Do you want to know what types of questions appear in the PMP exam? Then, we have bought you all the things that you need to know. READ ON!
Before getting project management certification, one should know about the ways to prepare for PMP Certification Exam. The Project Management Professional (PMP) exam is known for its challenging and diverse question types. Hence, one of the best ways to prepare for the PMP exam is to know about the structure, pattern or types of PMP exam questions.
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PMP Certification Exam’s Structure & Pattern
There are 180 questions in the PMP exam. 5 of these questions are not scored, leaving 175 to be. The five inquiries are referred to as pre-test inquiries. You don’t know which questions are scored and which aren’t because the exam’s questions are distributed at random.
The PMBOK Guide, also known as A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge, is not the basis for the PMP credential test, despite what is widely believed. The PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO) is the framework around which the exam is built.
The PMP Examination Content Outline states that the exam’s three different performance domains are as follows:
- 42% of inquiries are in the People domain.
- 50% from the Process domain
- 8% of the domain are from business environments
Out of 180 questions, nearly half are based on agile and hybrid project management approaches, and the other half are based on predictive project management methodologies. These inquiries take the following format:
- Multiple choice: From the available choices of four, pick the best one.
- Multiple answers: Among the given options, there may be more than one right response.
- Matching: You must match the options offered in two columns.
- Hotspot: To mark the right response, choose a section of the provided diagram.
- Limited fill in the blank: You must enter the accurate response.
Types of PMP Exam Questions
Aside from the five types of questions stated in the preceding section, the exam checks you on seven additional types of questions. Hence, Types of PMP Exam Questions include:
1. Situational-based questions
2. ITTO Based
3. Formulas Based
4. Definition Based
5. Diagram Based
6. Interpretational
7. Questions on Professional Responsibility
Situational-Based Questions:
Situational questions assess your ability to apply theoretical project management knowledge to real-world settings. The main purpose of these questions is to determine your suitability for the job. The questions are based on principles from PMI publications such as the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition, Process Groups Practice Guide, and Agile Practice Guide.
Situational questions assess your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world project management circumstances. The options presented with these types of questions may appear complex, and they may give you the impression that there is more than one correct answer.
ITTO Based:
ITTO stands for Input, Tools & Techniques, and Output. There will be a few PMP test questions based on the ITTO. In these questions, you must choose the correct Input, Tools & Techniques, or Output for a particular procedure. These inquiries may arise from any of the 49 processes.
Formulas Based:
To answer these questions, you must understand the mathematical formulas described in the PMBOK Guide. Understanding these formulas provides a vital decision-making process that aids in determining whether number or information given in the PMP question can be used in the calculation.
A solid knowledge of the algorithm may also assist you in quickly eliminating options. This allows you to answer questions fast and with fewer options.
Definition Based:
These questions are based on the PMBOK Guide’s definitions. These are the most basic inquiries.
The term is given, and then the definition is requested, or the definition is given, and then the term is requested. Simply browse through the PMBOK Guide definitions for project management to find the answers.
Diagram Based:
These questions make use of diagrams or flowcharts. You are given a diagram and a question; you must answer the question based on the diagram.
Interpretational:
In this case, you will be given some data and will need to analyze it in order to get the proper solution.
These questions will undoubtedly put your ability to deduce a situation or condition from a description of a status or problem to the test. For example, “How well is your project performing if its SPI (Schedule performance Index) and CPI (Cost performance Index) are both greater than one?” To fix this, you must understand how SPI and CPI relate to project performance.
Questions on Professional Responsibility:
As a certified professional, PMI expects you to follow a code of conduct. So you will be asked questions based on the PMI code of ethics and professional conduct.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is difficult enough to need months of preparation. So, if you are properly prepared and have practiced taking mock exams, the PMP exam will not be difficult for you.
You can skip questions and return to them once you’ve done the ones you know. We recommend that you make a note of the ones you skipped so that you can return to them later.
Each PMP certification cycle is three years long, and you must earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) to renew your certification at the conclusion.
