PRINCE2 Examination Format

PRINCE2 exams are either taken:

As part of a PRINCE2 accredited training course through your PRINCE2 training provider,
Online or,
At a public PRINCE2 examination centre

Whichever option you choose, the PRINCE2 exams you sit will be the same in terms of style and structure.

PRINCE2 Foundation Exam

This level aims to measure whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2 method within a project environment supporting PRINCE2. To this end they need to show they understand the principles and terminology of the method, specifically, candidates must be able to:

Describe the purpose and major content of all roles, the seven principles, the seven themes and the seven processes.
State which management products are input to, and output from the seven processes.
State the main purpose, and key contents, of the major management products.
State the relationships between processes, deliverables, roles and the management dimensions of a project.

Examination format

60 minute exam duration
60 questions
Closed book
33/60 required to pass = 55% pass mark

Other information

ILX Group's PRINCE2 Foundation courses have been fully accredited
ILX Group is registered as a Project Management Institute (PMI®) REP - provider number 3490. This course will currently earn you

18 PDUs (online) 21 PDUs (classroom)

Click here to find out how to claim PDU’s

PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam

This level is aiming to measure whether a candidate could apply PRINCE2 to the running and managing of a non-complex project within an environment supporting PRINCE2. To this end they need to show that they can apply and tailor PRINCE2 to address the needs and problems of a given project scenario.

Specifically:

Produce detailed explanations of all principles, themes and processes and worked examples of all PRINCE2 products as they might be applied to address the particular circumstances of a given project scenario
Show they understand the relationships between principles, themes and processes and PRINCE2 products and can apply this understanding
Demonstrate that they understand the reasons behind the principles, themes and processes of PRINCE2, and that they understand the principles underpinning these elements
Demonstrate their ability to tune PRINCE2 to different project circumstances.

Examination format

150 minute exam duration
68 questions
38/68 required to pass = 55% pass mark
Open book exam (official PRINCE2 manual only)

Pre-requisites

In order to sit the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam you must be able to provide proof of passing one of the following exams

PRINCE2 Foundation
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)
IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager)
IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager)
IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate)

Additional information

ILX Group's PRINCE2 Practitioner courses have been fully accredited
ILX Group is registered as a PMI REP - provider number 3490. This course will currently earn you

20 PDUs (online) 21 PDUs (classroom)

Click here to find out how to claim PDU’s

PRINCE2 Agile Foundation Exam

This level aims to measure whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member of an agile project management team and understand how PRINCE2 works with agile concepts. Specifically, candidates must be able to:

Understand PRINCE2 governance requirements clearly and comprehensively
Gain a broad range of knowledge of agile concepts and techniques including: Scrum, Kanban, Lean Start-up and Cynefin
Explore the interface between PRINCE2 and agile ways of working.

Examination Format

60 minute exam duration
50 questions
Closed book
28/50 required to pass = 55% pass mark

Other Information

ILX Group's PRINCE2 Agile Foundation courses have been fully accredited
ILX Group is registered as a Project Management Institute (PMI®) REP - provider number 3490

PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner Exam

This level aims to measure whether a candidate could apply agile methods to the running and managing of PRINCE2 projects. To this end, they need to show that they can apply and tailor their knowledge of the PRINCE2 method to projects in an agile context, and in so doing:

Show that they understand the basic concepts of common agile ways of working
Show that they understand the purpose and context for combining PRINCE2® and the agile way of working
Demonstrate their ability to fix and flex the six aspects of a project in an agile context
Demonstrate the ability to tailor the PRINCE2 principles, themes, processes and management products to a project in an agile context.

Examination Format

150 minute exam duration
50 questions
30/50 required to pass = 60% pass mark
Open book exam (official PRINCE2 Agile guide only)

Pre-requisites

In order to sit the PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner exam, you must be able to provide proof of having passed one of the following exams

PRINCE2 Foundation (or higher)
Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
IPMA Level A® (Certified Projects Director)
IPMA Level B® (Certified Senior Project Manager)
IPMA Level C® (Certified Project Manager)
IPMA Level D® (Certified Project Management Associate)

Other Information

ILX Group's PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner courses have been fully accredited
ILX Group is registered as a Project Management Institute (PMI®) REP - provider number 3490

Passing PRINCE2 - PRINCE2 Exam Preparation

Passing PRINCE2 doesn't need to be daunting if you are fully prepared. Below are some general PRINCE2 exam preparation techniques to help you pass your PRINCE2 exam.

Practice PRINCE2 exam questions - utilise the ILX Group PRINCE2 exam simulator

The ILX Group curriculum exam simulator provides the ultimate test of whether or not you have understood and absorbed the course content.

Random PRINCE2 exam questions are selected from a sample PRINCE2 exam and must be answered within the specified time as if under PRINCE2 exam circumstances.

ILX offer an exam simulator as part of their course and you can download a trial version of this to give you a flavour of what will be expected in the actual PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner exams.

Review PRINCE2 past examination questions

Reviewing PRINCE2 past examination questions is a great way of testing your knowledge of the subject area and of getting an idea of the type of PRINCE2 questions to expect on your PRINCE2 exam.

Knowing the PRINCE2 course material is necessary but not sufficient to guarantee success on the PRINCE2 exam - you also need to be able to communicate the answers effectively under exam conditions.

Practice using sample questions in the same format as the exam and answer them in a simulated test environment. Even though you are only practicing, it is better to write full answers to the questions so you can work through the entire thought process.

The practice session should serve as a feedback loop. Check the answers to the practice questions to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. If you are weak in an area, go back and study it further to address any gaps.

Revising with summary notes

Make a condensed version of your readings and class notes by creating summary notes that pinpoint the key PRINCE2 terms and concepts and make sure that you understand them.

The process of making summary notes can help you to retain more information. By writing the information thoughtfully instead of just seeing it, you can develop a greater perception of the material. To take this further, activate your other senses: you can recite the summary notes aloud, and even record and listen to them.