PMP exam Feedback from 6th edition Exam

July 2020 Tester

This was the hardest test I have ever taken. My guess is that 95% of the questions were situational
asking either 1) what the PM should do, or 2) should do next or 3) what could the PM have done to
prevent the situation. Questions were long, sometimes 3 to 5 sentences. On the vast majority of the
problems, I was not able to just read the last sentence and get the question and determine the
solution. I had to read most questions more than once and could not really identify unnecessary
information. It was critical to know where in the process the situation was occurring and what the real
issue was. Answers were not always a straightforward progression on the PMP process and steps, and
you needed to use iterative thinking to get to the best answer. Often there seemed like three of the
answers were correct, meaning I thought. “I would do all of these”. I felt like I guessed on almost all the
questions. At the half way point (for me question 90) the test indicated that I could take a 10 minute
break and I also had the option was required to indicate if I wanted to review the 90 questions I had
completed. I chose the option to not review the questions but did choose to take the 10-minute break. I
was allowed to leave the testing area, got some food and drink from my locker and took a bathroom
break. Note that I was informed before the test that if I took a jacket into the testing center, I would not
be able to remove it. I was told I could not remove any layered clothing.

My question pace was much slower than my practice exam pace and with 25 minutes left I had 50
questions to do. I gathered myself, being instructed by Bill to answer ALL the question. I limited each
question to no more than 30 seconds. I finished them all with a focused onetime read and quickly
picking an answer that just “seemed” the best choice or had the words that fit in the process or
knowledge area related to the question. The good news is I passed the test with Above Target (defined
as “well above minimum requirements”) in 4 process group areas and at Target in Initiation.

My advice is to follow Bill’s Roadmap exactly (I did not do the last step using audios or notecard). Take a
minimum of 4 full practice tests at various stages of studying to gauge your progress (as instructed in the
Roadmap). Read the PMBOK before you dive into Rita and take at least 1,000 practice questions. The
Oliver Lehman questions seemed to be the closest to the real exam. Look for key words in the situation
questions and know the key inputs and outputs. You need to know the process and their logic as they
relate to both the PMBOK and your real-life PM jobs or experience. I did not read the PMI lexicon but do
advise knowing the terminology. What I did do with the lexicon was to look up any word during the
practice tests that I did not recognize or really understand.

I had a 9-week plan. After 6 weeks of studying Rita, I saw little improvement in practice scores and then
I read the PMBOK. Should have done that sooner. Scores improved. First 6 weeks I studied an hour a
day but the last 3 week 4- to 6 hours a day since my scores in the practice exams were not anywhere
near the mid 70’s as Bill suggested. Total time studying was 160 hours. I did take over 1000 practice test
questions. I took 3 full 200 question exams including the last one with a mask to simulate the actual test
center conditions.
Bethany - 2018

Bethany took the PMP test in Kansas City at the Overland Park testing center, May 19, 2018. She said the
testing center was set up to process both new testers and those taking breaks. Besides checking
credentials, you had to sign into the testing center. You also had to sign out if you wanted or needed to
take a break. After her break, she did have a delay of about 2 minutes waiting on two people just
checking in. Instructions before testing covered the 15-minute tutorial on the testing tool and that she
was not allowed to write on the blank pieces of paper until she started the test. The tutorial proved
useful, even only reviewing it for 5 minutes. Bethany discovered the method for reviewing marked
questions. It might not have been intuitive had she not seen it in the tutorial. She reported only about 3
questions with diagrams and a couple questions that required scrolling to see the whole questions.

Comments from Bethany There was a heavy focus on risk management process and general steps for
change control. Often, the questions would be worded as “what the project manager should do next?”
Know the order of the risk management process and when to initiate change control.

On my exam, the option to select “Inform the Change Control Board (CCB)” appeared often.
I had 3-4 questions specifically related to kick-off meetings either as the option of what to do next or
what tools/techniques to use during the meeting.

I had at least 5-6 questions regarding quality mostly where the best answer choices were either manage
quality or control quality given the situation. I had only two critical path questions, one of which did not
require you to draw a network diagram. I had 3-4 questions concerning contracts and understanding
the best contract to use given the situation. I had 2-3 questions where I had to use an equation: 1-2 for
cost, the other was beta distribution equation. I also had a question about the Scrum Master.
Surprisingly, I had many (10+) questions related to communications management – many related to
understanding what conflict resolution techniques to employ or what tools/techniques to use. These
questions were lengthy and very difficult. I had no “easy” questions. All of the questions were worded
similarly to the RMC style questions, but all were situational and lengthy. There were no easy definition
or straightforward equation questions. I used the entire four hours to complete the test – I only took
one five-minute break and still felt rushed to complete my exam even though in my practice simulations
I was completing around the 3:20 mark.
In regard to preparation, I primarily used the RMC study materials – I never read through the entire
PMBOK. I read through the RMC textbook twice, completed three full exam simulations, and used the
PMP Pocket prep app and RMC focused tests for daily quizzes. Prior to taking the exam I was scoring 75-
85% consistently on those quizzes. The last full simulated exam I scored an 80% which helped me feel
really prepared going into the exam.

This was definitely the most difficult exam I have ever taken and truly thought I had failed prior to
submitting my results. A majority of the questions provided at least two different options that could
have been the answers.
Tester 2:

"For perspective I took the 200-question simulation in class and found it very difficult scoring 70 but
feeling like I did worse. It took me 3:15 to complete. I took another 100-question simulation and found
it easy, scored better, and only took an hour. For me the actual test fell somewhere in between on
difficulty. It took me 3:15 to complete. I then spent 45 minutes reviewing and avoiding my destiny. I
felt I was borderline fail but scored well so don’t get discouraged! I really believe difficulty is a toss-up
depending on what questions you get.

Change Control was a popular answer option. I can’t say if it was always the right one. Know when it
should and shouldn’t be used. Same with Risk Registry/Identify Risk. Know the closing process. There
are a lot questions around Verified Deliverables to Validate Deliverables to updating Project Documents
to close a project. (Ex. What do you do when a client wants a change after validating the deliverable? I
had about three math problems (easy and hard) and two easy network diagram questions. I don’t recall
any ethics questions."

Tester 3:

"I have to say that was, for me, exponentially harder than the practice test we took. I had what
felt like 199 situational questions and it took me about 3 hours and 50 minutes to finish, with a
3-minute break half way through, only leaving me with about 10 minutes to review 40 questions
I marked.

About 40 questions in I was sure I failed, but somehow managed to pass above target on all
areas. I had so many procurement, risk and stakeholder questions. I had many questions where
change request or Perform integrated Change Control were the best answers. I had a few
formula questions."

Tester 4:

"I failed my first test on RMC but took it a second time and got a 71%. My actual exam was all situational
questions, but they were not as lengthy as the RMC ones. I agree that the test fell somewhere in
between on difficulty. It took me 3:30 minutes to take the exam, and I spent the next 30 minutes
reviewing.

The the majority of my questions were in regards to risk, change control, stakeholders, quality and
procurements. Honestly – at least half of my questions were answered with some form of log a change
request or perform integrated change control (I think). Study, study, study the risk management
chapter. You need to fully understand every piece of this chapter.

The quality questions force you to understand the difference between what you would do during the
manage quality process and control quality process. A couple of other areas of focus are validate scope
and when to use the WBS. I had a couple of critical path questions, one easy and one hard, a couple of
cost formula questions, and a communications channel question."

Tester 5:

" I honestly think I have blocked most of it out, but I do remember the following things:

• I had 3 math questions (2 were related to solving for EAC) and 2 where I had to do a Network
Diagram
• I had several questions regarding the types of estimating and other tools and techniques
• I did not have any ethics questions, but had several related to international teams, etc.
• Pretty much every question ended in “What should you do?” or “What should you do next?”
• Like everyone else, lots of change control, risk, quality, and procurement questions

To prep I read the entire RMC book and did practice questions and I only wrote down the EAC formula
because I already had the process chart engrained in my mind after all the studying."

"Hardest test I’ve ever taken and I thought I was going to tear up when I saw that “Congratulations” on
the screen! Thanks to our instructors and my fellow class mates for the support, leadership and
encouragement!!

I only had about 4 math questions and it was around the VAC and ETC types of questions.

• I had many questions about the kick-off meeting which I never encountered on the practice
tests.
• And if I was struggling to narrow an answer, I’d just tell myself that it was one of those 25
questions that didn’t count so I could move past it . Or I’d pick the change control answer."

Tester 6:

"What I found on the exam was similar to what others found – that Quality and Risk were two topics
that were a heavy theme throughout the test. Knowing what knowledge/process area you were in
based on the question was key.

I didn’t have too many formula questions I’d say around 5-10 and I had one network diagram question
asking about float.

When it came to taking the test – I did the same thing that we did during our class practice exam. I took
several breaks to help stay focused. After I completed around 70 questions I took a 5-minute break and
then did the same at around 100 and then at 170. I completed the exam with about 45 minutes left and
I spent the next half hour reviewing questions I answered early in the exam.

The week leading up to the exam – I reviewed the PowerPoint slides and was taking Rita practice test in
15- 20 question increments and understanding why I had gotten any questions wrong. I’d say I was
consistently scoring around 68– 80 in those short tests. "