PMI launched a new version of the PMP exam on 9 July 2026, built on a new Examination Content Outline (ECO). If you studied with material written before that date, some of what you learned about the format is out of date. This guide covers what changed and what it means for your preparation.
The new format at a glance
| Before 9 July 2026 | From 9 July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 180 | 180 |
| Scored questions | 175 | 170 |
| Unscored pretest questions | 5 | 10 |
| Exam time | 230 minutes | 240 minutes |
| Breaks | Two 10-minute breaks | Two 10-minute breaks |
You still answer 180 questions, but 10 of them are now unscored pretest items that PMI uses to trial future questions. You cannot tell which ones they are, so treat every question as if it counts.
The extra 10 minutes gives you about 80 seconds per question on average. That is the pace to practice at.
The domain weights moved a lot
The biggest change is the balance between the three domains:
| Domain | Old ECO | July 2026 ECO |
|---|---|---|
| People | 42% | 33% |
| Process | 50% | 41% |
| Business Environment | 8% | 26% |
Business Environment more than tripled. On a 180-question exam that is roughly 47 questions on topics like governance, compliance, benefits realization, organizational change, strategy alignment and sustainability. Candidates who skimmed this domain under the old outline could lose a lot of points now.
More agile and hybrid
Training providers widely report that about 40% of questions now reflect predictive approaches and about 60% reflect agile or hybrid approaches. PMI's outline says that predictive, adaptive and hybrid approaches are all covered and that the mix can vary between exam forms. Either way, you need to be comfortable choosing the right approach for a situation, not only running a predictive plan.
Two new question types
The July 2026 ECO lists eight question types. Two of them are new:
- Case or scenario sets. You read a longer scenario and then answer several linked questions about it.
- Graphic-based questions. You interpret a visual such as a burndown chart, a dashboard or a network diagram.
The existing types remain: multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot, fill in the blank and drag and drop.
What did not change
The core of the exam is the same. PMI still tests how a project manager should think and act in realistic situations: lead the team, engage stakeholders early, follow the agreed processes, and protect the value the project is meant to deliver. The PMBOK Guide is one reference among several, and the ECO remains the blueprint.
How to adjust your preparation
- Give Business Environment real study time. Learn how benefits are owned and tracked, how phase gates work, how compliance issues are escalated, and how a project responds to a strategy change.
- Practice long scenarios. Case sets reward reading carefully and keeping track of who said what. Timed practice exams with long stems are the best training.
- Practice at 80 seconds a question. Take at least two full 180-question mock exams in one sitting of four hours so the length does not surprise you.
- Check your materials. Anything that still shows 230 minutes or 42/50/8 weighting was written for the old exam.
Our practice exams on Udemy are built to the July 2026 weighting, with People, Process and Business Environment questions in the same proportions as the real exam. Try the free quiz below first to see where you stand.