Is Obtaining the PMP® Certification Difficult?
The Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential is one of the first things most employers look for in potential project management candidates. So, how difficult is it to obtain the PMP certification?
You must meet certain Project Management Institute (PMI) requirements and pass a difficult certification exam to acquire the PMP certification. Obtaining the PMP certification is difficult, but not impossible.
Learn more about what makes the exam so challenging and how to get this project management certification by reading our JK Michaels Institute tutorial.
Is the PMP Certification difficult to obtain?
The PMP certification procedure has been designed to be difficult. Not only must PMP candidates complete a number of requirements in order to sit for the exam, but the exam itself is designed to assess your knowledge and skills in every project management-related area.
Is there a known rate of failure?
Although the PMP test is well-known for its difficulty, PMI does not provide detailed information on the passing score or failure rate. According to certain project expert polls, the failure rate is roughly 40-50 percent, which means that only around half of first-time PMP exam takers pass. However, there is no definitive figure for the number of people that fail the PMP exam.
While some sources state a failure rate or a passing PMP score, these are merely estimations, and the majority of them are incorrect. Since the exam is graded using psychometric analysis, there is unlikely to be a strict ratio of correct to incorrect answers to determine whether you pass or fail.
Your exam will be scored by a PMI-approved testing center, which will assess your skills, knowledge, and ability while taking into account the complexity of each question. Your scoring system will take into account the difficulty of your questions, so if you answer all of the simple questions correctly but all of the difficult questions incorrectly, you will most likely fail the PMP exam.
Because each PMP certification exam has a unique set of questions, your scoring procedure will be distinct from that of any other candidate. You may pass if you answer 65 percent of the questions correctly, whereas another applicant may fail if they answer 70 percent of the questions properly.
Check out our website on what to aim for in PMP exam practice tests for more information on the PMP exam's anticipated failure rate and passing score.
What is the difficulty level of the PMP Certification exam?
The PMP test is both lengthy and difficult. It covers a lot of ground and assesses your ability to comprehend and apply your knowledge in real-world project management scenarios. You can't just memorize PMP terminology, concepts, and formulas and expect to pass.
The amount of knowledge you must comprehend is part of what makes the PMP exam so difficult. You should be well-versed in the finest project management strategies currently in use. The following items should be included in your knowledge base:
People, Process, and Business Environment are the three domains of the PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO).
There are 35 separate tasks associated with these domains.
In any sector, qualified project managers are required to have a variety of talents.
Predictive (also known as waterfall) project management, Agile project management, and Hybrid project management are all viable options.
PMP formulae and mathematical ideas that are relevant
PMI-approved resources like the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), the PMP Handbook, the PMP Exam Content Outline, and coursework and other material developed by Premier PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) like JK Michaels Institute cover all of this and more.
PMI-approved resources like the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), the PMP Handbook, the PMP Exam Content Outline, and coursework and other material developed by Premier PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) like JK Michaels Institute cover all of this and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PMP exam questions are difficult because they assess your abilities and comprehension rather than your recollection. You will be given genuine project management scenarios and asked to select the best solution using methodologies, concepts, and artifacts from the PMBOK Guide and other approved resources.
The term "best" refers to the possibility of more than one correct response to each inquiry. If you come across a proper answer, don't just verify it and go on. You must decide which solution is "most" correct: the most logical, the first thing you should do, or some other factor that makes your answer the best for the scenario.
The PMP exam's questions may be lengthy, requiring you to study them attentively. This becomes more difficult as the exam advances since you must be patient and concentrated for over four hours. You may also need to filter out irrelevant data in order to focus on what is and isn't relevant to the problem.
Here are a few pointers to help you with these difficult questions:
To assist you narrow down what information is most significant, start with the last sentence.
Proportionately study formulas. Although the latest version of the PMP exam is not as math-heavy as previous versions, you should be familiar with all of the formulas in order to quickly and accurately interpret any arithmetic problems.
Make a point of highlighting any aspects of your studies that are particularly difficult. If you perform well in all areas but particularly poorly in one, you are likely to fail the PMP exam. Instead, concentrate on mastering the portions that you find the most difficult.
PMP Exam Structure Difficulty
The three project management domains of people, process, and business environment must all be understood. The following is a breakdown of the exam questions for each of these domains:
People accounted for 42% of the test results. This domain consists of 14 tasks that assess your abilities to lead, coach, and manage a project team.
50 percent of the test is spent on the process. This domain contains 17 assignments that test your understanding of project management processes and how to effectively utilize and apply them across the project life cycle.
8% of the test is devoted to the business environment. This domain has only four tasks, making it the smallest domain and accounting for only a minor portion of the PMP Exam. It addresses how initiatives are influenced by the organization that manages them, as well as how they must add value to that company.
Questions about these domains and tasks might help you assess your knowledge of a variety of project management topics. To make matters even more complicated, a portion of the exam is not factored into your result; the exam has 180 questions, but you are only graded on 175 of them.
Exam Duration
There are 180 multiple-choice questions in the PMP exam. On every exam, however, PMI includes 5 "pretest questions" to assess the quality of a question and determine whether it should be included as a "genuine" question on future exams. A pretest question is regarded too low-quality to be a scored question if too many people cannot answer it properly.
Because it's impossible to tell whether a question is scored or not, try to answer all of them accurately. Some of the most difficult questions may turn out to be pretest questions, but many of the "real" questions are equally difficult.
You'll have 230 minutes to complete all 180 questions, with each question lasting an average of one minute and 16 seconds. There are now two scheduled breaks, so take advantage of them to use the restroom, get some water, or stretch your legs. You are free to take unscheduled breaks, but the timer will not stop while you are doing so.
Some people begin by doing a "brain dump," in which they jot down formulas and notes that they can refer to throughout the exam. You can also flag questions for review and return to them at a later time. Some people may find these useful, but others have considered them to be a waste of time, reducing the amount of time they have to work on exam problems.
Don't worry if you run out of time on the exam: the real examination may be more difficult than the PMP practice tests. Many people have run out of time before completing all of the questions yet still managed to pass the exam. However, you should not rely on this possibility; instead, do your best to accurately answer all of the questions. A single incorrect response can mean the difference between passing and failing.
Are you preparing for the PMP Exam?
PMP Exam Questions and Answers
How to Increase Your Likelihood of Passing the PMP Exam
Despite the fact that the PMP exam is difficult, PMI is not attempting to deceive you or prevent you from earning your PMP certification. The goal of this challenge is to guarantee that you have a thorough understanding of how to be an effective project manager in every way. Keeping this in mind, here are a few techniques to prepare for the PMP exam and improve your chances of passing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PMP exam questions are difficult because they assess your abilities and comprehension rather than your recollection. You will be given genuine project management scenarios and asked to select the best solution using methodologies, concepts, and artifacts from the PMBOK Guide and other approved resources.
The term "best" refers to the possibility of more than one correct response to each inquiry. If you come across a proper answer, don't just verify it and go on. You must decide which solution is "most" correct: the most logical, the first thing you should do, or some other factor that makes your answer the best for the scenario.
The PMP exam's questions may be lengthy, requiring you to study them attentively. This becomes more difficult as the exam advances since you must be patient and concentrated for over four hours. You may also need to filter out irrelevant data in order to focus on what is and isn't relevant to the problem.
Here are a few pointers to help you with these difficult questions:
To assist you narrow down what information is most significant, start with the last sentence.
Proportionately study formulas. Although the latest version of the PMP exam is not as math-heavy as previous versions, you should be familiar with all of the formulas in order to quickly and accurately interpret any arithmetic problems.
Make a point of highlighting any aspects of your studies that are particularly difficult. If you perform well in all areas but particularly poorly in one, you are likely to fail the PMP exam. Instead, concentrate on mastering the portions that you find the most difficult.
PMP Exam Structure Difficulty
The three project management domains of people, process, and business environment must all be understood. The following is a breakdown of the exam questions for each of these domains:
People accounted for 42% of the test results. This domain consists of 14 tasks that assess your abilities to lead, coach, and manage a project team.
50 percent of the test is spent on the process. This domain contains 17 assignments that test your understanding of project management processes and how to effectively utilize and apply them across the project life cycle.
8% of the test is devoted to the business environment. This domain has only four tasks, making it the smallest domain and accounting for only a minor portion of the PMP Exam. It addresses how initiatives are influenced by the organization that manages them, as well as how they must add value to that company.
Questions about these domains and tasks might help you assess your knowledge of a variety of project management topics. To make matters even more complicated, a portion of the exam is not factored into your result; the exam has 180 questions, but you are only graded on 175 of them.
Exam Duration
There are 180 multiple-choice questions in the PMP exam. On every exam, however, PMI includes 5 "pretest questions" to assess the quality of a question and determine whether it should be included as a "genuine" question on future exams. A pretest question is regarded too low-quality to be a scored question if too many people cannot answer it properly.
Because it's impossible to tell whether a question is scored or not, try to answer all of them accurately. Some of the most difficult questions may turn out to be pretest questions, but many of the "real" questions are equally difficult.
You'll have 230 minutes to complete all 180 questions, with each question lasting an average of one minute and 16 seconds. There are now two scheduled breaks, so take advantage of them to use the restroom, get some water, or stretch your legs. You are free to take unscheduled breaks, but the timer will not stop while you are doing so.
Some people begin by doing a "brain dump," in which they jot down formulas and notes that they can refer to throughout the exam. You can also flag questions for review and return to them at a later time. Some people may find these useful, but others have considered them to be a waste of time, reducing the amount of time they have to work on exam problems.
Don't worry if you run out of time on the exam: the real examination may be more difficult than the PMP practice tests. Many people have run out of time before completing all of the questions yet still managed to pass the exam. However, you should not rely on this possibility; instead, do your best to accurately answer all of the questions. A single incorrect response can mean the difference between passing and failing.
Are you preparing for the PMP Exam?
PMP Exam Questions and Answers
How to Increase Your Likelihood of Passing the PMP Exam
Despite the fact that the PMP exam is difficult, PMI is not attempting to deceive you or prevent you from earning your PMP certification. The goal of this challenge is to guarantee that you have a thorough understanding of how to be an effective project manager in every way. Keeping this in mind, here are a few techniques to prepare for the PMP exam and improve your chances of passing.
Your skilled instructor can also provide more direction and resources to help you study. Boot camps cover all of the information you need to know for the exam, and your qualified instructor can also provide additional assistance and resources to help you prepare. Practice questions, live instructors, full-length practice examinations, and other resources are available.
JK Michaels Instute in-person and online boot camps, for example, offer a money-back guarantee. Simply attend the entire course, pass the simulated PMP exam, and complete three full-length practice examinations. We will reimburse your entire course tuition if you do not pass the PMP exam in three attempts.
This money-back guarantee ensures that you will have the materials and support you need to retake the exam if you do not pass the first time. Only 0.1 percent of our students request a refund after failing the exam since the Project Management Academy course is so highly rated.
How to Get Ready for the Exam
You should also prepare for the test day after you have qualified for the PMP exam, applied to take the exam, scheduled your test day, and prepared to pass. As you prepare for exam day, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Preparation the night before the test
We recommend using your personal computer rather than a business computer if you are taking a remotely proctored exam. It's possible that some restrictions on your work computer prevent you from loading the exam. Prepare your test-taking environment, double-check your equipment, and make sure there are no distractions throughout the 230-minute exam session.
Start by reading our guide to what to anticipate from Pearson VUE on test day if you're taking the exam in a testing center. Keep in mind the following:
You'll need to bring photo identification with your signature on it. Check to see if your identification is written in English or includes an English translation.
Make a note of your PMI code. It's possible that you'll be asked for your confirmation code as well.
Dress for the weather, but bring a light sweater or jacket with you. This manner, whether the room temperature is cooler or warmer than planned, you'll be ready.
You may store water and snacks in your center-provided locker and access them during breaks, even if they are not permitted at your test-taking station.
Earplugs are provided by certain testing sites, but you are welcome to bring your own.
If your test center doesn't allow you to keep your phone in your locker, have a plan for where you'll keep your phone and other valuables.
Above all, get a good night's sleep! It is advisable to take the exam when you are well rested and alert.
Preparation for the PMP Exam in the Morning
You must sign in, produce your photo ID, and enter your PMI code at least 30 minutes before your planned exam time on the morning of your PMP certification exam. If there is a line to check in, it is recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam.
If you are permitted, bring everything you prepared the night before your test and get positioned in your test-taking area. If not, find a peaceful, nearby location to settle in and rest.
Summary
The PMP exam is a difficult certification exam that needs a great deal of dedication, motivation, and discipline both before and during the examination. While the test will be difficult, if you follow these preparation recommendations, you will be in a good position to pass it. Use these study and preparation tactics to pass the PMP test and earn this desired credential.