What is the PMP Exam Passing Score?

Only the PMI knows what is the PMP exam passing score. This mystery occupied my mind during my exam prep because there was no clear answer. Many places report that 61% is a passing score, but no one knows.

According to the PMP Handbook, the PMI does not provide passing score information.

PMP Exam Passing Score

Until 2005, the passing score was 61%, but nowadays, there is no fixed passing percentage or score.

A passing score on the PMP exam depends on the difficulty level of the questions an aspirant receives. If the test is easier, the passing percentage will be higher, but if the questions are more difficult, the passing score will be lower.

The PMI has made it clear in the PMP® Handbook:

The passing score for all PMI credential examinations is determined by sound psychometric analysis. PMI uses subject matter experts from across the globe to help establish a point at which each candidate should pass the examination(s) and the examination point of difficulty. Data that shows how candidates performed is cross-referenced with the subject matter experts to ensure that the point of difficulty on each examination is healthy.

A psychometric analysis is a statistical model used to find the passing marks for the PMP. This calculates the passing score for aspirants based on questions received, but n such a way that the difficulty level for each test remains similar. Although each candidate receives a different set of questions, the technical capability needed to pass is always similar.

The PMP exam report provides you with two pieces of information. Whether you have passed or failed the test, and your level of proficiency in each domain, whether you are “Above Target,” “Target,” “Below Target,” or “Needs Improvement.”

Target Levels Required to Pass the PMP Exam

Although there is no official information, based on my experience, I can say that if you get “need improvement” in two domains, you will have the lowest chance of passing the PMP exam. You also have a low chance if you have two “below target” grades.

Let us look at the PMP exam question distribution for each domain.

Three domains—planning, executing, and monitoring & controlling—make up 80% of the questions. Therefore, you are unlikely to pass the PMP exam if you get two “below target” or “needs improvement” grades in any of these primary domains.

What are the Scorable Questions on the PMP Exam?

On the PMP exam, you will get 180 questions. Of these, 15 are pre-test questions. They are added to check the validity of future questions and are not part of your total score. Since there is no way for you to identify these questions, you should assume all 180 questions are scoreable.

The PMP Passing Score

Although there is no fixed passing score for the PMP certification exam, the general perception is that it hovers around 70%. So it is in your best interest to aim higher than that mark.

Test yourself with different mock tests and note your score. If you consistently get more than 70% to 80%, consider yourself ready for the exam. If your score is below 70%, you need to study harder.

A Few Myths About the PMP Passing Score

You will find many rumors about the PMP passing score. Let us clear up some of those myths.

Myth #1: The PMP exam has a 61% (or 70%) passing score

At one time, the passing score for the PMP exam was 61%; however, since 2005, PMI has stopped giving information on the passing percentage. However, people claimed that it was still 61%. Later on, many experts claimed that the passing mark was 70%

None of these statements are correct, as, since 2005, PMI has stopped disclosing the passing percentage for the PMP exam.

Myth #2: All questions carry equal weight

This is the most popular myth. In the PMP exam, an easier question is worth fewer points than a more difficult question.

Myth #3: The passing score is fixed

The PMP exam passing grade is not fixed; it depends on the set of questions you receive. If you receive an easier set of questions, your passing grade will be higher; if you receive a set of difficult questions, your passing threshold will be lower.

Myth #4: Each target level has a fixed passing percentage

Some say each target level has a fixed passing percentage; for example, “Above Target” means above 90%, “Target” means above 80%, etc.

The PMI has never confirmed this; therefore, this assumption is also incorrect.

Conclusion

Few people believe a passing score for the PMP is 61%, but most still accept that they need 70% to earn certification. However, there is no fixed grade to pass the exam.

Your passing mark will depend on the difficulty of the questions you receive. Easier questions will need a higher percentage to pass.

You should try to score more than 70% for your PMP exam, so you will have a higher chance of passing the PMP exam.

Have you attempted the PMP exam? What was your difficulty level, and what was your result? Please share your experience in the comments section.

Please note that in this blog post, I have given you my observations based on my experience. I do not take responsibility for the correctness and reliability of the data and information provided in this blog post. Do your due diligence before reaching any conclusion.