Oh No!
It does happen.
And the first thing to know is that this is not the end of the world.
Take a break, get your head straight, and move forward.
Here are the top ten reasons for failing un-necessarily:
- Not studying the PMBOK Guide.
No, the exam is not based on it. But yes, it is a core part of the exam. - Not studying the Agile Practice Guide.
Yup this one too. - Not taking seriously the PMI's assertion that the exam will be 50% about agile and hybrid project management.
- Not investing in a formal training program from a reputable provider.
- Spent too much time trying to memorize stuff and not enough time learning to understand it.
- Not investing in a good exam simulator.
- Answered the question before re-reading it and checking it really does say what you assumed it says.
- You thought you could do it on the cheap, with mostly free resources and few or no high-quality resources.
- You answered the questions the way you thought you should do things in your organization, rather than the way PMI says you should do them. No, I don't believe PMI is always right either. But I do know that their PMP exam assumes that PMBOK and the Agile Practice Guide are right.
- Not learning the meanings of different results arising from the Earned Value formulas. just being able to do the sums is not enough. PMI wants to know if you understand what the results mean.
Sometimes, things don’t turn out as we expect. Perhaps you are not ready or unable to take your exam on the day you had planned, or perhaps you don’t pass the exam. All is not lost, and we advise that you do the following:
First, the Facts
As always, the place to look for the facts on what your options are is the PMP Handbook.
PMI gives you one year to re-take and pass the examination. During this year, you can take the exam up to three times.
PMI levies reexamination fees for your second and third attempts to pass the examination. Check the handbook for the current rates.
What if I've failed for the third time?
If you fail the examination three times within your one-year eligibility period, you have to wait one year from the date of your last examination before you can re-apply for the certification.
If your eligibility period expires without you passing the examination, you must reapply for the certification.
You could try appealing directly to PMI for a fourth exam, by writing and setting out your case. If you want to do this, I suggest you'll need to make a compelling case. Do so respectfully and follow any guidance in the Appeals Process section of the PMP Handbook.
What if I've failed for a second time?
You have another re-take, but don't rush to schedule it. If you fail again you'll need to wait a whole year. If there is not much time left for you, you could consider letting your eligibility period expire so you can reapply. This will let you schedule an exam soon after you have made your new application. Now you have another year and three more attempts to pass your PMP exam.
What if I think I Struggled Due to Special Personal Circumstances
The PMP Handbook states:
You may request the administration of any PMI examination to be modified due to disability, handicap and/or other conditions that may impair your ability to take the examination. There are no additional costs for test accommodations.
Read the Handbook and make your case before you schedule your re-examination. Examples that I am aware of include:
- Extreme exam nervousness (for which you'll probably need a note from a medical practitioner or psychologist)
- Language difficulties
What if I think there was a problem with the exam?
Well, once again, there are two sections in the PMP Handbook that take you through:
- The Complaints Process
- The Appeals Process
Our Advice
Take a Break
Preparing for your exam will have been stressful. And finding your work has not been enough for you to pass yet will only add to that stress.
So, take a break. At least a week - better, two weeks, before you start work towards your re-examination.
If you think about it, your response will be rather like mourning a loss. As a result, you need to accept that loss, reflect on it, and talk it out with the people in your support group: family, friends, colleagues, and this community.
And then, start to move on with your life and think about re-starting your preparation.
Get Positive!
Thousands of people all over the world can pass the PMP Exam. So what makes you different?
Nothing.
You failed your exam. But this just means you have not passed... yet!
Think about the Timing
After a week or two, start to think about when you want to re-take your exam. Don't rush it, it's better to prepare well and pass confidently the next time.
You may want to create your revision plan (below) before finalizing your re-take date and booking it.
Preparing for Your Re-take
The place to start is the evidence from your previous exam.
Carefully review the score report. This will show you your proficiency levels for each performance domain. These can be:
- Above target
- Meets target
- Below target
- Needs improvement
This information will give you a big picture impression of your strengths and weaknesses. Also, think back to the questions that you found comfortable and those you struggled with. Make some notes of your revision priorities.
Map Out Your Revision Plan
The next step is to compare your revision priorities with your primary preparation resources:
- The PMP Examination Content Outline - Look at which Tasks you need to focus on.
- The PMBOK Guide
- The Agile Practice Guide
- The Agie Manifesto, 12 Principles, and Scrum Guide
Use this as the basis to create a revision plan.
Did You Use an Exam Simulator?
If you did, think about getting an extension. This is easy to do with the recommended PMP Exam Simulator.
If you did not... Guess what? It's time to consider getting one.
Think about Adding to Your Study Materials
Your task is almost certainly to better interpret some of the situations in the exam questions, and better understand some of the concepts in the exam. You may well find that a different point of view is valuable. So consider investing in new materials to help you.