Is the PMP Exam Difficult?

Candidates who hold the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification are widely regarded as experts in project management by their peers. Professional development and job advancement are only two of the many advantages of this credential. Nearly 22 million new employment opportunities are predicted to be created in seven project-oriented sectors through 2027, a 33% increase in the number of project management-oriented workers.

But obtaining the PMP certification isn’t a simple task, and the PMP exam is quite difficult. The PMP exam is a globally recognized examination that measures your skill in Project Management. It is the most challenging project management test globally because of its extensive syllabus, complicated and lengthy questions, tricky answer choices, and long duration.

To acquire a taste of project management, you can enroll in the top online project management course. In most cases, the tasks and assignments you’ll encounter in these courses are intended to put you in contact with this line of work and determine whether or not you’re up to the challenge.

Although this should not discourage you from attempting, it is essential to keep in mind. If you put in the effort, know what to expect, and study well, you can pass the PMP exam on your first try. This article will teach you all concepts and everything you need to know about passing the PMP exam and answer the question, “is the PMP test more difficult?”

PMP exam

What is Project Management?

It is the discipline of initiating, organizing, motivating, and regulating resources to achieve specific goals and meet required success criteria in a project. It covers six aspects of a project’s life cycle: beginning, planning, carrying out, monitoring, controlling, and concluding.

The Professional Management Institute (PMI) offers the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. In terms of reputation, it is one of the most highly regarded certifications globally, and it is widely recognized in a wide range of businesses.

What is PMP Certification?

Globally, PMP certification is among the highest-paying certifications in the industry. PMP certification proves your ability to manage large-scale projects successfully. It also indicates that the tasks are carried out by high-quality project management standards, which play a significant part in the competitive global business arena. It is critical to meet the expanding expectations of the customers who demand better products and faster services.

How difficult is the PMP exam?

There is much discussion about the difficulty of the PMP exam in Project Management. There was a 40 to 50 percent first-time fail rate, with the number decreasing with each consecutive exam an applicant attempted. It’s simple to see why this is the case, given that PMP examinations are thorough and frequently revised.

The level of each question on the PMP exam is graded, so even if you get all of the easy questions correct but fail the difficult ones, you may still fail the test. In addition, there is no set amount of questions that you must answer appropriately to pass the test; you must answer as many questions as possible accurately.

The PMP test is one of the most demanding in the world, according to several experts. When you succeed, the payoff is almost always worth the effort.

Difficulty in preparing for the PMP exam

Preparation for the PMP test includes a 35-hour course approved by the Project Management Institute that covers the examination’s theoretical and practical aspects.

The PMBOK guide, generally known as this textbook, should be thoroughly studied or familiarised with its primary sections. Exam questions will cover five domains: initiation, planning, monitoring/controlling, performing, and closing a project.

The exam outline for the PMI’s online exam is as follows:

  • 13% of questions will focus on the initiating domain
  • 24% will look at planning
  • 31% of questions will look at executing
  • 25% will look at monitoring and controlling
  • 7% of questions focus on the closing domain

This exam will have 175 scored questions and 25 unanswered (testing) questions. Beyond the 35 hours of a PMP exam prep course, it is advised that you put in at least 60 hours of additional study time to pass the exam. Additionally, it would help if you spent extra time on exam simulator questions.

So, finding a study guide that works best for you is pretty vital. Choosing the correct study tools can make the difference between studying for 40 hours or 75 hours. Exam-like questions, full or short mock exams, and preparatory literature that delves into great detail about the project management experience are essential components of an effective study strategy.

So, as a result, you can practice and prepare for the exam thoroughly. With this in mind, a decent rule of thumb is to score 75 to 80 percent on at least three consecutive, complete simulated tests before you consider yourself ready for the exam.

Before you choose a course, you should thoroughly research it.

How hard is the new PMP exam?

It was revealed by the Project Management Institute (PMI) that they made additional revisions to the PMP test in January 2021. They added three new subjects to the new PMP exam, and they’re as follows:

  • Business Environment – To better relate the organization’s strategy to its projects, it must focus on the business environment.
  • People – This includes improving the abilities and actions required to lead a project group effectively.
  • Process – You must improve a project’s technological resources for it to be effectively managed.

Additionally, the total questions have been decreased to 180 from 200 with a mix of the hotspot, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple response questions. It is safe to assume that the new PMP test will be a little more complex than the previous one.

Over to you

However, passing the exam is not an impossible task. You can easily overcome this problem with good preparation and effort by taking online training courses. The PMP test should not be postponed because of the cost. Crack the PMP exam with a good preparation guide and tips. So, go for it!

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