TOPIC: How hard is the PMP exam??

Hello, I need insights from people who’ve actually taken it. How difficult is it actually? Some say that the situational questions are the most challenging parts, while others mention that Agile and hybrid topics can throw you off if you’re not used to them.

I’m curious, were there topics you thought you understood but struggled with on the exam? If you could go back and prep differently, what would you focus on more?

Trying to get a feel for what I’m up against here. Thanks!

Yeah, it's pretty hard for me. Don't even think about winging it. A ton of people fail the first time, so you've gotta put in the work. I'm not kidding—it's a four-hour brain-melter. Hit up those practice tests, and PMTraining seems to be the meta. If you can consistently pull down 80%, you might have a chance.

And here's the kicker: it's not about getting a good score. You literally need to be better than half the other takers! So you've gotta get good to increase your chances of passing. Good luck!

Hello Ryan, welcome to the forums.

I expect you will hear many different answers to that question. For some, it was extremely difficult. For others, it wasn't too bad.

I had just taken the test last November and I will say it is a little of both. I will not say you cannot pass it without studying, but I will say it would be incredibly hard to do so. I had just finished my BS in Project Management the year prior in December, and I took from May to November studying using the PM Prepcast.

I passed the People and Process domains with "On Target" and the Business domain with "Below Target". That was enough for a pass, so you don't have to be perfect. Yes, the questions are very vague and often have two right answers. Your job is to choose the best answer. There were plenty I came across which I would not have known if I didn't study.

The PM Prepcast also has a pretty decent exam simulator which can help you. It shows you the percentage chance you have to pass the test with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd attempts, based on your simulator results. With around 60-65% average score it gave me something like 90% on the first try and around 95% chance on the second try. Again, you don't have to be perfect.

Just stay consistent studying and stay consistent with your energy during the test and you should be fine. If you fail the first time, take some more time to study the areas you failed on and then take it again. The PMP Exam will not tell you what answers you got wrong, only domains. It is a very hard test, but it also isn't that bad.

The best way to get a feel for what you're up against is to enroll in a high-end exam simulator. The one that's offered here on PrepCast served me quite well when I was studying.

To me, a highly technical and detailed-oriented person, the PMP exam was quite difficult as I found it much like learning a foreign language.

Good luck!

Ryan, I took my PMP exam a while back when it was more of a “knowledge-based” test, and if I could do it all over again today, I’d definitely shift my focus. Nowadays, the exam has a lot more scenario-based questions and covers Agile and hybrid approaches in greater depth. And it's this variety that can make it all feel tricky if you’re used to a purely predictive (waterfall) mindset.

If I were prepping now, I wouldn’t read the entire PMBOK Guide cover to cover as my primary strategy. Instead, I’d follow the approach I detail in my video:


To summarize what I say in the video:
One: Start by reviewing the PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO). It’s the blueprint of the exam and shows exactly which topics you need to master.
Two: Use a thorough PMP exam prep course based on the ECO. A good course integrates material from the PMBOK Guide, Agile Practice Guide, and more, so you don’t have to read them all on your own.
Three: Practice with a reputable exam simulator by answering at least 500 to 1,000 questions. This will help you adapt to the exam’s situational style and confirm you can apply your knowledge.
Four: Use the PMBOK Guide (and other guides) only as reference material for areas where you consistently miss questions or feel less confident.

Most people find the situational questions challenging because they test your ability to apply concepts in real-world scenarios, while Agile and hybrid topics can be confusing if you’re only familiar with predictive approaches. If I could go back, I’d spend more time answering situational practice questions (especially those involving Agile and hybrid) then diving deeper into any areas where I messed up. Good luck with your studies.

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, perhaps you can say the level of difficulty is in the eye of the test taker.

As others suggest: take loads of practice exams to gauge of preparedness for the "real" PMP exam and to identify any potential gaps.

Practice, practice.. Everyone has a different background and different set of strengths, so the way they perceive the "ease or difficulty" of different sections will vary.
For instance, I come from an engineering background and I found the portions on project scheduling, variances and generally all of the calculations a breeze. However, I know this is not the case for everyone.
So in short, you will need to skim the material once and gauge your level of comfort with each area - then apportion more time to delve into areas you are not as comfortable with.
And once you have done a decent review of the material - I highly recommend taking practice tests. That is what truly tells you where you need to focus - even if you don't perceive it that way!