The Program Management Professional (PgMP^®) Exam Practice Test & Study Guide includes five sections, each of which corresponds to one of the five domains described in the Program Management Professional (PgMP^®) Examination Content Outline (April 2011). These domains correspond to those in The Standard for Program Management—Third Edition (2013), which are: Program Strategy Alignment, Program Benefits Management, Program Stakeholder Engagement, Program Governance, and Program Life Cycle Management.

Each section contains study hints, a list of major topics that are encountered on the exam, and 20 multiple-choice practice questions complete with an answer sheet, an answer key that includes a rationale for each correct answer, and a bibliographic reference for further study if needed. The Program Management domain is broken into five sections corresponding to the five phases in the program life cycle as described in the Examination Content Outline. Given the large number of questions in this domain, we have 20 multiple-choice practice test questions for each of these five sections.

We have also included two complete practice tests, each consisting of 170 questions*, that follow the blueprint of the real PgMP^® exam as described in the Examination Content Outline. For example:

• 15 percent of the questions relate to strategic program management
• 44 percent relate to the program life cycle as subdivided as follows:
  • 6% of the questions involve initiating
  • 11% of the questions involve planning
  • 14% of the questions involve executing
  • 10% of the questions involve controlling
  • 3% of the questions involve closing
• 11 percent relate to benefit management
• 16 percent relate to stakeholder management
• 14 percent relate to governance

To use this study guide effectively, work on one section at a time. It does not matter which section you choose first, but we recommend that you answer the questions in the order presented, because this order reflects the Examination Content Outline. Start by reading the study hints, which provide useful background on the content of the PgMP^® exam and identify the emphasis placed on various topics. Familiarize yourself with the major topics listed. Then, answer the practice questions that follow, recording your answers on the answer sheet provided. Finally, compare your answers to those in the answer key. The rationales provided should clarify any misconceptions. For further study and clarification, consult the bibliographic reference.

After you have finished answering the questions that follow each section, it is time to take the practice tests. We have developed scenario and other types of questions for each practice test. First take the tests on line and then take them in the book Note your answers on the sheets provided, compare your answers to the answer key, and use your results to determine what areas you need to study further.*

To make the most of this specialty publication, use it regularly. The tips listed below will help you to get the most out of your preparation for the PgMP^® exam:

• Take and retake the practice tests on line and in the book. Photocopy the answer sheets so that you have a clean one to use each time you retake the practice tests.
• Consider convening a study group to compare and discuss your answers with those of your colleagues. This method of study is a powerful one. You will learn more from your colleagues than you ever thought possible.
• Make sure that you have a solid understanding of the exam topics provided in each section.
• Consult our bibliography, or other sources that you have found useful, for further independent study.
• Most importantly, create a study plan and stick to it. Your chances of success increase dramatically when you set a goal and dedicate yourself to meeting it.

To further enhance your study, the two practice tests are available on-line at http://www.ittoday.info/pgmp/examhome.html. The web-based version of these exams includes a clock so you can see how well you do in the allotted four hours for the exam. One approach to consider is to take one of the web-based exams after you go through the book with the test questions by domain and see how you do. Then see your weak areas and do some additional studying. Follow it and see your progress by taking the exams in the book so you can see the rationale for each answer. Study some more and then try the second exam.

Either in this book or on the web, the practice tests are an essential study tool created with one goal in mind: helping you to pass your exam and become PgMP^® certified.

*Of the 170 questions on the real PgMP^® certification exam, 20 are pretest questions and do not count for scoring purposes. When taking the real exam, you will not know which 20 are the unscored pretest questions, so you will need to answer each question as if it were one of the 150 to be scored. For the practice test in this publication, we provide all 170 questions as if they were real questions; there are no pretest questions in our practice exams, and the blueprint is applied to all 170 questions.

*PMI^® grades the PgMP^® exam by assigning each question a degree-of-difficulty factor (which is not know to you) and a certain number of points that will be awarded if it is answered correctly. When you answer a question correctly, the value of that correct answer may, and probably will, be different from the value of other questions because of this “factor.” To pass the real PgMP^® Certification Exam, a candidate must earn a total score equal to or higher than the “cut score” of 325. We do not have a degree-of-difficulty number for the questions in our practice tests. However, we have written every question as if it had the higher degree of difficulty. We believe that if you can correctly answer at least 90 percent of the questions on these practice tests, then you should be prepared to pass the real PgMP^® Certiication Exam.