About the exam
PRINCE2 7 Exam structure
An independent guide to the current PeopleCert PRINCE2 Project Management Version 7 method, the Foundation syllabus and the Practitioner application-and-tailoring path.
Issuer and path
PRINCE2 Project Management Version 7 Study Guide is administered through PeopleCert. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
LO1 · Projects and PRINCE2 Concepts
0 scored + 0 pretest
The five integrated elements, project definitions and characteristics, performance targets, delivery approaches, project context and method benefits. Official Foundation weighting: 3 percent.
LO2 · PRINCE2 Principles
0 scored + 0 pretest
The seven principles, how they underpin the method, and the factors, responsibilities and records involved in tailoring. Official Foundation weighting: 8 percent.
LO3 · People in Successful Projects
0 scored + 0 pretest
Organizational and project ecosystems, change, stakeholders, culture, leadership, collaboration, communication, teams and supporting approaches. Official Foundation weighting: 14 percent.
LO4 · PRINCE2 Practices
0 scored + 0 pretest
Business case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues and progress, including their products, guidance, techniques and integration with the principles. Official Foundation weighting: 60 percent.
LO5 · PRINCE2 Processes
0 scored + 0 pretest
The purpose, objectives and context of the seven processes from starting up through directing, delivery, stage control and closure. Official Foundation weighting: 15 percent.
Check the level, version and prerequisite before booking
Confirm that the product says PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation or Practitioner (Version 7), select the correct exam language and record the voucher and renewal dates. Practitioner candidates should confirm that PeopleCert accepts their exact prerequisite. They should also review the current exam-day rules for official-book access and annotations.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Method, Projects and Performance | 0 | 9 | 3 | Strong |
| Delivery Approaches, Context and Method Benefits | 0 | 9 | 3 | Strong |
| Business Justification and Learning | 0 | 12 | 3 | Strong |
| Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships | 0 | 12 | 3 | Strong |
| Manage by Stages and Manage by Exception | 0 | 12 | 3 | Strong |
| Focus on Products and Tailor to Suit | 0 | 12 | 3 | Strong |
| Ecosystems, Culture and Change | 0 | 21 | 3 | Strong |
| Stakeholders and Communication | 0 | 21 | 3 | Strong |
| Leadership, Management and Effective Teams | 0 | 21 | 3 | Strong |
| People Products and Method Integration | 0 | 21 | 3 | Strong |
| Business Case Practice | 0 | 52 | 3 | Strong |
| Organizing Practice | 0 | 52 | 3 | Strong |
| Plans Practice | 0 | 52 | 3 | Strong |
| Quality Practice | 0 | 52 | 3 | Strong |
| Risk Practice | 0 | 52 | 3 | Strong |
| Issues Practice | 0 | 51 | 3 | Strong |
| Progress Practice | 0 | 50 | 3 | Strong |
| Starting Up a Project | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Directing a Project | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Initiating a Project | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Controlling a Stage | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Managing Product Delivery | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Managing a Stage Boundary | 0 | 13 | 3 | Strong |
| Closing a Project | 0 | 12 | 3 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for PRINCE2 Version 7
Build the project and principle foundations first, integrate people throughout the method, then connect each practice with the seven-process lifecycle and scenario tailoring.
1. Locate the project context
Identify the organizational, commercial and delivery environment, scale, complexity, capability and uncertainty.
2. Test all seven principles
Reject any proposal that breaks a principle; tailor the remaining method elements to fit the context.
3. Identify the people impact
Separate people within and affected by the project, then address leadership, change, engagement, communication and capability.
4. Choose the governing practice
Follow the decision object: justification, organization, plan, quality, risk, issue or progress.
5. Locate the process and authority
Match the lifecycle moment to the process and assign the decision to the board, project manager or team manager.
6. Select the product and control
Use the correct management product, tolerance, report, register, plan or approach to support the decision.
Official Foundation coverage
Cover all five learning outcomes
Move from concepts and principles through people, practices and the complete process model.
The Method, Projects and Performance
The five integrated elements, project and project-management definitions, project characteristics and the seven aspects of performance.
Choose a topic to open below
Delivery Approaches, Context and Method Benefits
Linear-sequential, iterative-incremental and hybrid delivery, project environments, common challenges and the features and benefits of PRINCE2.
Choose a topic to open below
Business Justification and Learning
Ensure continued business justification and learn from experience throughout the project.
Choose a topic to open below
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Define an explicit organization structure that represents the business, user and supplier interests.
Choose a topic to open below
Manage by Stages and Manage by Exception
Plan, authorize and review one management stage at a time, using tolerances to delegate authority and escalate exceptions.
Choose a topic to open below
Focus on Products and Tailor to Suit
Define products and their quality expectations before activities, then tailor the method responsibly to the project context.
Choose a topic to open below
Ecosystems, Culture and Change
Organizational and project ecosystems, culture, change management, and the distinction between people within and affected by the project.
Choose a topic to open below
Stakeholders and Communication
Stakeholder identification and engagement, communication needs and the communication management approach.
Choose a topic to open below
Leadership, Management and Effective Teams
Leadership and management distinctions, collaboration, co-creation, diversity, capability, competence and team effectiveness.
Choose a topic to open below
People Products and Method Integration
The change and communication management approaches and how people considerations integrate with principles, practices and processes.
Choose a topic to open below
Business Case Practice
Develop, maintain and verify continued justification through the business case lifecycle, benefits and sustainability.
Choose a topic to open below
Organizing Practice
Establish the project management team, represent the three interests, define roles and manage commercial relationships.
Choose a topic to open below
Plans Practice
Facilitate communication and control by defining products, planning delivery and applying tolerances across planning horizons.
Choose a topic to open below
Quality Practice
Specify user expectations and acceptance criteria, then plan, control and assure that products remain fit for purpose.
Choose a topic to open below
Risk Practice
Identify, assess and control uncertainty through risk planning, analysis, responses, ownership, culture and data.
Choose a topic to open below
Issues Practice
Capture and assess issues, protect baselines and control changes through delegated authority and resolution decisions.
Choose a topic to open below
Progress Practice
Monitor actual achievement, forecast future performance and control deviations through tolerances, reports, lessons, escalation and data.
Choose a topic to open below
Starting Up a Project
Confirm that the project is worthwhile and viable enough to justify the work needed for initiation.
Choose a topic to open below
Directing a Project
Enable the project board to make key decisions and exercise overall control while delegating day-to-day management.
Choose a topic to open below
Initiating a Project
Establish firm foundations for the project by defining scope, justification, controls, approaches and the plan.
Choose a topic to open below
Controlling a Stage
Assign work, monitor progress, manage issues and risks, report and take corrective action within a management stage.
Choose a topic to open below
Managing Product Delivery
Control the link between project manager and team manager by accepting, executing and delivering work packages.
Choose a topic to open below
Managing a Stage Boundary
Give the project board sufficient evidence to review the current stage and decide whether and how to continue.
Choose a topic to open below
Closing a Project
Confirm acceptance, assess performance, prepare operational handover and benefits review, and recommend controlled closure.
Choose a topic to open below
The Method, Projects and Performance
The five integrated elements, project and project-management definitions, project characteristics and the seven aspects of performance.
Key rules
Rule 1
PRINCE2 integrates principles, people, practices and processes within the project's context.
Exam cue: Separate the temporary project organization from the permanent business organization.
Rule 2
A project is a temporary organization created to deliver one or more business products according to an agreed business case.
Exam cue: Name the affected performance aspect before selecting a control response.
Rule 3
Project management plans, delegates, monitors and controls the work and motivates those involved to achieve objectives within performance targets.
Exam cue: Choose the practice from the object being governed, then select its product, technique and accountable role.
Rule 4
The performance aspects are benefits, costs, time, quality, scope, sustainability and risk.
Exam cue: Choose the practice from the object being governed, then select its product, technique and accountable role.
Common traps
Treating PRINCE2 as a process-only lifecycle.
Prevention: Do not choose a process or role by keyword alone; confirm context, authority, product and decision purpose.
Omitting sustainability from Version 7 performance management.
Prevention: Use current Version 7 terminology and scope; do not import superseded theme names or earlier pass marks.
Memory anchors
Five integrated elements
Principles, people, practices and processes, all applied within the project context.
Project
A temporary organization created to deliver business products according to an agreed business case.
Seven performance aspects
Benefits, costs, time, quality, scope, sustainability and risk.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
Which element is applied with the principles, people, practices and processes to form the PRINCE2 method?
Identify the missing word: A project is a temporary [ ? ] created to deliver business products according to an agreed business case.
Which activity is part of project management rather than product delivery?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
PeopleCert PRINCE2 Foundation Version 7
Primary live source for the current version, 14 languages, 60 questions, 60 minutes, closed-book status, 60 percent pass mark, learning scope and three-year renewal summary.
PeopleCert PRINCE2 Practitioner Version 7
Primary live source for the current version, 14 languages, accepted prerequisites, 56-question-and-sub-question 70-mark format, 150 minutes, open-book status and 60 percent pass mark.
PeopleCert PRINCE2 Project Management family
Current product-family page preserving Foundation followed by Practitioner under one PRINCE2 Project Management Version 7 pathway.
PRINCE2 7 Foundation syllabus
Public mirror of the PeopleCert-copyright candidate syllabus defining the Foundation purpose, exam details, question forms, Bloom levels, five learning outcomes, assessment criteria and 3/8/14/60/15 percent weighting.
PRINCE2 7 Practitioner syllabus
Public mirror of the PeopleCert-copyright candidate syllabus defining application and analysis, classic and matching forms, practice and process criteria, and 10/9/51/30 percent weighting.
PeopleCert certification naming updates
Primary December 2025 notice confirming the current qualification names from 15 January 2026 and the v7.2 official-asset revision without presenting a successor method version.
FAQ
Common PRINCE2 7 questions
What is the current PRINCE2 Project Management version?
PeopleCert currently sells PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation (Version 7) and Practitioner (Version 7). Its December 2025 naming update took effect on 15 January 2026 and says official training assets were updated to v7.2; PeopleCert does not present that asset revision as a successor method version.
Does this slug cover Foundation or Practitioner?
It preserves the existing single prince2 slug and covers the Version 7 Foundation knowledge base plus the Practitioner route that applies and tailors the same method. It does not split the two levels into separate registered products.
What changed in Version 7?
The current method explicitly integrates people and project context with principles, practices and processes; adds sustainability to project performance and management products; recognizes linear-sequential, iterative-incremental and hybrid delivery; strengthens digital and data guidance; and uses the practice names organizing and issues.
What is the current Foundation exam structure?
The live PeopleCert page and current syllabus state 60 one-mark multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, closed book, with no negative marking and 36 marks required. Question styles are standard, missing word, list and negative. No prerequisite is required.
How is Foundation syllabus coverage weighted?
The candidate syllabus publishes five learning-outcome weights: projects and PRINCE2 concepts 3 percent, principles 8 percent, people 14 percent, practices 60 percent and processes 15 percent.
What is the current Practitioner exam structure?
The live page states 56 questions and sub-questions worth 70 marks, 150 minutes, objective testing, open book and a 60 percent pass mark, or 42 marks. The syllabus uses Bloom levels 3 and 4 and classic and matching question forms.
Why does the Practitioner syllabus mention 70 part questions?
It counts each one-mark response part, while the live product page reports 56 questions and sub-questions worth the same 70 marks. Matching questions contain several scored responses, so this guide preserves both official counting conventions instead of treating them as different exams.
Which book is permitted for Practitioner?
The candidate syllabus identifies the PRINCE2 7 Managing Successful Projects Official Book as the permitted open-book reference and excludes other material. Candidates should still follow the current PeopleCert exam-day rules for digital or printed access and annotations.
Is PRINCE2 Version 7 Foundation the only Practitioner prerequisite?
No. It is the direct route, but the live Practitioner page also lists eligible PRINCE2 5th and 6th Edition Foundation or Practitioner awards, PMP, CAPM, APM PPQ and PMQ, IPMA Levels A-D, and listed CSPM awards. Candidates should check the live list when booking.
How is Practitioner syllabus coverage weighted?
The candidate syllabus publishes four learning-outcome weights: principles 10 percent, people 9 percent, practices 51 percent and processes 30 percent. Practitioner expects application and analysis rather than Foundation recall alone.
What are the seven principles?
Ensure continued business justification; learn from experience; define roles, responsibilities and relationships; manage by stages; manage by exception; focus on products; and tailor to suit the project.
What are the seven practices?
Business case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues and progress. Version 7 uses organizing and issues rather than the organization and change theme labels found in older editions.
What are the seven processes?
Starting up a project, directing a project, initiating a project, controlling a stage, managing product delivery, managing a stage boundary and closing a project.
Does this asset provide an exact full mock?
No. It provides a 601-item independent practice bank, but the single slug spans a 60-item Foundation paper and a scenario-based Practitioner paper with multi-mark matching forms. The bank trains the knowledge and judgment without claiming to reproduce either live paper.
Are the 601 bank items an official PeopleCert paper?
No. The five section allocations scale the published Foundation percentages to an independent 601-item practice bank, with topic adjustments for complete coverage. The questions are original and do not reproduce official, recalled or secure exam items.
How long does the certification remain current?
PeopleCert currently places PRINCE2 Project Management in its three-year renewal cycle. The current product pages show 60 CPD points for the membership route and also describe renewal through another certification in the same product suite.