PRINCE2 Foundation / Practitioner - Course Content
Below are some of the more frequent questions we receive regarding PRINCE2. More information on PRINCE2 can be found at the UK Office of Government Commerce website, developers of PRINCE2.
What is PRINCE2?
Why use a project management method?
What is the exam format?
What is the required pass mark?
How much extra work do I need to do?
When is the exam?
Should I do Foundation or Practitioner?
1. What is PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 was developed as a non-proprietary 'best practice' project management methodology and with growing popularity, is evolving into an international de facto standard. The method describes how a project is divided into manageable stages enabling efficient control of resources, regular progress monitoring and decision points throughout the project. The various roles and responsibilities for managing a project are fully described and are adaptable to suit the size and complexity of the project, and the skills of the organisation.
A PRINCE2 project is driven by the project's business case which describes the organisation's justification, commitment and rationale for the deliverables or outcomes. The business case is regularly reviewed during the project to ensure the business objectives, which often change during the lifecycle of the project, are still being met.
Using a standard 'best practice' approach, PRINCE2 ensures that a quality solution can be delivered and enables projects to have:
- A controlled and organised start, middle and end
- Regular reviews of progress against plan and against the Business Case
- Flexible decision points
- Automatic management control of any deviations from the plan
- The involvement of management and stakeholders at the right time and place during the project
- Good communication channels between the project, project management, and the rest of the organisation
2. Why use a project management method?
Project failures are all too common - some make the headlines, the vast majority are either forgotten or are swept under the carpet. Either way, there is always a cost. Sometimes this cost is critical. In many if not most cases it could have been readily avoided.
Projects underperform when those who commission it, those who manage it and those who work on it have different ideas about how things should be organised and when the different aspects of the project should be completed. A project management method is a way of ensuring that all key players are operating with the same rules and guidelines. Without a project management method, projects will rarely be completed on time and within acceptable cost - this is especially true of large projects. A good project management method will guide the project through a controlled, well-managed, visible set of activities to achieve the desired results.
There are many project management methods available. Ultimately all are based on common sense and sound management procedures. PRINCE2 is one of the most widely adopted project management methods in the world today.
3. What is the exam format?
To attain PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification you first must pass your Foundation Certificate Exam and then pass your Practitioner Certificate Exam:
- Foundation Exam format: 75 multiple choice questions to be completed in 1-hour (closed book)
- Practitioner Exam format: 9 multiple choice questions to be completed in 3-hours (open book)
4. What is the required pass marks and percentages for both exams?
To attain PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification you must successfully pass both the Foundation Certificate and the Practitioner Certificate Exams with the following marks:
- Foundation Exam: You must score 38 out of 75 correctly (50%) to pass
- Practitioner Exam: You must score 50% to pass
5. How much extra work do I have to do at home?
The following is the recommended preparation for the two exams:
- Foundation Exam: An hour of reading each night of the course
- Practitioner Exam: An hour of reading each night of the course
6. When during the program are the two exams held?
- Foundation Exam: Day 3 of the program (last day of Foundation module)
- Practitioner Exam: Day 5 of the program (last day of Practitioner module)
7. Should I do PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner?
The full 5-day PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate Program is designed for current or aspiring project management professionals who need to fully master this leading PM method and at the same time obtain a globally-recognised certification. This program is also ideal for anyone intending to become a PRINCE2 Consultant or PRINCE2 Trainer.
The PRINCE2 3-day Foundation Certificate Course taken on its own is designed for those who are not necessarily aspiring for professional level knowledge but who nevertheless require a sufficient understanding of this project management methodology – such as people working on projects, people initiating projects, business representatives, team leaders, those with an interest in project management or who are considering moving into that field. If you take the Foundation module on its own you may at a later date take the Practitioner module and complete the full program.
