PMP Practice Exams Blueprint: A Walkthrough of Our Design and ECO Alignment Process
A calibrated approach to align with the official PMI PMP Exam Content Outline
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In recent weeks, we’ve undertaken a comprehensive exercise to revamp our PMP Practice Exams to ensure they align even more closely with the latest PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO), both in terms of quality and structure. We’re excited to share the results of this effort with you.
In this post, we’ll guide you through the carefully calibrated approach we used to ensure each exam is balanced, comprehensive, and aligned with the domains, tasks, and enablers outlined in the official PMI PMP ECO.
For prospective students, this post provides a detailed insight into our approach, helping you make an informed decision before joining our program. For current students, we hope this added transparency reinforces your confidence in the quality and relevance of our practice exams as you continue preparing for the PMP.
Transparency is a core value for us. By sharing the exact blueprint our PMP Practice Exams, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how our approach prepares you for the real exam. We hope this openness sets a higher standard for project management training and helps you feel confident in your preparation.
Key Sources Guiding Our Approach
Our approach is guided by two primary sources:
What is PMP Exam Content Outline?
Many PMP aspirants believe that the PMP exam is based on the PMBOK® Guide when they begin their PMP certification journey. However, this is a common misconception. In reality, the PMP exam is based on the PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO).
The PMP ECO is structured around three primary domains that represent essential competencies for successful project management:
| Domain | Percentage of Questions |
|---|---|
| People | 42% |
| Process | 50% |
| Business Environment | 8% |
Each domain is divided into tasks and their enablers, and has a fixed weightage in the exam as shown in the table above. This distribution highlights the focus of the exam, with the majority of questions centered on the Process and People domains.
- People (42%): This domain emphasizes the interpersonal and leadership skills required to effectively manage teams. Topics include managing conflict, leading a team, empowering and supporting team members, fostering collaboration, and managing virtual teams. It also focuses on encouraging accountability and promoting continuous improvement.
- Process (50%): This is the largest domain and covers the technical aspects of project management. It includes managing the overall project lifecycle, from planning and executing tasks to managing risks, budgets, schedules, quality, changes, and issues. It also addresses the integration of both agile and hybrid methodologies, ensuring adaptability and efficiency in delivering project outcomes.
- Business Environment (8%): This domain focuses on the strategic alignment of projects with organizational goals. It covers managing compliance, understanding the external business environment, and ensuring that project outcomes support the long-term success of the organization. The goal is to ensure that project managers remain aware of the broader impact of their projects on the business and vice versa.
The PMP exam incorporates both predictive (waterfall) and agile/hybrid methodologies, reflecting the changing dynamics of project management. It includes situational and behavioral questions, testing the candidate’s ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios. Successful candidates need to demonstrate a balance of technical project management skills, leadership, and business acumen.
What is PMP Reference List?
The PMP Reference List is a list of top 10 sources cited by volunteer project professionals who develop PMP exam questions. These sources are used to ensure that the exam content reflects a broad and practical understanding of project management. Notably, the sources include the PMBOK® Guide, 7th Ed and the Agile Practice Guide.
PMP Practice Exams Blueprint
With the overview of the PMP ECO and PMP Reference List covered, let’s dive into the blueprint of our PMP Practice Exams and our approach for developing them. First, we will cover the quantitative alignment with the PMP ECO, and then the qualitative aspects of it.
Quantitative Alignment with PMP ECO
The quantitative alignment of our PMP Practice Exams with the PMP ECO ensures that the exams accurately reflect the structure and content distribution of the real PMP exam. The PMP sample questions in our exam are evenly distributed across the domains and tasks in accordance with the ECO. We also calibrate the distribution of different question types, including situational, formula-based, knowledge-based, and agile/hybrid questions.
NOTE: The numbers shown in the tables below are subject to change as we continue to improve our exams.
Number of Questions
Our practice exams have 180 questions with 5 pretest (unscored) questions, exactly as per the ECO.
| Scored Questions | Pretest (Unscored) Questions | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 175 | 5 | 180 |
8 Exams with 1230 Practice Questions
We offer a total of eight practice exams for PMP. The main exams (P1 - P6) are designed to be progressively more challeging. The PMP Formula Challenge exam is an optional (supplementary) exam covering questions that require mathematical calculations.
NOTE: P0 - P7 are our internal codes for the exams.
| Exam Name | Difficulty | Scored Questions | Pretest Questions | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (P0) PMP Assessment - FREE | High | 50 | 0 | 50 |
| (P1) PMP Practice Exam 1 | High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P2) PMP Practice Exam 2 | High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P3) PMP Practice Exam 3 | High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P4) PMP Practice Exam 4 | High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P5) PMP Practice Exam 5 | High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P6) PMP Final Practice Exam | Very High | 175 | 5 | 180 |
| (P7) PMP Formula Challenge Exam | Very High | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Total | 1200 | 30 | 1230 |
PMP Passing Score
PMI does not reveal the real PMP exam passing score or criteria. They use a psychometric evaluation process, which is non-public information. For our PMP Practice Exams, we use 61% as the passing score, which used to be the case in the early editions of the PMP exam.
Allotted Examination Time
The practice exam duration is 230 minutes (3 hours and 50 minutes), matching the duration of the real PMP exam, as per the ECO. The real exam is divided into 3 sections of 60 questions each. The real PMP exam has a break of up to 10 minutes each, between each section i.e. a total of 2 breaks. The break time is not included in the 230 minutes of the exam time. The breaks are in addition to the exam time, so the total duration including breaks is up to 250 minutes (4 hours and 10 minutes).
In our practice exams, we don’t have sections or breaks, but you can simulate the breaks by pausing the exam after questions 60 and 120.
Domain and Task-wise Distribution of Questions
Each of the three domains - People, Process, and Business Environment - have tasks, and enablers. We reviewed each task and its enablers thoroughly to ensure that each practice exam has a balanced distribution of questions across each domain and task. The following table shows the distribution of exam questions across each domain and task.
| Domain / Task | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain 1: People (42%) | ||||||||
| 1.1 Manage conflict | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 37 |
| 1.2 Lead a team | 4 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 100 |
| 1.3 Support team performance | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
| 1.4 Empower team members and stakeholders | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 43 |
| 1.5 Ensure team members/stakeholders ... | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
| 1.6 Build a team | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 37 |
| 1.7 Address and remove impediments ... | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 38 |
| 1.8 Negotiate project agreements | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 1.9 Collaborate with stakeholders | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
| 1.10 Build shared understanding | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 1.11 Engage and support virtual teams | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 1.12 Define team ground rules | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| 1.13 Mentor relevant stakeholders | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 1.14 Promote ... emotional intelligence | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Domain 1: Sub-total | 21 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 477 |
| Domain 2: Process (50%) | ||||||||
| 2.1 Execute project ... to deliver business value | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 |
| 2.2 Manage communications | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 37 |
| 2.3 Assess and manage risks | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 49 |
| 2.4 Engage stakeholders | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
| 2.5 Plan and manage budget and resources | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 37 |
| 2.6 Plan and manage schedule | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 50 |
| 2.7 Plan and manage quality of products ... | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
| 2.8 Plan and manage scope | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
| 2.9 Integrate project planning activities | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 2.10 Manage project changes | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
| 2.11 Plan and manage procurement | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 2.12 Manage project artifacts | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 2.13 Determine ... methodology/methods and practices | 3 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 75 |
| 2.14 Establish project governance structure | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 2.15 Manage project issues | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 |
| 2.16 Ensure knowledge transfer ... | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 2.17 Plan and manage project/phase closure ... | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Domain 2: Sub-total | 25 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 565 |
| Domain 3: Business Environment (8%) | ||||||||
| 3.1 Plan and manage project compliance | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 3.2 Evaluate ... project benefits and value | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 3.3 Evaluate .. external business environment ... | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 3.4 Support organizational change | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Domain 3: Sub-total | 4 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 88 |
| Total | 50 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 1130 |
3 Types of Questions
We support multiple choice questions (MCQ) with single answer, MCQs with multiple answers, and drag-and-drop type of questions. We do not support fill-in-the-blank or hotspot type questions in our exam simulator yet, but we are exploring opportunities to support these types in the future. Here’s the distribution of questions by question types:
| Question Type | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice single answer | 42 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 153 | 152 | 151 | 948 |
| Multiple choice multiple answer | 7 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 151 |
| Drag-and-drop | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
| Total | 50 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 1130 |
1060 Situational/Behavioral Questions
Majority of PMP exam questions are situational or behavioral in nature. Given a project scenario, you are required to choose the best course of action or decision. These questions assess your ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world project management situations. The following table shows the distribution of situational questions across the different exams.
| Question Type | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Situational Questions | 50 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 175 | 175 | 180 | 1060 |
50% Agile/Hybrid Questions
Each practice exam has about 50% questions based on Agile/Hybrid approaches, about 25% on predictive (waterfall), and about 25% that apply to all development approaches.
| Question Type | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agile/Hybrid | 23 | 95 | 98 | 92 | 85 | 92 | 90 | 575 |
131 Formula-Based Questions
About 2-3 questions on the PMP exam will require you to use project management formulas to calculate values such as Earned Value (EV), Cost Performance Index (CPI), or Schedule Performance Index (SPI). We have set the number of formula-based questions to five (5) for each of our full-length PMP Practice Exams. In addition to that, we have 100 formula-based questions in our PMP Formula Challenge Exam (P7).
| Question Type | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 | P7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula-Based Questions | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 100 | 131 |
Qualitative Alignment with the ECO
The qualitative alignment of our PMP Practice Exams with PMP ECO focuses on replicating the depth and complexity of the actual PMP exam. Our exams are designed to test critical thinking and decision-making skills in real-world project management scenarios. Instead of emphasizing rote memorization of processes and their ITTOs (inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs), we focus on evaluating candidates’ ability to apply their knowledge in practical situations. This approach ensures that test-takers are prepared not just for the exam, but for the challenges they’ll face as project management professionals.
Mindset, Mindset, Mindset
Our practice exams emphasize the importance of developing a “PMI way of thinking” - a specific mindset that aligns with PMI’s project management principles. This mindset is crucial for success in the PMP exam and may sometimes differ from real-world project experiences. We craft questions that help you think like PMI expects a project manager to think, focusing on:
- Proactive problem-solving
- Customer-focused decision making
- Ethical considerations in project management
- Balancing competing constraints (scope, time, cost, quality, resources, and risks)
- Adapting leadership styles to different situations
- Emphasizing collaboration and team empowerment
By consistently practicing with these mindset-oriented questions, you’ll develop the thought processes PMI looks for in the exam. Remember, the PMP exam tests your ability to think and act according to PMI standards, which may not always match your day-to-day project management experiences. Developing this mindset is key to successfully navigating the exam questions and becoming a PMI-certified professional.
Style of Questions
We tailor our practice exams to reflect the style and structure of real PMP questions. Most questions will ask you to determine the best course of action in a given scenario, such as “What should the project manager do?”, or “What should the project manager do first/next?”, or “What tool or technique should the project manager use?” This approach helps you get used to the format of the real PMP exam questions and identify the correct answer.
Test of Competency, Not Just Knowledge
The PMP exam is designed to assess your project management competency, not just your ability to memorize processes and their ITTOs. Our practice exams focus on evaluating how well you can apply project management principles to practical scenarios, ensuring you’re ready for the actual PMP test.
Difficulty Level of Questions
Our practice exams are intentionally set to be slightly more challenging than the real PMP test. This strategy ensures you’re well-prepared and confident when you face the actual exam. Each question is assigned a difficulty score (on a scale of 1 to 5), which we use to create balanced exams that gradually increase in complexity (P1 to P6). This approach helps you build your exam-taking skills and confidence progressively as you take the exams.
Second-Best Choice
PMP exam takers often report that questions on the real PMP exam seem to have two correct choices, making it extremely hard to select the best answer. We replicate this experience in our practice exams by including a close second-best choice in each question. This feature is designed to help you hone your critical thinking and quick decision-making skills and get accustomed to the nuanced nature of real PMP exam questions.
Quality Reference Sources
Our exams are based on the PMP Reference List, which we covered earlier in this post. We have meticulously studied the 10 project management guides on the reference list to align our questions with them. Each practice question references at least one of these sources, providing you with a clear connection to established project management principles.
In addition, we also provide a link to the relevant section of our online PM Study Guide with many questions. This feature allows you to dive deeper into specific topics with just a click, enhancing your learning experience and reinforcing your understanding of key concepts.
Ready to put your skills to the test?
We invite you to take our free 50-question free PMP Practice Test to experience the quality and relevance of our exam content firsthand. This is a great way to see how our questions match up with the PMP ECO and get a feel for the format and difficulty.
After taking the test, we’d love to hear from you! Share your feedback and thoughts in the comments section below. Your input helps us improve and ensures that we continue providing the best resources for your PMP exam preparation. Dive in, test your knowledge, and let us know how we can support you on your path to PMP exam success!
Here’s the link to PMP Assessment, our free PMP Practice Exam:
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