PPD Pass (New Format) - Finally Finished with the Exams!!
What a relief to get these exams over with. And I couldn't have done it without the help, advice, and tips from all of these posts. PPD was the only test that I took in the new format and I generally agree with the previous comments on the new format.
- Make sure you get used to the whiteboard format BEFORE you take your exam. Don't spend your time learning how to navigate it during the exam. Just play around with it for practice and develop the best strategy for yourself on how to use it.
- I went in knowing that I could not go back to questions after I viewed them if I went on a break. But out of habit from the old format, I viewed two questions just to see if I wanted to answer them before the break and then I decided to answer them after the break. Ooops! Two questions wrong right there!
- Don't forget that you can right click to rotate items on drag and drop questions.
This journey has taken me roughly 3.5 years to finish. (8 months to get through PCM, PJM, CE, and PA, and 2.5 years of on and off studying and multiple fails for PPD and PDD.) I have a 5 year old son. So message to all the working moms out there, it is possible to work full time and get your exams done - even with a young child at home. Just set a reasonable pace for yourself.
I think all the study materials I would recommend have been covered quite well in previous posts. Just remember that you can study at much as you want, but it is just as important to go into each exam with confidence and a clear mind. For each question I always started off my telling myself, 'READ the question CAREFULLY, and CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER.'
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Bless, I think I saw your name featured in the One Drawing competition. Was that you? I really enjoyed reading the story behind the drawing and showed it to my office. Congratulations on the many accomplishments this year!! It is also encouraging to know you are a working mom. Thanks for sharing!
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Hey Bless, congratulations!!! Big big year indeed :) I was browsing the forum because I'm signed up for the PPD and PDD in the next month and am very nervous about it because I've taken a year break from the exams. I saw your name on here and I thought "Is this Bless, my coworker???" Your post brought a smile to my face, so happy for you! You are such an inspiration
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Congrats on the PASS! If anyone else is looking for PPD study references, I made a YouTube video covering all of the study materials I used in order to pass the exam. Check it out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOl17gIUWCM
I also have videos covering all of the other exams and plan to release a new video every week so be sure to Subscribe so you don't miss any future videos!
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Congratulations! That is very exciting!
I took PJM yesterday and I completely second that notion of figuring out the whiteboard. I spent about 5-8 minutes messing with it because I was accidentally zoomed out 2000% and then the whiteboard itself shrunk to an unusable size. Took me forever to get back to normal!
I decided to not take a break. like so many people have commented, it feels risky to lock in your answers. I think it's more mental than anything because rarely does anyone actually have time to go back and review anyway.
I'm very proud to see parents doing this. My wife and I have 2 kids (2 and 4) and both work full time. I typically review things over lunch, after the kids go to bed, and podcasts in the car. The comments like "I spend 2 hours a night on weekdays and 6-8 hours on weekends" make me chuckle a little bit.
I wish you nothing but the best. Congratulations!
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Thank you Andrew! I wish you and your family the best as well.
We definitely need the support and understanding from our family. Haha. 2 hours a night on weekdays sounds about right (that's about as long as I could stay awake after my son went to bed). And the extra hours on weekends is a must. Especially a couple of weeks before the exam.
Not sure how many exams you have left, but for the shorter exams, it makes sense not to take a break. For the longer ones, I would recommend taking a break between the case studies and the mc questions if you have to.
Good luck to you!
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Bless Yee I just stumbled upon this post randomly as I'm scouring the forum and my jaw dropped when I saw your name... Do you remember me? We travelled and roomed together in Prague for the Saint-Gobain (back then) ISOVER comfort-house competition! I am a fellow mom now too and in the NYC area, I'd love to get together!
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