TOPIC: PMP exam pass rate?

I’ve been preparing for the PMP exam for a few months now. I keep hearing conflicting stories about how many people actually pass on their first try. Some folks say it’s very high, others say it’s surprisingly low.

I’m curious about the overall pass rate (like, if 100 people took it, how many would pass?). I know this doesn’t change my strategy, but it helps me gauge what to expect and how challenging the exam really is. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Hello Jason,

PMI does not release that information. If you utilize the simulator here, it will tell you what percentage of people pass the test on their first try based on the results. I think it's 95% chance to pass on the first try if you're scoring 60% on the simulator.

Many students use the simulator as a gauge of their readiness to sit for the exam.

Refer to this article on the passing score in the simulator
www.pmhelpdesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/222...he-PM-Exam-Simulator

As of this writing:
Our rule of thumb is: If you consistently score 70% or more questions on your first attempt (i.e., when you answer an exam simulator question that you have never seen before), you can consider yourself to be ready to sit for the real PMI® exam. This rule is, of course, only a generalization. Everyone is different.

The truth is, no one outside of PMI really knows the official pass rate for the PMP exam. PMI guards this information closely and does not share detailed statistics or the exact passing score. If anyone claims they have the definitive pass rate, that figure is likely based on anecdotal evidence or pure speculation. (So if you see someone saying "The pass rate is X%", then they are lying to you, no matter what number they use).

What we do know is that the exam uses a “psychometric” scoring approach. This further obscures any clear pass/fail percentage. And while many candidates pass on their first attempt, it doesn’t change the fact that PMI keeps the exam’s exact performance data under wraps. I know I'm mixing apples and oranges (pass rate / passing score) in the previous statement but they go hand in hand.

Rather than worrying about rumored percentages, focus on thorough exam preparation. Study methodically, practice with our exam simulator, and go in feeling confident about your project management knowledge. In the end, the pass rate of others doesn’t determine your own success. Your commitment and preparation do.

Hi Jason,

In addition to what Cornelius mentioned about the psychometric scoring system used in the PMI exam, I'd like to add that this system weights your exam questions based on difficulty.
For example, if you get many easy questions, you'll need more correct answers to pass. Conversely, you can pass with fewer correct answers if you receive many difficult questions.
This means the overall passing rate of others or your mock exams isn't crucial. It's more important to focus on thorough preparation, not just content but also exam strategy.
This helps you remain resilient and composed, regardless of the question difficulty you might face. Ultimately, the key is to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

I have failed the exam to my first attempt having scored 80% to PMP Cast simulator two times!