PMP Exam Changes on 31 August 2011 - Do Not Miss to Read the Important Tip to Pass the Exam

On many blogs, quite a few candidates who want to take the PMP exam after 31 August 2011 have asked a lot of questions about the recent PMP exam changes. They wanted to know mainly more about the examination changes. The article below mentions the expected changes in detail.

First of all let me explain why PMI has decided to change the PMP examination. As some you might know already, PMI conducts a role delineation study (RDS) for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential every five to seven years to ensure that the credential meets today organizations project manager needs. Over 3,000 PMP credential holders from North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean regions have participated in recent RDS study and the results reveals that that the professional and social responsibility area should be integrated into all of the work of project management. Therefore, PMI decided to change the PMP examination.

What is not changing? - The education and experience eligibility requirements for the existing PMP examination remain appropriate and will not be changed. The PMBOK® Guide Forth Edition is not changing and exam takers can use that as a reference book.

What is changing? -  As per PMI, approximately 30% of the PMP exam content will change. Since the Professional and Social Responsibility content area will now be tested in every domain, the proportion of questions from each domain will change.  On the exam, thirteen percentages of questions come from project initiation; twenty four percentages of questions come from project planning; thirty percentages of questions come from project execution; twenty five percentages of questions come from monitoring and controlling the projects and eight percentages of questions come from project closing.

As we all know total number of questions on the exam is 200[175 questions are scorable questions and 25 questions are unscorable questions (Pre-testing questions)]. Thirty percentages of 175 is 52.5. Hence roughly 52 or 53 questions on the exam will be changing. Based on the mathematical formula [total number of score-able questions multiplied by % of questions on each domain multiplied by 30 percentage], we can predict a break-up of questions (presented below) that will be changed to test Professional and Social Responsibility area in each domains.

·         Roughly seven questions from Project initiation domain will be changed.

·         Roughly thirteen questions from Project planning domain will be changed

·         Roughly fifteen questions from Project execution domain will be changed

·         Roughly Thirteen questions from Project Monitoring and Control domain will be changed

·         Roughly four questions from Project Closing domain will be changed

Now, let us look at the below two sample questions to analyze the changes.

Before 31 August 2011- Sample PMP exam questions

Question 1: Mr. Joseline Edward is working as a project manager for a construction company. He is running over budget and getting pressure to cut cost and the project sponsor asked to make a change in the scope. He should:

A. Defer the decision to your boss; B. Make sure the customer understands the impact, and proceed if they do, C. Inform the customer of the scope change procedure D. Assign a specialist to handle the change

Answer: C

Question 2: Mr. Joseline Edward is working as a project manager for a construction company. He is preparing cost estimate for a project.  He used the actual cost of previously completed projects to predict the cost of this project. What type of technique he used to estimate project cost. A. He is using Bottom-Up Estimates, B. He is using Analogous Estimates, C. He is using Parametric Estimates and D. None of the Above

Answer: B

Now, let us see the modified version of the above questions to include professional and social responsibilities.

After 31 August 2011- Sample PMP exam questions

Question 3: Mr. Joseline Edward is working as a project manager for a construction company. He is running over budget and getting pressure to cut cost and the project sponsor asked to make a change in the scope. He has an opportunity to cut cost by using low quality brick which can damage the product of the project after 10 years. What should he do? Select the best option?

A. Yes. The cost/benefits show it is worth to use. B. Yes. The Project Sponsor wants to cut cost no matter what. C. No. Joseline Edward should not use it. He can look to cut cost somewhere. D. Joseline Edward should inform to the project shareholders and get their approval and use it.

Answer: C

Question 4: Mr. Joseline Edward is working as a project manager for a construction company. He is preparing cost estimate for a project.  He used the actual cost of previously completed projects to predict the cost of this project and he provided an estimate just 100% higher than the predicted cost of the project. Is he using the right technique to estimate project cost? A. Yes. He is using Bottom-Up Estimates, B.Yes, He is using Analogous Estimates, C.No, He is using Parametric Estimates and D. None of the Above

Answer: D [Reason: even though he is using the Analogous Estimates, it is not appropriate to use 100% higher than the estimated cost without a valid reason and without getting approval from stakeholders]

These are all just sample questions. In similar ways, 52 questions on the exam will be used to test the exam takers knowledge on Professional and Social Responsibilities.

Hence my tip to the exam takers is, when selecting more appropriate answer out of the four possible options for these types of questions that aim to analyze your decision making attitude. Please look at the options from a professional and social responsibility standpoint. If you think the answer is ethically right for the given situation I would say, that is the best choice.

If you have any other tips to the PMP exam takers, please share your views.