PMI Online Exam Experience

This blog explains the PMP/ACP Online Exam Experience. Due to unforseen situation, PMI has introduced online exams for PMP. PMI-ACP and CAPM are already having online exams for quite a while. PMI and Pearson Vue have shared guidelines for the online exams but still most of us wants to know from the real online exam takers about online exams experience.

Recently, I gave online PMI-ACP exam and one of my friend gave online PMI-PMP exam. Procedure to give the exam for PMI-ACP and PMI-PMP is the same except there is optional short break of 10 minutes in PMI-PMP exam after attempting half of the questions. It depends upon the exam taker if he wants to avail the break or not. If the break is taken then the exam taker will not be able to check the questions attempted before the break.

Before exam:
a. System Requirements: As mentioned on the Pearson Vue website, exams can be taken on following systems only.
     i) Operating System – Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit), Mac OS 10.13 and above (excluding beta versions). Windows Operating Systems must pass Genuine Windows Validation. Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux/Unix based Operating systems are strictly prohibited to take exams.
     ii) Laptop or desktop should have webcam and microphones which should be always ON during the exam.
b. Very good internet connection
c. Other requirements and guidelines can be checked at Pearson Vue website.
d. It would be advisable to book exam only after ensuring all requirements are complete to give the exam.
e. Exams can be booked on the Pearson Vue website just like for center-based exams. Exam takers need to select the date and time when he/she wants to give the exam.

Exam day:
a. It would be better to sit on the system before 30 mins. This not only helps in smooth check-in process but also in calming ourselves before the exam. Desk should be clean with no paper, calculator, pen etc.
b. After login to the Pearson Vue website, exam taker can see the Access Code and download option for the system test software. After opening the downloaded software, Access Code needs to be entered into the software. Once done, there will be option to get the link on the mobile through SMS. (If the exam taker has not entered the mobile number then it can entered by visiting profile section). Either photos can be clicked and uploaded from the mobile or it can be clicked from the webcam on the laptop/desktop.
c. Following photos are required – Self photo, ID Photo (for valid ID list, check PMI/PearsonVue website), four photos of the room – front, back, left and right.
d. After uploading the photos, we need to wait till the proctor comes online for the verification. He will contact through the chat/call option in the software. Proctor may ask to click photos again if it is not clear and may ask to show the room through the webcam.
e. After verification, proctor will enable the exam.
f. Exam software will take over the complete screen and user will not be allowed to use other software on the system.
g. Some guidelines will come on how to use the exam software before the first question.
h. In the exam software, there will be option for the Chat (if one needs to contact proctor), whiteboard, calculator and timer.
i. There will option to mark questions for review so that marked questions can be re-visited later point of time.
j. Once the exam ends, some survey will come.
k. After completing the survey, user can close the software.
l. Results can be checked in the Reports section of the Pearson Vue website.

I hope this would help in your preparation. Best of Luck for your exams.