How Many PMP Questions Should I Practice for the Test?

Getting a PMP credential is hard work and needs significant personal and financial liability. This is why credentials are highly venerated throughout professional communities. The more demanding an accreditation is to acquire, the more valuable and favoring it becomes.

Moreover, the more certifications an individual possesses, the more esteem and honor they receive. This admiration, in most cases, is displayed in ameliorating earnings, career choices, and peer respect.

Though there are several credentials worldwide, the basic steps to acquire them are the same - Study, Train, and Test. 

Today's blog will discuss how many PMP questions candidates should practice for the test, followed by other PMP exam aspects. 

How Many Questions to Practice for PMP Test?

Not just for PMP, but for any exam preparation, practicing mock questions/test are highly recommended. Now, if you're asking how many questions must I practice, then there is no definite answer for it, as each individual is unique, and they do have a different way of learning. 

Some might feel confident about appearing for the actual PMP exam after over 600 questions, while others might not feel comfortable even after 1000-2000 questions.

Having said that, let's plot some ways to determine how many questions must a candidate do to crack the PMP exam?

You should have over 50 questions per chapter while studying the PMI PMBOK Guide 6 and do 100 questions while learning the Agile Practice Guide. This will make over 700 questions for 13 PMBOK and Agile Practice Guide.

After finishing these guides, ensure you do at least 4 complete-length tests comprising 180 questions each, making it to a grand total of 1800 questions – which is the right amount for most individuals. 

If you do over 1500 questions and score 80% or more in the mock tests, you should feel assertive about clearing the PMP credential test. However, if you still don't feel positive, you can practice a few more. 

To practice different questions that appear for the PMP test, you can use PMP exam simulators that consist of tough exam-style questions. By doing so, you feel confident in taking and cracking the test.

How Many Questions in the Actual PMP Exam?

The PMP exam is conducted both as Paper Based Test (PBT) and a Computer Based Test (CBT), where CBT is conducted by Pearson VUE on behalf of PMI. Another significant aspect of the PMP exam is that you can now take the exam online, i.e., in the comfort of your home/office. 

Unlike the previous PMP exam format, the credential test from January 2021 has 180 combination-type questions that come from 3 different domains - People (42%), Process (50%), and Business Environment (8%).

Read More: What are the Domains in Project Management?

Regarding the duration of the PMP exam, you've 230 minutes to complete the test, followed by two 10 minutes of scheduled breaks for CBT candidates. For PBT, you aren't given any break. Therefore, these two breaks aren't counted towards your PMP exam duration; you get 250 minutes to complete the credential test. 

When can I take these 10-minute breaks?

After completing the 120 questions, the Pearson VUE Software provides an option of taking a 10-minute break. Remember, the break is only confirmed once you have reviewed all the 120 answers. Once the break begins after the reviewing, you can't return to the previous section questions; hence be 100% sure before taking the one.

What is the Passing Score of the PMP?

The Project Management Institute (PMI) hasn't unveiled any fixed score or requirements to pass the PMP credential test. Back in 2007, the exam did have a specified passing score of 61%; however, with time, no one actually knows whether an actual pass percent exists or not.

Instead of a fixed score, the entity uses sound psychometric analysis to pass and fail the candidates. PMI provides a score report once a candidate finishes the exam, indicating your ratings on a 4-points scale for the 3 domains. These are known to be performance rating categories, where we see:

• Above Target
• Target
• Below Target
• Require Improvement

You can also refer to our other articles: Passing Score for PMP Exam and What If You Fail the PMP Exam?, for a better understanding.

What Type of Questions Should I Practice for the PMP Test?

Other than the 5 different question types such as MCQs, Hotspot, Matching, Fill-in-the-blanks, and Multiple responses - the exam tests you on 7 various others, which are:

1. ITTO

It stands for Input, Tools & Techniques, and Output, where you will have a series of questions asking about selecting the correct input tools, techniques, and output for a given process. There ITTOs for every process group.

2. Interpretational

In these sorts of questions, you will be given a few data, for which you have to diagnose and find a suitable answer.

3. Situational

These questions are based on the PMBOK Guide concepts that test your knowledge of applying theoretical aspects to real-life scenarios. Situational-based questions' prime intent is to check your pertinence for the task.

These questions are prolonged, making them analogous to a real-life problem. The options given with situational-based questions may seem perplexing, and they might give you a sense of more than one right choice.

4. Formulas

To unravel formula-based questions, you must first be aware of the mathematical concepts described in the PMBOK Guide. Once you understand the concepts/formulas, it gives a critical decision-making process that helps you determine which data included in the PMP exam question is used for the calculation.

A piece of good knowledge of the formulas will help you eradicate the options seamlessly and solve the questions at a swift pace.

5. Professional Responsibility

As a certified professional, PMI expects the candidate to follow a code of conduct. Therefore, you get questions based on the PMI code of ethics and professional conduct.

6. Definition

Like the name, these questions are based on the definitions provided in the PMBOK Guide. The definition-based questions are the simplest types where either you are given a term, and its definition is asked, or vice versa.

7. Diagram

These questions are based on a flowchart or diagrams, where you're given one and have to answer based on the figure shown.

Although no one knows how many questions from each category come for the PMP test, it's expected to have bulk questions situational-based.

Having said that, you must practice all kinds of questions for the actual PMP exam. You have to start preparing from some direct and ITTO questions before moving to other questions.

Conclusion

PMP is one of the extremely valuable PMI accreditations worldwide, where professionals with sound working experience in project management are eligible for the PMP test.

Being the most prestigious and demanded credential, the difficulty of the exam is no joke; however, it's not impossible either. 

Like a proverb: "If you have a will, you have a way" - goes for the cracking of the PMP exam at ease. You need to enroll in a good training center that provides 35 contact hours PMP courses, such as iCert Global. 

A 35 contact hours of training is a prerequisite for appearing in the PMP exam, and its certificate remains valid till you appear for the test. After completing the training program, you must practice several questions to be fully confident and prepared for the PMP test.

You must not lag your desire to acquire PMP certification due to uncertainties. With each day passing, you are potentially losing a chance of a 16% increase in your salary and career development.

Give the PMP certification a thought; it's now or never. Let us know in the comment section below.

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