This weekend I planned out my PMP study schedule, considering there are five weeks until I take my PMP certification exam.  For three weeks I’ll concentrate on reading the materials and books I received through the preparation course.  The last two weeks I’ll focus on the areas that are less clear to me as I study, practice formula calculations and answer the sample exam questions in both the Key Consulting binder and Rita Mulcahy’s exam preparation book.

During my lunch breaks at work, I’m thumbing through the PMI PMBOK Guide.   It can be a bit dry and boring to read, despite having important content.  I wish I’d brought it home on the weekend, since the binder (including a compilation of the PowerPoint slides used to present the material in the class I took) has pages that reference the PMBOK Guide.   The Key Consulting binder includes an outline format, that is a relatively fast way to skim through chunks of exam preparation.

Rita Mulcahy’s book, as to be expected, is intense but consumer friendly.  It takes a good amount of time to really concentrate on all the information provided in each chapter.   On the other hand, it’s enjoyable to read and every chapter is broken down into components that help me learn.   Based on this weekend’s experience, I can’t expect to read and retain the information in more than one chapter in Rita Mulcahy’s book per day.  It will be important to carve out more time than just Saturdays and Sundays to study the chapters in her book.