Exam day tips & strategies
Reduce avoidable surprises so you can focus on the questions.
Before exam day
The instructions attached to your appointment are the authority for check-in, identification, permitted items, and your testing environment.
- Read your appointment confirmation and the current testing rules.
- Check that your identification meets the provider’s requirements.
- For a testing center, plan your travel and arrival.
- For an online exam, follow the provider’s system-test and workspace instructions.
If you are testing online
Run the required system check on the computer and network you intend to use. Prepare your workspace according to the provider’s rules, and follow the check-in instructions.
Do not assume paper, personal calculators, food, phones, or other materials are permitted. Check the applicable rules before your appointment.
A calm approach to the questions
These are general study suggestions, not official exam instructions or a guarantee of a particular result.
- Read the full question before considering the answers.
- Identify what the question is asking you to decide or do.
- Eliminate answers that do not fit the situation.
- Use the review features available in your exam and keep an eye on time.
Understand the scheduled break
The supplied PMI exam outline describes a 10-minute break after questions 1–75 have been completed and reviewed. Once you start the break, you cannot return to that section. Follow the instructions shown in your exam.
Go to the source. Requirements can change. Check PMI’s current guidance before applying, paying, scheduling, or renewing.