posted May 14, 2010 5:23 AM by M Gurunath
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updated May 14, 2010 2:40 PM
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When I am writing this, I am making references to Mumbais Prometric center perspective, it might be different for other centers.
In case you dont know where it is, and didnt have the time to visit the site before hand, then it is a bit difficult to figure out. Atleast in my case, I got a bit panicky since I was heavily dependent on Google Maps for help, and I couldn't find it.
But then Wikimapia came to my rescue. This is the link for finding the place.
Here are some tips : - Plan to reach atleast an hour earlier. In my case, exam was scheduled for 1 pm but I was asked to be ready by 12.30 pm
- If you plan to study after reaching the center (like other exams), its not going to happen. They dont allow that.
- You dont require pen, pencil, watch, calculator or any other material to be carried into the test center.
- You would have to empty your pockets before you go in.
- You would be provided a locker for your material
- Most importantly, carry two proofs of IDs, even though the mail says they require just one (Passport & Pancard in my case). This and your locker key are the only things that you are allowed to carry inside (not even your kerchief)
- If you brought some food stuff to eat during the breaks you plan to take (of course exam time would be running), that has be kept separately outside not in the locker.
- Goes without saying you cant carry your mobile, and it should be off or silent in your locker
Once they call you inside for the test - You will have to present your id, and sign in-time (and sign out time) each time you walk in or out of the place
- You would be provided with two pencils, calculator and a rough sheet booklet (For Seema, it does contain 6 sheets and they do take them back if you ask for more and at the end of the exam:) )
- You would be provided instructions on how to answer questions
- All this and the four hours of exam is audio and video recorded
During the exam - First when they turn on the machine, you would be asked if your name is the same as they expect, click Yes
- From now on your name appears on the top of the screen
- There is also a Headset which you can wear, its best to use it.It blocks out all other noise from outside and helps concentrate. In my case it was a blessing, the lady in next cubicle had the habit to read question aloud!!!
- They provide a tutorial on how to answer the exam, if you had used Fast Track you already know how it works. It is for 15 mins, so go till the last slide(it wont take more than 5 mins), but dont click "End" use that time to dump all the things you want dump on rough sheet (typically formulas, difficult/important ITTOs, points to remember...anything that weighs in your mind). This frees up your mind for concentrating on the exam
- After the 15 mins, there is no other alert, your exam starts, first question pops on the screen
- Read the questions slowly till the end
- Read ALL answers given
- Use technique you developed for reading wordy questions (Read answers first, read last line of question first, what ever works for you)
- Dont hesitate to mark questions for review, its better safe than sorry
- In my opinion, first 20 questions are the toughest and take most time to answer (this is what I faced and I received feedback from others too), so do not worry about time or get nervous because you cant answer
- Dont leave any question unanswered. Even if you dont know, guess answer and mark the question
- Again from my interviews with others and my own experience, 4 hours for answers is much more than is required. So dont worry about time.
- Typically it takes no more than 2.5 hours to answer all questions.
- After first round, do not get dejected if you marked many questions or dont have confidence about many questions. Remember 25 questions are dummy questions, and that is a LOT
- Start next round use the "Review all marked questions" option, this typically goes fast. You might be surprised why you marked some obvious questions in the first round. This might happen because you were thinking about the previous question when answering the first time.
- This round typically eliminates more than 60% marked questions.
- You might still have time left. Do not finish the exam.
- Review the marked questions again, these are the real complex ones. You might have sudden brain waves, or remember an funny incident relating to this topic and you might get the answer.
- At the end of exam, you still might have marked questions. Dont worry it doesnt effect your grading process
After the Exam- To increase the anxiety, they dont display the result immediately. They display a survey at the end, regarding the center etc.
- You may choose to end it, or complete it
- Once thats done, the screen goes BLANK. That is expected behaviour dont panic.
- Then it displays "Congratulations ... ". I didnt read the rest part. This means all the hours and hours of preparation, the tradeoffs you made to your precious time has bore sweet fruit and you are now PMP CERTIFIED
- Call the supervisor, he/she does the rest.
- You are required to sign out.
- Supervisor congratulates you, gives you a print out that is to be used as a certificate till you receive it from PMI (which they say takes 6 weeks)
- On they way out empty your locker, and dont forget to take any eatables you carried (I forgot this part :( )
WALK OUT PMP CERTIFIED :) |
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