepCast on the move, while jogging, travelling to work on those topics I completed readings for the day.


Only took tests and studied from Short notes : Last 20 days ( tests at every lesson ending of Rita Mulcahy from Rita , in case of PMBOK did
tests from various freely available test materia, Only tests from various
materials during last 20 days )
Last 3 days : Only scratching thru all notes , PMBOK glossary , JIMBOK, Rajesh, Sridhar Peddisetty notes, Benoit Aumars study notes, GUNA's ITTO software

Study material and usage / purpose :

1. PMBOK : for very basic level understanding and getting along with PMI glossary and understanding the PMI approach.
2. PMP Exam Prepare Prep by Rita Mulcahy : For getting grasp on PMIsm and building application understanding of what is
there in PMBOK
3. Head first PMP book : For casual read on selective topic incase I observed any weakness during tests.
4 . PMP book by ANDY Crowe - Velociteach : For casual read on selective topic if I observed some thing was missing

5. Pradeep Rani material from this website : Getting on with smart capsules in last three days .
6 . Guna's software for processes : By far the best to revise ITTO ...dont miss on it it pulled me thru 30 %
7. Sridhar Peddisetty's notes on Blog spot : Real final reviews of PMI terms along with PMBOK glossary ..mind you juss get it just fantastic to be done on last day for better grasp and formatting of your brain for the final asault. Glad I found him..
8 JIMBOK notes from PMIHUB : excellent notes for final formatting of your brain one day before taking up the tests
9 Oliver Lehmann : 75 tests and 175 questions in last week to judge your prepared ness. Hmmm....some tough q's make you pull and scratch your hair he he...
10. PMstudy free tests : 4 days before test to judge your preparedness. Good material just get it.
11. 200 questions test from headfirst : 5 days before test to judge preparedness. Glad I went through them
12. 200 QnA's from PMI website reading reference section. simply fantastic a couple of days before your final assault. Damn close in difficulty to real test. Dont miss this.....worked like charm for me.
13. Delegation by Verma from PMI website reading/references..read it in last week ..and glad i did read it to get the extras found nowhere else on this planet.


My review on tests and their closeness to overall exam :

1. PM study : Damn close in terms of difficulty level - I scored 85%
2. Oliver lehmann : Gets overboard with difficulty sometimes ..nice for a stress test to remind you of height of pain : I scored 74 %
3. PMP prep by Rita Mulcahy : A inch lower than actual test but yes it builds a good base to learn how to apply what you
learned - I scored in my 80 ish here
4. headfirst test : Two Inch below than actual test level - 88% I scored here
5 PMI 200 QnA Damn close to actual test - I scored 90 % here
6 . Andy crowe book : Much easier ..a good only for warm up and feel good feeling for extra confidence and motivation to get going - 90+% is what i scored
7. Kim Hieldman questions : My goodness made me squeak and squirm and go into hiding. Some nice googlies here a twist and tale there ...- hits you on your toe and makes you wonder whether you are still alive. but yess makes you better prepared for details while reading questions and interpreting them : Tough one take it atleast 20 days before your final exam or if done later will hit your confidence .


Believe me it was always fun to do read through of books and take tests make sure you mark your percentage everytime and record it some where .for analysing what are your hot sweet spots and weak spots .gives you confidence and tells you which corners are still rusty (bheja fry).

MY strategy was .. read books and notes when I can focus.. means no disturbance with ears totally plugged, when you know you cannot read for long or someone will disturb you intermittently or simply PMBOK sounds a sleeping pill take tests or listen to ERIC NEILson free lunchtime lessson available on PMHUB ..simply refreshes you and builds your interest in those wordy lessons .

You might ask me why I read so much a variety of material and tests ..not everything on test is there in one single book and not every perspective with which you can look at those 44 pieces of puzzle are all avialable in one book . Other than Rita and PMBOK book just browse others to catch up with any new term or word .

And the biggest to do or not to do question : Should I mug up ITTO ...or not ...I guess better you do I had 30% on it . 15% on Tool and technique and 15% on input output . But ITTO helps you in applying yourself during answering the questions. Giving below my shortcuts to remember Tools and tech , for Input output better understand logical flow from one process to another .I guess some I got from LLs here on PMhub and Some from PMzilla website. Overall to improve in this field constantly listen to Prepcast, Lunchtime Lessons to leave an imprint of must know concepts on my grey matter. Also get the PM Zilla brain dump material excellent tricks to Memorise the ITTOs the easy and fun way.

1.Scope Planning - E T ( Stevens movie remember that Cycle shadow on the Moon ..that one )
2.Scope Definition : A P E S ( hmm thats begining of Human definition)
3. Create WBS : T D ( technical definition ...)
4. Activity Definition : PERT-D
5. Activity Sequenccing : SAPAD ( If your are from Chennai you know this )
6.Activity resource estimate : BEAPP ( it sounds as a horn )
7 Activity Duration estimate : TAPER
8. Cost Budgeting : CRPF ( Indian federal reserve force )
9. Quality Planning : ABCD ..juss add one more C too
10. Quality Control : Crow FLies Higher Peacock Runs Scattering Charm ..add Inspection to it
11. HR planning : NOO
12. HR Aquire team : PAVN ( Somthing like PAWN)
13 HR manage team : COPI ( fav Singaporean drink KOPI)
14 risk identification : CADDI ( A caddi identifies risk in GOLF )
15 risk qualification : CUPID ( hmm ..)
16 Risk Quantification : ID ( yess your ID )
Use GUNA's software extensively here ..and I am sure you will get comfortable with it .

About Exam :

1. Stay fresh ..take rest one day before exam ..juss a read thru with JIMBOK and Sridhar peddisettys / ERic neilsons lunch time lessons / PM zilla brain dump tricks material will keep you warm for exam .
2. Take your 2 Ids (PHoto id + singnature Id)..and exam appointment note
3. Once at center get in groove by taking a stroll in their lobby or juss get your body relaxed. Drink water or a REDBULL anything that can keep you fresh and full of energy.
4. Into the exam ..take the 15 minutes tutorial..I dumped PMBOK page 70 and EV formulae and Sigma values ..do it , this helps you to stay focus in test as you dont need to fly faar off from your flow during tests.
5. Go ahead take the test BEST OF LUCK ..the real fun starts here . I observed it was bit warm till 50th question got tougher from 50 to 150 then tapered off ..a generic trend I felt ..not necessary everyone will feel it the same way, but there are some tricks to do a forward and backward pass through the questions.
6. not many lengthy ones for me ..lots on Quality and the practice tests told me I was weak there so now i was much prepare and hit them strong ..practice seriously and find your gaps ..it helps it did it for me.
7. The ethics and professional responsibility were chalanging and SADLY i did only study on notes and tests ...I didnt read the actually PMI doc in detail ..this caught up with me in test as some questions were directly on clauses ..
8. Finished answering all in 3 hours 40 minutes wth 5 minutes break at 80 / 170 questions ..then reviewed some questions ..and waited for exam to time out ..
9. The feedback for test center appeared ..it was all fine for me at Prometric center except for the constantly flickering CRT monitor/ non adjustable seat and drumming sound from a nearby test taker (put on the ear plugh). I wish I could have taken my antiglare lenses.
10 . the results came : I cleared with Planning , Exec and COntrol /Monitor as ..Proefficient and rest as Moderately proefficient ..Initiation , close and Ethics .

Anything I can do differently in next birth for this test : Nah I really had nothing to quote on Cause and effect Diagram if I had missed it on first attempt ..yeah plz read the ethics claause for sure .

That sums up all my journey here ..
Good luck Guys enjoy the journey its a Fun and lots of learning too ..I am there to give a peek anytime you need from my experience . BTW join PMHUB website for all the freebies available over there.

Thanks

[BlurGirl]

PMP $2800+ quite expensive hmmm....I'm trying to get my company to pay for it..hahahaha..

I graduated with diploma in electonics engineering and I thought of getting a degree...I'm torn in between the two options...

1) Bachelor of EEE in NUS?
2) Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business Management in SIM?

Does anyone know what type of degree can complement well with PMP certification? I need help ..............Please advise me..

Thanks.

[Strong Eagle]

Yes, the courses that really work and can guarantee that you will pass do cost a lot of money. But as a citizen or PR most of these courses also qualify for tuition assistance.

But, do you even qualify for a PMP? Either degree will qualify you for a PMP but do you have the experience requirement?

With a qualified degree you need at least 3 years of experience and 4500 hours of direct project management experience. Without a degree you need 5 years and 7500 hours of experience.