The PRINCE2 exam – essential facts

Posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 by Simon Buehring

PRINCE2 is the most widely used project management framework in the world. By achieving PRINCE2 certification, you become the holder of an internationally recognised project management qualification. If you are applying for a job related to project management – especially here in the UK, where PRINCE2 is regarded as the de facto standard method for managing projects – you are likely to find that a PRINCE2 qualification is an extremely valuable asset to your career.

Crucial part of your PRINCE2 project management career

There are two levels of PRINCE2 qualification: Foundation and Practitioner. As its name suggests, PRINCE2 Foundation is the entry-level qualification, ideal when you are seeking a career in project support. The higher-level qualification, PRINCE2 Practitioner, is ideal when you are pursuing a career as a project manager. In order to obtain either PRINCE2 qualification, candidates are asked to pass an exam. The PRINCE2 Foundation qualification is a pre-requisite for studying at Practitioner level, making it an essential part of many people’s project management careers.

Knowledge Train delivers PRINCE2 training courses (including the PRINCE2 exams) every week at our convenient venue in central London. The three-day PRINCE2 Foundation course prepares students to pass the PRINCE2 Foundation exam. A two-day course (known as PRINCE2 Conversion) then focuses on tailoring PRINCE2, preparing students to pass the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam. These courses can be taken separately, but many people prefer to combine them in the form of the PRINCE2 Practitioner course.

Familiarise yourself with the exam format

The PRINCE2 Foundation exam is a one-hour, ‘closed book’ exam. Candidates are not permitted to bring their PRINCE2 manuals (or any other support materials, including course notes) into the exam. The Foundation exam paper consists of 75 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge and understanding of the PRINCE2 framework. Each question is accompanied by four possible answers, only one of which is correct. Five of the questions are ‘dummy’ questions and as such are not marked. They are not identified on the exam paper and they help the APM Group to assess candidates’ response to different styles of questioning. The remaining 70 questions each carry one mark. You must score 35 marks or more (that is, answer correctly at least half of the questions that are marked) in order to pass the exam.

Book your PRINCE2 course with Knowledge Train now to discover how the method can enhance your involvement with projects. Accredited by the APM Group to deliver PRINCE2 training and exams, we offer classroom-based courses in central London and Manchester, with online PRINCE2 courses launching soon. In-house training for corporate clients is also available.

If you have any questions about taking a PRINCE2 exam or would like to discuss your project management training needs, simply call our helpful advisors on +44 (0)20 7148 5985 or email info@knowledgetrain.co.uk.