Customer Reviews

PM FASTrack: PMP exam simulation software, Version 4.3

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Disclaimer: I recently passed my PMP, and credit goes in large part to the University course I took prepping me for the experience. I purchased Mulcahy's book and the FastTrack CD for additional perspective and to ensure my preparation. I'd dare say that I passed the PMP 'in-spite-of' Mulcahy's book.

Mulcahy's book is not a worthwhile investment, and there are many other better instructional sources available. One does not need to succomb to Mulcahy's preachy sarcasm and condescention in order to have a solid study aide for the course. The FastTrack CD, on the other hand, is a worthwhile tool if you want additional practice under the real-world conditions of the exam. The simulation software is nearly identical to the format of the real test, and will give you a strong barometer of what you should expect on the actual exam. This was entirely true for me to within 2 points.

I'd recommend the investment in this as a 'simulator only' if someone needs the practice and experience. But based on her book, which at best is a very poor instructional guide, you'd do better taking the money you'd spend on the book and investing it in any of the numerous other resources available to recap those areas of weakness from the exam.

While preparing for the PMP exam, I've used a number of question databanks software but the most helpful and the closest to the actual exam, was PMPFasTrack. No doubts about it. So from this perspective, using this software package will give you a boost of at least 60% increase in passing the exam. I should say that I've passed the exam on 17.02.2005 with as score of 183 or 91%.

This software has 2 drawbacks though:

1/ The price is a killer and it's definitely too high. This software it's not worth 300$, but if you really need the certification and are prepared to invest in it, then do it. Maybe your company would cover the costs!

2/ I've bought the PMPFasTrack with only 12 days before the exam and started to use it intensively with 8 days prior to the exam. On a regular day, I would "consume" anywhere between 100 and 350 questions by testing either by knowledge area or process group modes. When you do testing over such a short period of time, in spite of the fact that there are about 1300 questions in the package, you get to know them all, which is a problem when you actually simulate your exam. In may case, I've consistently scored over 92% in the simulation exams, but the results are biased because you know the questions (at least you've read the questions before, if not remember the answer). I recommend to test your knowledge using other sources, such as the on-line testing ESI is offering or other software packages like PM Power Track from Management Concepts, in order for you to be able to correctly assess your knowledge level before going to the exam. If you use the software over a longer period of time, then you should not have this problem.

For conclusion, despite the heavy price this package will dramatically increase your chances to pass the exam.

Here's my recommendation for passing the PMP exam. You need this software, Rita's PMP Exam Prep book (also available on Amazon), and a copy of the PMBOK.

Read the book and do the exercises, referring to the PMBOK guide only as directed or as necessary. Once you've completed the book, take a simulation test in PM FASTrack. It will identify areas you are weak in. Go back to the book and study those areas again. Take another simulation test and you will be ready for the real PMP exam.

This is the strategy I used, and I passed the certification exam with ease.

Great way to make efficient use of your study time. The answers to each test question, along with a full explanation, is available with one click. The immediate feedback made it easy to understand why the answer was wrong so the mistake didn't happen again. This was much easier than going back after a paper test, looking at the answer key, and digging up the explanation in a text. Using the software and the PMBOK, I aced this test after about 35 hours of focused study over a period of 4 weeks. The wording of the simulated test questions was very close to the real test. I highly recommend this software

I have bought lots of books in order to be prepared for the PMP exam. This CD, combined with Rita Mulcahy's book and the PMBOK, is the best combination I could find on the market. It forces you to think the "right" way and fully explains each answer to all the questions. Moreover, it is as close as possible to the real exam.
I do not regret the investment made, as I passed the exam on the first attempt.

This is a very close simulation of the actual PMP test. By this I do not mean that you will see any of the same questions on the actual test, what I mean is that the questions will be of the same level of difficulty, phrased in similar terms, and covering the same subject matter in the same proportions. By taking many of the different practice tests I was able to pinpoint my areas of weaknesses, make them strengths, and then discover new areas of knowledge in which I needed work, slowly and steadily raising my grade with every practice test I took. To the credit of this method, I saw my grades increase by about 3 to 5 points with every test I took after studying, and the actual grade I achieved on the real test was just another point in the same upward slope.

The real test is extremely grueling, a test of stamina, focus, and knowledge, and I found the practice tests to reflect this very closely. Four hours might seem like a long time to be given for a test, but clearly reading and correctly answering 200 questions in that time is no easy task. Even though I considered myself a good test taker and had passed many certification tests in the last couple of years, I could never have passed the PMP test without the use of this excellent simulation software.

I just passed my PMP on April 9th. I can honestly say with out this cd I would have either barely passed or not passed at all. The questions are somewhat similar to the ones on the pmp. They are very challenging. For anyone that's interested I started off studying Kim Heldman's book along with using the PMBOK as a reference. I then moved on to Rita's PMP Exam Prep book and then ordered her pmp fastrack cd. That was basically my whole studying plan. I can't say exactly which one was the best or helped me the most. Kim's book I used for a solid foundation. Rita's PMP Exam Prep I used to get all the little tricks for memorization I would need. After that I knew I still needed to answer practice questions just to get me familarized with answering potential questions on the exam and that's were the PMP Fastrack CD came in. I didn't use any study group because that's just the type of person I am as far as studying. Some people may learn better in a study group though. Use whatever study method works for you. In short the cd was a tremendous ableit over priced cd. (I don't see how she can justify selling it for $300 seeing as it's really a very basic program written in some form of MS VBA) But the good news is you'll always find someone willing to buy it off you on ebay or this site so that'll soften the blow somewhat. I would give it 4.5 stars mainly because of the price but since I can't I'll round it up to 5 Good luck.

I could not of passed the exam if it were not for this software. I took a PMP exam prepcourse and although it was a useful refresher course, it was the software that got me to pass this exam.

The software is almost exactly the same as the exam. Sentences are refrased but they are still the same..and in some cases, some of my questions on the software were on the exam!! I spent 3-4 weeks going over all 1300 questions on the software. By the time I finished, I had a very accurate understanding of Rita's thinking. After all, this exam is not about what YOU KNOW, its all about what she knows and whether you understand her thinking. I used very little of my own project management experience..

I bought the ESI practice testbook but when I took the practice exam, I noticed that the ESI questions werent even remotely like Ritas questions...and the method of thinking was not necessarily the same. So rather than mess up my head with somebody elses thinking, I chose not to use it anymore and just concentrate on this software. I passed the exam the first time with 85%. I was pleased...

If I had to do it all over again, I would of skipped the exam prep course and just bought the software. Remember to take the exam before Sept 30...thats when the exam changes.

Every single person I know who took this exam told me that they had plenty of time to take the exam. Most finished within 90 minutes..some took 3 hours...but they all had time to recheck their answers.

Good luck on your exam.

If you want to get your PMP, I highly recommend this product and the asociated flashcards to help prepare for the test. There are many competing products from which to choose. But, none more complete and easily read than Rita's.

Don't waste time. Learn the PMBOK, buy Rita's suite of materials and blow the test away as I did!

I used this CD for the majority of question simulation in preparation for the PMP exam. This was very useful and is by the far the closest thing to the real exam. Highly recommended even at the price. I did pass the exam first time with a very high score ~86%.