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PMP practice questions with answers explained
Updated October 12, 2026 · by the PMCLEAR team
Below are 6 free PMP practice questions in simple English. Each answer explains the rule behind it and why the other options are wrong. After the questions you will find a simple way to practise so that your score goes up, not only your question count.
How the PMP exam asks questions
From July 2026 the PMP exam has 180 questions in 240 minutes, with two optional 10-minute breaks. That is about 80 seconds per question. Most questions are short situations: something happens on a project, and you choose what the project manager should do FIRST, NEXT or what is BEST. Besides normal multiple choice, the exam also uses formats such as multiple response, matching and hotspot.
Source: PMI, PMP certification page. Read our PMP exam format guide for the domains and question types.
Try 6 free PMP practice questions
Choose an answer to see the explanation, or open “Show the answer”.
Question 1 During execution of a predictive project, a key stakeholder asks the project manager to add a new monthly report to the scope. What should the project manager do FIRST?
Show the answer
Answer: B. In a predictive project every change goes through integrated change control. First you understand the impact; then you write a change request for the change control board. A skips the process (this is scope creep). C is wrong because an approved baseline can still change through the process. D is too early: approval comes after the impact is known, and usually from the change control board.
Question 2 At the daily standup, an agile team member says she has waited three days for test data from another department. What should the project manager do?
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Answer: C. A servant leader removes impediments that the team cannot remove alone, and does it now. A hides the problem. B is an extreme jump before talking to the department. D waits too long: the retrospective is for improving the process, not for unblocking today's work.
Question 3 A project has EV = $400,000, AC = $500,000 and PV = $450,000. What is the status of the project?
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Answer: B. CPI = EV ÷ AC = 400 ÷ 500 = 0.8. Less than 1 means over budget. SPI = EV ÷ PV = 400 ÷ 450 ≈ 0.89. Less than 1 means behind schedule. Simple rule: when EV is the smallest of the three numbers, the project is both over budget and late.
Question 4 A risk in the risk register happens: a key supplier announces a two-week delay. The team already planned a response for this risk. What should the project manager do?
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Answer: A. The risk has happened, so it is now an issue. You already have an agreed response, so you use it (and the contingency reserve, if one was planned). B and C are useful later, not first. D is not needed when a planned response and reserve already exist.
Question 5 Two senior team members disagree strongly about the technical design, and the work has slowed down. What is the BEST first step for the project manager?
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Answer: C. The PMP exam prefers collaborating and problem solving: the people involved find a solution together, and the relationship stays healthy. A and D are forcing, a last resort. B escalates before the project manager has tried to solve it.
Question 6 In the middle of the project, the project manager learns about a regulatory group that was not identified before and can affect the project. What should the project manager do FIRST?
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Answer: B. Stakeholder identification continues for the whole project. First you record and analyze the new stakeholder; then you plan how to engage them. C communicates before you know what they need. D assumes an impact that nobody has analyzed yet.
How to practise: a simple 4-step method
- Learn one topic. Read the lesson first, for example earned value basics or the project charter.
- Answer 10 to 20 questions on that topic. Not more. You want to see the pattern, not get tired.
- Read every explanation, also when you were right. Many correct answers are lucky guesses. The explanation shows the rule you need next time.
- Write down the rule you missed, in one short sentence. Test the same topic again two or three days later.
When most topics feel safe, take full timed practice exams: 180 questions in 240 minutes. This trains your reading speed and your focus for four hours, which is a skill on its own.
How many practice questions do you need?
There is no magic number. What matters is that you understand why each answer is right. 300 questions that you study carefully help more than 2,000 that you click through. A good sign that you are ready: your scores on new, timed practice exams are stable, and you can explain the reason for your answers.
Free PMP practice on PMCLEAR
- 41 free PMP exam questions with answers, grouped by topic
- 96 PMP lessons: every lesson page has a free preview with exam-style questions, and 4 lessons are completely free
- PMP study guides: short topics such as critical path and risk responses, each with practice questions
- How to read PMP questions in simple English
Questions people ask
Are these real PMP exam questions?
No. PMI does not publish its exam questions. These questions are written by PMCLEAR for practice, in the same situational style as the exam.
How long do I have for each PMP question?
The exam gives you 240 minutes for 180 questions, which is about 80 seconds per question.
Are the PMCLEAR questions free?
You can use 41 free questions, the free lesson previews and the study guides without an account. The full bank of 2,000 practice questions and the timed exams are in the PMCLEAR app, which starts with a free trial.
Is the 2026 PMP exam different?
Yes. From July 2026 the exam follows a new Examination Content Outline with three domains: People, Process and Business Environment. It still has 180 questions, and the time is 240 minutes.
Every question has the key words, the rule behind it and why each wrong answer is wrong. Start with a free trial. No card needed.
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