89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
from a new PMP, March 8, 2006
This review is from: PM FASTrack: PMP Exam Simulation Software, Version 5.2.0 (CD-ROM)
Well, I was frustrated when I purchased this product that there were only a handful of reviews at time, and promised I'd add mine after taking the test. I had heard that Rita was supposed to be 'the standard' for this software so I went ahead and puchased it. Now I have taken, and passed the exam (and did quite well!) and proud to call myself a PMP.
Back to the software. I rated three stars because there were definitely things which I thought were really helpful:
- the 'cleverness' of the question that try to trick you, so it helps to teach you how PMI might try to trick you as well
- becoming familiar with the online version of the exam and what to expect on test day, like constantly seeing a timer count down
- still feeling at the end of the day that I liked my wrong answer better, which motivated to try to keep learning 'the PMI way' of doing things
But there were also things I didn't like:
- although a question bank of 1300 sounds huge, when you take 200 at a time you can definitely start to learn the questions. this was a big problem, because it was hard to distinguish whether my score was going up because I was learning the material, or because I was learning the questions that were re-appearing. i took the regular practice test four times, and the "super" version (supposedly 200 of the hardest questions) the day before the exam.
- the ability to test by knowledge area or process group didn't seem to be a value add to me, because, in my opinion, part of the challenge of the exam is trying to figure out which section the question is addressing.
- still feeling at the end of the day that I liked my wrong answer better!
My sudying also included reviewing ESI notes from various classes taken over the years. And a short ESI prep class one month before the exam (not a "boot camp") which is where I learned about this DVD. Truthfully, as one other reviewer added, you need to know the Guide to the PMBOK backwards and forwards. It is commonly understood that not everything on the exam is contained in that book, but you must know what takes place in process groups and knowledge areas, all of the inputs, tools & techniques, and outputs, etc. etc. etc.
This software will certainly help you identify your weak areas, and you must practice taking the test (as it is like preparing for a marathon!) but the 'question creep' was a concern for me.
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good simulation, but don't count on accurate scoring, April 24, 2006
This review is from: PM FASTrack: PMP Exam Simulation Software, Version 5.2.0 (CD-ROM)
Rita's book was recommended by many members of my local PMI chapter. However, most of those people took the test prior to the PMBOK 3rd Edition and the publication of the 5th Edition of this book.
I bought the book, the flashcards, and the FASTrack software based on these recommendations, and I did not study the PMBOK itself very much. I think this was a mistake.
I passed on the first try, but I scored 10% lower on the actual test than I did on the PMP test simulation in FASTrack taken 2 days before the test. Additionally, the areas I scored poorly in did not correlate with the results of the FASTrack simulation.
There was subject matter on the test that was not covered in the book or in FASTrack (or was covered in very little detail). In a few cases, the book particuarly mentioned that a term was usually just an incorrect choice on the exam when I had it as an exam question.
I do recommend this software as a tool for getting used to the format of the exam and for providing numerous questions, but I do not recommend it as an accurate predictor of your score. I contacted FASTrack support a few weeks prior to the exam to ask what score I needed to make consistently in FASTrack to ensure I would pass the exam. The answer was that Rita recommends an 85% pass rate in FASTrack to ensure a 61% pass rate on the exam. I think that is an outrageous margin of error, but, after taking the exam, I find it to be truer than I expected.
Be sure to cover the PMBOK thoroughly and, in retrospect, I would buy an additional study guide to ensure any gaps in information are covered.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great help but challanging software support, September 13, 2007
This review is from: PM FASTrack: PMP Exam Simulation Software, Version 5.2.0 (CD-ROM)
I brought this software because I really got a lot out of Rita Mulcahy's book `
PMP Exam Prep, Fifth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam' which I think is excellent.
This software contains a range of exam simulations which are also very helpful in preparing for PMP exams.
I gave the product only two stars because the software is time bombed (it expires and cannot be reused beyond one three month extension) and can only be installed twice (designed to support two machines). I had a hard disk crash and needed to reinstall but they (the software developer) would not allow me to do this without eating my second install which I had planned to use for my desktop (as I travel and wanted the software on both). This is, in my opinion, archaic customer service and an unacceptable license limitation for a software product in this price range.
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