RUP 639 Exam with 85 % today.

I know it has been a struggle for aspirants for this exam because of no material and guidance available. When you google for this exam first link takes to this forum, but its an utter disappointment that there are only questions on this forum seeking help , and occasional statements that people giving out email address saying they could help. But I have not received any replies from those people when I tried contacting them. I watched this forum for more than 6 months and no useful infomation. I am posting the first hand exam information so every body could use especially because they refrain from taking test because they think they have no clue as to how to proceed to prepare for this exam. I hope the following helps some serious aspirants --

Disclaimer: This is just my experience with the exam. I have not known any person who took the xam. So I can not give any gaurantess that this exam pattern(level of easiness and number of questions and categores) will be same for every one. But I can not give any garantees on anything but share my experience so it will help you headstart. Also all the opinions expressed are my personal views and do not directly point to any person or organization or even generic to this exam.

1. It has only 48 questions(unlike 64 as mentioned in the IBM site) and 60 minuutes to complete and 70% is passing score.http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/rlrcrup3.shtml
2.Examination questions are straight forward and test your straight knowledge in RUP content
3. Passing certificate(Printed report after exam) said exam tested in 3 categories - 1. Models and Architecture(16 questions)2.Disciples.(16/48)3. Iterative Development(16/48)
4. Many questions indicated multiple choice and multiple response and single answer. But to my surprise - many mulitple answers indicated how many correct answers to pick at the bottom left corner - and many of them has five choices and asked to pick 4 choices. It was quite easy for me to eliminate one that donot belong. Some questions did not have this - it only said choose all that apply and some said to pick only 2 out of 4.(It gives error message if you has selected more or less and asks you to chose only the required selections)
6. time is never a problem - and you have the chance to mark and review the questions in doubt. - I finished exam in 30 min . Took 15 min to review the questions in doubt.

Some tips with preparation:
1. Just read the RUP introduction by Philipe Krtuchen thouroughly - especially the roles, artifacts, and each discipline objectives, and phase objectives- this should be enough. If you have time refer to RUP made easy - but not necessary.
2. Exam tests very basic and straight fwd content - no twists
3. Focus on roles/artifacts/phases/iteration plans/4+1 architectural views
4.Good number of questions on basic UML - diagrams notations , relationships etc - 16
5. Good number of questions on basic principles - 6, iterative development principles etc.
7. For Practice of how the test looks - download and install Armstrong Process Group's RUP 639 exam simulator (free) - and it gives 15 practice questions.- buy it for $200 if you have money for 200 questions. (I did not buy it, but I guess gives a good practice to buy and practice in advance, if you have $200 money you can spare)
http://www.aprocessgroup.com/products/exam_02_0402.asp
8. Install RUP and browse to feel where is what( not so many questions dependent on navigation- so it is optional)
9. As always - be there early, and relax. If you know the content, its very easy exam(I just took a week to prepare for the exam)
10. Go and Crack the xam.:-)

Let me know if I can be of any more help in case you have more questions and let me know how this writing helped you @ bk_ravi@yahoo.com

ALL THE BEST

-Ravi Bellamkonda,PMP
IBM Certified Specialist for RUP
Project Manager/Sr Business Systems Analyst
Covansys Corporation.
bk_ravi@yahoo.com