June 2019, PMI announced PMP certification exam changes via an updated pmp exam content outline. First thing to remember is that the new structure takes effect from 01 July 2020. Whereas, the last date to take the pmp exam according to present structure is 30 June 2020. As a matter of fact, PMP exam content outline defines the structure of pmp examination. The profession of project management is evolving hence, PMI changes this exam content outline every 3 – 5 years. To point out presently pmp exams are based on the exam content outline published in June 2015. Hence, this post describes pmp certification exam changes introduced in 2019 in simple and easy to understand terms.

PMP Certification Exam Changes 2019

PMI in its new exam content outline describes three new domains such as people, process and business environment. Further, each domain has list of identified tasks and few enablers. The following is the definition of these terms.

1. Domain: It is the high level knowledge area essential for the practice of project management
2. Tasks: Important responsibilities of project manager in each domain area.
3. Enablers: Examples of work associated with the task.

The following enumerates distribution of questions from each domain and also provides brief description of each domain.

1. People
   • 42% consisting of 14 tasks.
   • The people domain deals with team building and team management activities.
2. Process
   • 50% comprising of 17 tasks.
   • Process domain stress on integration, schedule and change control management.
3. Business Environment
   • 08% with four tasks.
   • Business environment deals with compliance, project benefits & value and change management.

Presently, the distribution of exam questions is as per the five process groups. In order to understand the existing exam structure follow the link below.

PMP Certification Exam Changes Predictive Vs Agile

Another interesting change is that the weight of questions between predictive and agile methodology is 50%. Moreover, there is no separate domain for these approaches. Further, the new outline also highlights uniform distribution of questions for predictive and agile approaches across all domains.

PMP Certification Exam Changes Scored Vs Pretest Questions

Moreover, the new exam content outline does not mention any changes to the total number of questions. Hence the new exam will continue to be of 4 hour duration with 200 questions. Therefore, the break up of scored and unscored questions should continue to be the same as 175 and 25 respectively.

Domain	Weight	Total Questions (200 Nos)	Scored Questions (175 Nos)	Predictive / Agile (Approx No of Questions)
People	42%	84	74	37
Process	50%	100	88	44
Business Environment	08%	16	14	7
Total		200	175	88

Also read: PMP Exam 2021 Six Updates You Must Know

As shown above table gives an overview of how the questions will be distributed across each domain. It also provides an approximate number of questions that can appear across each of the project life cycle approaches.

For other PMP resources please read the following posts

• PDU Professional Development Units Explained
• Project Management Formulas
• PMBOK 6th Edition Changes Vs PMBOK 5th
• PMP Certification Application Process
• PMP Exam Questions – A Brief Analysis
• PMP Certification Benefits

Conclusion

In conclusion, PMI in 2019 has introduced significant changes to the pmp examination structure. To summarize those who have not yet scheduled their test can still do so until 30th of June 2020. However, if you wish to take the test post the cut-off date the new exam structure will be in force. Further, the recent PMP certification exam changes also sets the scene for PMBOK 7th edition. May be instead of five process groups we may have project management processes structured across the three domains.