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Full announcement text as published by PMI
1 December 2005
PMI is dedicated to
offering a globally recognized, quality-based
credentialing program for Project Management
Professionals (PMP®). In 2004, PMI initiated a
planned revision of the PMP® Examination
according to the processes set out in PMI’s
quality assurance manual, which PMI maintains as
part of its ISO 9001 certification in Quality
Management Systems. Since the new exam was
released on 30 September 2005, more than 800
candidates have taken it. Before the release of
the new examination, PMI assembled a group of
volunteers to help establish the passing score.
Using a method known as the “Modified Angoff
Technique” (a proven exam development method), a
group of global PMPs in the summer of 2005
assessed each test question and independently
evaluated the questions to determine their
difficulty level. Their responses were then sent
to PMI’s psychometric (exam development) experts
and averaged. From that information, PMI’s
psychometricians recommended that PMI adopt a
passing point of 81 percent (141 correct
questions). After the examination was
introduced, PMI monitored candidate performance
to verify the validity of the passing score. In
addition to its analysis of the actual test
results from over 800 candidates, PMI sought
review by an additional volunteer team. After
performing a statistical analysis of the
additional data, PMI and its independent
psychometricians were able to make conclusions
about the performance of questions as well as
candidate performance. This second review,
initiated by PMI as part of standard exam
development procedure, indicated that the
passing score should be adjusted. Accordingly,
PMI revised the passing score for the exam to 61
percent (106 correct questions). PMI then
applied the new passing score to all
examinations taken since 30 September 2005 by
candidates who sat for the new exam. While we
remain extremely sensitive to candidate concerns
about such a change in the passing score, these
considerations must be weighed in context of the
overall purpose of the exam: to provide a
consistent global standard that all
practitioners must meet to ensure the credential
is awarded to qualified individuals. We need to
ensure that candidates who do not meet the
knowledge and experience criteria do not receive
the credential, but more importantly, we do not
want candidates that are qualified to be
prevented from receiving the credential because
the exam presents such a strenuous challenge to
the test taker.
The steps PMI is taking
include:
• Candidates who were not
successful on the new exam have had their test
re-scored using the adjusted passing score.
• Where the result of this
review determined that the candidate’s score is
above the adjusted passing score, he or she is
awarded the credential and notified through a
communication.
• Candidates who were
granted the PMP Credential will be mailed their
new PMP packages and will have their names added
to the online PMP registry within 8 weeks.
• Candidates who still
have a failing grade after having their test
re-scored are advised through a communication
and are encouraged to re-take the test.
• Candidates, regardless
of whether they have passed or failed, received
a communication from PMI advising them of their
revised status.
• Prometric has taken
steps to adjust the passing score so that
candidates who are scheduled to test will be
scored against the revised passing score. The
complete global deployment of the change in
passing score at all Prometric sites will take
place between 15 December and 30 December.
• Candidates testing
between now and the December deployment will
have their test score evaluated by PMI and will
receive a communication as outlined above. We
thank you for your support and understanding of
the process that PMI follows. PMI recognizes the
importance of this valued credential and the
challenges that a pass/fail classification has
on the examination preparation effort by
candidates. If you have any questions regarding
this communication, please e-mail examquestions@pmi.org.
End of PMI Announcement
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