PMP Certification - My Experience & Suggestions

I've recently passed PMP Exam. I would like to share my experience that may help fellow aspirants.
There are many blogs regarding the PMP preparation but the one that helped me out is http://edward-designer.com/web/pmp-guide/. He has summarized quite good way the whole process.

Here let me write down my approach:

1. Fixed the target date to finish the first reading of PMBOK5 as I've decided that only after reading completely the PMBOK5, I would fill the form for the exam. Thanks to my friend who was instrumental in setting up the target date. I was bit slow and really took 25 days to complete but covered first page to last page of PMBOK5.
2. On completion of the first reading I've filled the PMP Application Form and paid the fee. After receiving the confirmation from PMI, fixed the target date for the exam and booked it with Prometric (2 months).
3. Took the decision that at any cost the exam date shouldn't be changed. And started the studies.
4. Gone through Edward's blog and read all the topics for the exam from his blog. http://edward-designer.com/web/introduction-to-pmbok-guide-knowledge-areas-processes-process-groups/
5. Read the PMI code of ethics in Project Management.
6. Revised PMBOK5 again
7. Studied the following Practice Standards
• Practice Standard For EVM
• Practice Standard For WBS
• Practice Standard For Scheduling
• Practice Standard For Configuration Management
8. I wanted to read other practice standards but already I was running late and only 3 more weeks for the exam day so discontinued reading the practice standards of
• Practice Standard For Risk Management
• Practice Standard For Project Estimating
9. Read the book "The PMP Exam Made Easy Your 24-Hour Study Guide to Passing" from PMI.org eReads. This book really helped me to understand the PMP exam in a better way and given lot of confidence.
10. Took the online mock exam of 75 questions from http://www.oliverlehmann.com/pmp-self-test/75-free-questions.htm#providers_
11. The mock exam had really given me the opportunity to understand my weakness and I became so nervous as I've only one more week for the exam day.
12. Started going through the topics where I need improvement by referring the following books from PMI.org eReads
• Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, Tenth Edition by Harold Kerzner
• Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition by  Lawrence P. Leach
13. Then took the 175 mock exam from www.oliverlehmann.com. I could score only 71% that's way below my target of 80%. This is really a good mock test with detailed information on answers and references. That was very key for my exam preparation.
14. Analyzed the wrong answers by going through the references provided and started taking further exams
• 400+ Online questions: http://passtheprojectexam.com/wp-content/Execution.swf (This is more or less like a simulator, no explanation provided for answers)
• 206 Online questions: http://206-free-pmp-exam-questions.blogspot.in/ (no explanation for answers)
15. Only 3 days left and still I was not reaching my target of scoring above 80% in the mock tests and I got tensed too much. Fortunately I had my spouse, friend and mentor's encouraging words to ease my tension. Then I decided to revise the PMBOK5 completely in 2 days and prepared an action plan for that.
16. In 48 hours I'd spent 24 hours in reading PMBOK5 thoroughly without missing a page and recollecting the key points from the PMP Preparation training that I had attended 3 years back. Thanks to the notes and the passionate trainer, I could remember the key points.
17. Finally the exam day had arrived and I was feeling better as I could revise PMBOK5 for the second time and could do all mathematics comfortably for EVM, ROI, Communication Channels and so on.
18. Reached the Prometric training centre 2 hours early (too much early) and accommodated myself to the environment, that was really helpful to control my nervousness.
19. At last the time has come for the test and gone into the test cubicle after stringent check. Gone through instructions and started the tests. To my dismay the very first question itself was intimidating but I could muster courage and gone through the test. After 4 hours marathon, I could complete all the 200 questions and had only 3 minutes to revise the marked questions. Not managed the time well but was happy that at least I could complete all 200 questions.
20. Anxious 5 minutes of feedback giving and waiting for the result had gone through and when the screen flashed the "Congratulations message" I was completely relieved of all the stress that accumulated for the past 2 weeks.

Suggestions from my learning:

1. Treat the PMP Exam as a project and start with end in mind. Fix the target date and prepare the plan as what to read and when to read, then how many tests to practice.
2. The plan should have the milestone dates (weekly review suggested) so as you can review your progress against the baseline plan and take actions to correct the deviation. Daily minimum of 3 hours preparation should be allocated.
3. Talk to family and friends and win their support. Without their support you're gonna have a very tough task at hand.
4. Always remember the Confucius quotes "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." Your milestone reviews should happen as per the plan and you need to derive the actions to correct the deviation.
5. The must reads for the exam are
• PMBOK5
• All Practice Standards
• Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, Tenth Edition by Harold Kerzner
• Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition by  Lawrence P. Leach
• The PMP Exam Made Easy Your 24-Hour Study Guide to Passing
6. Then practice as many mock exams as possible. There are plenty of questions available freely and even in PMI.org eReads.
7. Use PMI.org resources as I believe that's the reliable source and has everything what you need for the exam.
8. Take the exam time as per your comfort and practice the mock exams exactly for that time period. I usually feel comfortable in the evening and I took the exam time between 5 PM and 9 PM. Then I've practiced the mock exams during this time period.
9. While taking PMP exam stay focused and don't worry too much on the question that you don't know. Mark them and move on. If you've time in the end you can spend more time in analyzing that question.
10. Practice, Practice, and Practice mock exams. The more practice the more comfortable you would be. Read the PMBOK5 at least thrice, that makes you clear on the processes.

I took exactly three months in the whole process of preparation with 28 hours weekly spent for this purpose. Only in the last week I've spent more than 50 hours for this preparation. This has worked for me but I cannot guarantee it would work for you. This is just an experience sharing.

Happy Reading! and wish you all the success in your PMP preparation.

P.S. PMP and PMI are registered trademarks of Project Management Institute. I've provided the sources as it is and I've taken utmost care not to infringe any intellectual property. In case of any objections to the blog, please let me know I would rectify it.