PMI · project management

PMP exam preparation

Practice for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam with adaptive questions, full-length mock exams, and a readiness score that tells you when you're actually ready to pass.

Before you register: PMP has a genuine eligibility gate — unlike most exams on this site, you cannot simply book it.

There are two routes. With a four-year degree you need 36 months of project leadership experience; without one you need 60 months. Both routes also require 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM certification. Applications are submitted to PMI for review and a proportion are randomly selected for audit, which requires your listed experience and training to be verified by supervisors. Once approved you have a one-year eligibility period in which to sit the exam. Confirm the current rules with PMI before you plan around them.

PMP exam at a glance

Issuer

PMI

Questions

180 questions (170 scored, 10 unscored pretest)

Duration

240 minutes, with two 10-minute breaks

Scoring

Performance reported as Above/At/Below Target per domain

Pass mark

No single scaled number — judged on overall performance

Format

Multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot

Heads up: PMI updated the PMP exam on 9 July 2026 to align with the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition. Business Environment rose from 8% to 26% of the exam — roughly 14 questions to roughly 47 — while People fell from 42% to 33% and Process from 50% to 41%. Testing time went from 230 to 240 minutes. Study material written for the previous content outline understates Business Environment by a wide margin.

PMP exam domains

The PMP exam covers 3 domains, with the approximate weighting shown below:

People33%
Process41%
Business Environment26%

What each PMP domain covers

People. Leading and building the team: conflict, coaching and mentoring, negotiation, virtual teams, and removing the impediments that stop delivery. Situational questions here usually reward the answer that talks to the person before escalating.

Process. The mechanics of delivery across predictive, agile and hybrid approaches: scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, procurement and change. Still the largest domain, though smaller than it was before the 2026 outline.

Business Environment. Why the project exists and whether it still should: organisational strategy, benefits and value, compliance, and external change. Historically a small slice of the exam and now more than a quarter of it, which is the single biggest trap for anyone studying from older material.

PMP exam facts

Questions: 180 — 170 scored, plus 10 unscored pretest items that do not count toward your result.
Duration: 240 minutes, with two optional 10-minute breaks.
Item formats: Multiple choice, multiple response, matching and hotspot — not only single-answer questions.
Approach mix: Roughly half the exam covers predictive approaches and half agile or hybrid, so preparing for only one is preparing for half the paper.
Scoring: There is no single passing percentage. PMI reports performance per domain as Above Target, Target, Below Target or Needs Improvement, and determines pass or fail on overall performance.
Outline change: The current exam content outline took effect on 9 July 2026, aligned to the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition.
Eligibility: Applications are reviewed by PMI and may be audited before you can schedule.

How CertPrepX helps you pass the PMP

Adaptive practice that focuses on your weakest PMP domains.
Full-length, timed mock exams that mirror the real PMP format and scoring.
A readiness score per domain, so you know when you're ready to sit the exam.
Weak-area review and spaced repetition to lock in what you miss.
A personalized study plan built around your target PMP exam date.

Who the PMP is for

Project managers and team leads with the required experience who want PMI’s globally recognized project management certification.

Start preparing for the PMP — free

Create a free account and start practicing today. Go Premium ($99/year) for full mock exams, analytics, and a Pass Guarantee.

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PMP exam FAQ

How many questions are on the PMP exam?

The PMP exam has 180 questions — 170 scored and 10 unscored pretest items — with a 240-minute time limit and two optional 10-minute breaks.

What are the three PMP domains?

People (33%), Process (41%), and Business Environment (26%) under the exam content outline that took effect on 9 July 2026.

Did the PMP exam change in 2026?

Yes. On 9 July 2026 PMI aligned the PMP with the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition. Business Environment more than tripled, from 8% to 26%, People fell to 33%, Process fell to 41%, and testing time rose from 230 to 240 minutes.

Does CertPrepX cover the PMP domains?

Yes. CertPrepX provides domain-weighted practice and timed mock exams across People, Process, and Business Environment.

Sources

Exam details on this page come from PMI’s own published materials and were last verified on 24 August 2026. PMI can change exam policy at any time, so confirm current requirements with PMI before you register.