PMP® Exam Changes: Everything You Need To Know About The New Project Management Professional® Exam

3 Changes To The PMP® Exam

The new version of PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam launched on January 2, 2021. Here are the key PMP® exam changes:

1. A new focus on three key domains
2. Less questions
3. Additional break for computer-based testers

1. New PMP® Domains: People, Process & Business Environment

In order to meet the latest demands on project managers, the new Project Management Professional® exam focuses on the following domains:

1. People: This domain focuses on leading a project team and the skills and activities necessary to do so effectively.
2. Process: This domain focuses on the technical aspects of project management.
3. Business Environment: This domain focuses on building the connection between an organization’s strategy and projects.

Domain Percentages & Tasks

• People – 42%
  • Manage conflict
  • Lead a team
  • Support team performance
  • Empower team members and stakeholders
  • Ensure team stakeholders/members are adequately trained
  • Build a team
  • Address and remove impediments, obstacles, and blockers for the team
  • Negotiate project agreements
  • Collaborate with stakeholders
  • Build shared understanding
  • Engage and support virtual teams
  • Define team ground rules
  • Mentor relevant stakeholders
  • Promote team performance through the application of emotional intelligence
• Process – 50%
  • Execute project with the urgency required to deliver business value
  • Manage communications
  • Assess and manage risks
  • Engage stakeholders
  • Plan and manage budget and resources
  • Plan and manage schedule
  • Plan and manage quality of products/deliverables
  • Plan and manage scope
  • Integrate project planning activities
  • Manage project changes
  • Plan and manage procurement
  • Manage project artifacts
  • Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and practices
  • Establish project governance structure
  • Manage project issues
  • Ensure knowledge transfer for project continuity
  • Plan and manage project/phase closure or transitions
• Business Environment – 8%
  • Plan and manage project compliance
  • Evaluate and deliver project benefits and value
  • Evaluate and address external business environment changes for impact on scope
  • Support organizational change

Are You Ready For The New PMP®?

Join Our Next PMP Exam Prep Class

2. 20 Less Questions

The new PMP® exam will only have 180 questions compared to 200 on the old version of the exam. Candidates will have 230 minutes to complete the exam and the same number of questions will be scored as in the previous version. Question types include:

• Multiple-choice
• Multiple responses
• Matching
• Hotspot
• Fill-in-the-blank

3. An Added 10 Minute Break

The new exam will include an additional 10-minute break for computer-based tests. This brings the total number of breaks for computer-based tests to 2. There will continue to be no breaks for paper-based exams.