PMI-PBA: Upholding the Impeccability of My Word

After scoring only 55% November 18^th, I promised myself that I would improve my performance by addressing my weaknesses and taking a full 200-problem practice exam by November 30, 2014 to decide if I am good enough to pass the PMI-PBA exam. This promise stems from reading the Four Agreements book. Ensuring the impeccability of your word is the book’s first agreement. Regardless of what is going on in my life, I will take the full practice exam by November 30^th and see where I am at. I need a 61% to pass the PMI-PBA exam. My personal goal is to score above 75% before test date to give me sufficient wiggle room.

Well, I have scored 67% on my first PMI-PBA 200-problem practice test. This is a 12% improvement from the November 18^th 55% 100-problem drill.  Outlining PMBOK chapter 5, 8 and BABOK chapter 9 have helped me immensely. I know that I am on the right track and will now reread BABOK chapter 9 writing down every technique’s definitions and outline BABOK chapter 3 (elicitation) because there are so many problems on it. Therefore, I will do this Tuesday since Monday PMI is releasing the practice guide. I am just happy to get over the hump and face my fears. Now I know that I will pass the PMI-PBA certification exam fulfilling my 2014 end-of-year goals. 

This Week in PMI-PBA Studies

                This week I will be doing something every day towards working closer towards my PMI-PBA certification. I will continue outlining PMBOK chapter 5 and BABOK chapter 6, take the RMC chapter 5 knowledge area quiz, another Watermark Learning PMI-PBA traceability & monitoring drill after outlining BABOK chapter 6, and a 100-question practice PMI-PBA exam. Furthermore, I will look at what the PMI-PBA LinkedIn study group feedback is once PMI makes the test scores available. I will learn from their mistakes and recalibrate my studies in order to better prepare. Moreover, this is the week before PMI publishes its own Business Analysis Practice Guide which will be available online October 28^th. I am working this week on positioning myself towards improving my PMI-PBA traceability knowledge and overall score by the time this PMI publication gets released. 

This Week in PMI-PBA Certification Study

                 I have made significant PMI-PBA progress. I have outlined BABOK chapter 4 and taken my first traceability & monitoring drill. I am glad that I have done this because the drill has forced me review BABOK chapter 4 and pay more attention to BABOK chapter 6 and PMBOK chapter 11. Having earned my PMP certification using PMBOK fourth edition instead of the fifth edition, I am unfamiliar with the new edition. I must master this PMBOK fifth edition to pass the exam. I will write down PMBOK page 61 twice a day plus write down all of the chapter 11 risk management processes.

                The next week is essential towards preparing the October 28^th Business Analysis Practice Guide publication. I will finish outlining BABOK chapter 6, PMBOK chapter 11 and take another traceability & monitoring drill plus another practice exam. When October 28^th rolls around, I will be well-positioned to incorporate the practice guide and pass the PMI-PBA exam the first time.

PMI-PBA Self-Investment and Learning that PMI Will Publish a Business Analysis Practice Guide

                Buying the Business Analyst’s Mentor Book is my best PMI-PBA investment thus far because it deciphers all of the business analysis jargon into understandable concepts. I have read 41 pages. Even though I am resting my fingers, I do see myself completing another 41 pages tomorrow and finishing the book by Wednesday when my physical book arrives.  When I get the physical book, I will reread the book and write down anything this is new. I might even write down BABOK definitions to incorporate the formal business lexicon that is on the PMI-PBA exam.  I know that this Handbook will increase my PMI-PBA online exam score. This week when I take another 50-question practice exam, I will score over 75%.  I have to because I am working on improving my scores.

                Furthermore, I have learned through my LinkedIn PMI-PBA study group that PMI will publish its Business Analysis Practice Guide online on October 28^th.  It’ll be free. In between now and then, I will read Business Analyst’s Mentor Book, BABOK, and PMBOK chapters 5, 6, 8, 10, 13. I am will be well-read and prepared to read the PMI guide. I know that following this plan gives me a very good chance of passing the PMI-PBA exam the first time.

Summoning the Strength to Review My First PMI-PBA Online Exam Results

                I have summoned the strength to rise above my muscular soreness to start writing down all of my PMI-PBA online exam wrong answers. Writing them down by hand makes me reread the questions and understand the reasons behind the right answers. I also have discovered that I need to learn more of the business analysis terminology and reread PMBOK fifth edition chapters 5, 6, 8, 10 and 13. In a LinkedIn PMI-PBA preparation group most test takers say that they’ve studied chapters 5 (scope management), 8 (quality management) and 13 (stakeholder management). However, while doing the online test, I’ve noticed the importance of chapters 6 (time management) and 10 (communications management). I will also rewrite PMBOK page 61 every single morning to get back into the habit of remembering each process and their interdependencies. I am intent on scoring above 62% on my next online practice exam and over 80% on my final PMI-PBA exam.

In It for the Long Haul

Yippee!  I have finished PMBOK chapter 4 and after watching the 76ers versus the Bulls, I will solve RMC chapter 4 then continue onto PMBOK chapter 5.  I do feel that I will be finished with chapter 5 leaving me with RMC and PMBOK chapters 7 and 8 tomorrow.

 

More yippee!  I’ve finished outlining PMBOK chapter 5.  Sunday morning I will complete RMC chapters 4 and 5.  At least I don’t have to outline them.  Later next afternoon I will outline PMBOK chapter 7.  It is shorter than 4 and 5.  I might even squeeze in RMC chapter 7.  I am happy to keep my schedule because I will have PMBOK chapters 8 and 9 read by Thursday.  That’s ¾ done with PMBOK. I know that it is realistic outlining one chapter per day allowing me to completely outline the manual 2 weeks ahead of schedule!  I will reread the PMBOK again to review anything that I’ve overlooked this time.  In addition, I will solve the 460-problem handout, RMC study guide, PMP prep study guide and other practice exams that my instructor has given me.  Even though I have the money, I don’t see myself purchasing the $299 1400-question data set when there are cheaper alternatives.  I would literally have to fail in order to consider this item!  And, I refuse to go there knowing that failure isn’t an option!