The demand for project management professionals (PMPs) is rising across all industries. That hasn’t changed for a while, but technology is altering the project manager’s job description. Introducing the most recent PMP test and the PMBOK Guide version 7.
You must first pass a challenging exam to obtain certification to become a PMP enroll to the PMP boot camp of EDUHUBSPOT and join ranks of the growing demand for elite talent.
The only thing that is constant in life is change, and project management is no exception. To better understand how the industry has changed, the Project Management Institute (PMI®) carries out an extensive study every three to five years. The PMI selects what information should be examined so that it best reflects the constantly evolving duties and responsibilities of certified project managers through their in-depth examination.
The new PMP test modifications that become effective at the start of 2021 are based on suggestions from research carried out in 2019. To successfully prepare for the PMP test, it is essential to be aware of and comprehend the impending changes.
Three Important Changes in the New PMP Examination
- Exam Format for PMP
- Prepare for the ATP Exam
Let’s examine how these modifications will affect students who want to acquire their PMP certification in 2021 and later in more detail.
To help you prepare for the PMP test, below is a complete list of changes.
PMP Exam Structure
The format of the exam may have changed, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for it by knowing how your knowledge and expertise will be evaluated. The exam’s 200 multiple-choice questions from the 2015 edition covered each of the five project management domains. There were formula-based, situational, and knowledge-based questions on the PMP exam.
The updated three domains are covered by 180 questions on the new PMP exam, which will include multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
The most recent PMP exam includes more scenario-based questions with animations to more effectively assess candidates’ adaptability and soft skills.
Review the Agile Practice guide to get ready for questions on both agile and hybrid techniques when studying for the PMP exam.
PMP Exam Content
When preparing for the PMP test, candidates should expect the subject to shift significantly.
The quantity and subject of the domains have changed significantly over the past five years, even though both the 2015 and 2021 test versions divide the information into several domains. The substance of the previous exam concentrated on the specific phases of project management, including initiating, planning, carrying out, monitoring, and closing; the new exam, however, is more general, covering subjects like people, process, and business growth.
To help you with your PMP exam preparation, take a closer look at the changes below:
Earlier 2015 Exam
The former PMP exam version divided its questions into the following PMP domains, which correspond to the flow of managing a project:
- Launching the project (weighted at 13 percent)
- the project’s planning (weighted at 24 percent)
- the project’s execution (weighted at 31 percent)
- project oversight and management (weighted at 25 percent)
- wrapping up the project (weighted at 7 percent)
The New Exam format
The work of a project manager is constantly evolving. The new PMP exam will concentrate on three main domains and is a clear reflection of the evolving occupational demands:
People
This domain, which makes up 42 percent of the exam weight, assesses a candidate’s ability to lead their project team. Examples of the tasks considered include:
- forming/directing a team
- dealing with conflict
- making sure your workforce is properly trained
Process
The phase of the process when experts assess the technical facets of project management carries half (50%) of the weight of the overall exam. A handful of the process questions in the PMP test are:
- Organizing and controlling resources and the budget
- Including project planning processes
- Taking care of project change
- Business Environment
The ability to follow organizational requirements is tested in this area, which is incredibly small (8%) about the other domains. Some examples of tasks are:
- Project management and planning for compliance
- Assessing the project’s value and benefits
- Assistance with organizational changes
The Exam will be more challenging.
It makes sense that this new test will need a larger breadth of study to cover everything given the amount of new content on new themes and methodologies that will be released with PMBOK 7. In other words, there is a lot more material to learn and grasp, making the exam inherently harder.
Minimum Requirement: Contact Hours
35 validated contact hours of “particular teaching that addressed learning objectives in project management” are required by the PMI.
However, with the new, larger exam, 35 contact hours are now the requirement. Preparing thoroughly for an exam will take more time.
Agile and Hybrid Methodologies Will Be the Source of Exam Questions.
The new PMP test includes questions about agile and hybrid techniques around 50 percent of the time. Due to a relative decrease in the percentage of such questions, this exam is slightly different from the previous one. When preparing for the PMP exam, keep this in mind.
Let’s examine the study advice as part of the PMP exam preparation.
6 Tips for Studying for the New PMP Exam
Make use of the PMBOK Guide
Use the guides as a road map for your many fields of study, and be sure to take advantage of updates.
Every week, PMI advises studying one of the guide’s knowledge areas. You are prepared to go on to other study materials to complement what you have learned and expand on that foundation once you have mastered the study guide.
Attend PMP exam prep seminars (Online)
You often have the option of taking PMP test preparation sessions online or in person (i.e., in a classroom). Due to COVID-19, there are presently only online prep seminars available. Online options are more affordable, and you can select the ones that best fit your learning and studying preferences.
Utilize PMP simulators online
PMP simulators are simulated PMP exams that are only available online, allowing you to test yourself and learn whenever and wherever you need to. For best preparation, these tests put students to the test with questions that closely resemble those on the real PMP exam.
Use flashcards
These are a great way to study for the PMP, whether you utilize store-bought flashcards or use electronic versions. There are printable and downloadable flashcards that can be kept on your preferred device. Use this tried-and-true technique to test oneself on vocabulary words, scenarios, experiences, and anything else you require.
Conclusion
The PMP exam is pricey and challenging. Because of the unknowns surrounding the study content and passing requirements, it is more difficult. Because of these uncertainties, several candidates choose not to prepare for the test or sit for it.
We believe that you shouldn’t let things that are out of your control bother you. Instead, you should concentrate only on the things that you can control, such as picking an effective training plan and working hard to prepare for the exam.
