The PMI-RMP Certification is taken by project and risk practitioners who want a Project Management Institute credential in risk management. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, worked explanations for sample questions, the exam format and fees as PMI publishes them, and a plan for using both before test day.
According to Project Management Institute, “The PMI-RMP certification examination is comprised of 115 multiple-choice and multiple answer select questions. Of the 115 questions, 15 are considered pretest questions.”[1]
The PMI-RMP credential is awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and focuses on identifying, analysing, responding to and monitoring risk on projects. This page does not cover PMI's application requirements, so check the official PMI-RMP page for the current experience and education rules.
The exam has 115 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions. Of these, 100 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest questions. PMI does not publish a passing score. It says the passing score for all PMI exams is set by sound psychometric analysis, so aiming for a target percentage is guesswork.
You can sit the exam at a Pearson VUE test center, which PMI recommends, or online with remote proctoring (OnVUE). The fee is $520 for PMI members and $670 for non-members. Once your application is approved you have a 1-year eligibility period, and you may attempt the exam up to 3 times within it. After 3 attempts you must wait 1 year from the date of the last attempt before reapplying.
If you test on a computer you receive a score report when you finish. The credential runs on a 3-year cycle, and holders need 30 PDUs in each cycle, plus a renewal fee, to keep it. Fees and policies can change, so confirm them on pmi.org before you book.
The PMI-RMP Certification has 115 questions and costs $520[1][2] (Project Management Institute, verified Oct 27, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 115 questions (100 scored + 15 unscored pretest)[1] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | Not published (determined by sound psychometric analysis)[3] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $520 for PMI members / $670 for non-members[2] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Up to 3 attempts within 1-year eligibility period, then a 1-year waiting period[1] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 3-year certification cycle[4] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Renewal | 30 PDUs every 3 years plus renewal fee[2] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test center or online proctored (OnVUE)[2] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release | Immediately after computer-based test; 6–8 weeks for paper-based test[3] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window | Year-round within a 1-year eligibility period[3] | Project Management Institute · Oct 27, 2026 |
The content areas below are copied from the official PMI-RMP Certification content outline published by Project Management Institute, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Weight | Practice on this site |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Identification[5] | 23% | PMI-RMP Certification Risk Identification ... Practise telling apart the sources of risk, the techniques used to find them, and what belongs in a risk register entry. |
| Risk Analysis[5] | 23% | PMI-RMP Certification Risk Identification ... Work through qualitative versus quantitative analysis, probability and impact, and calculations such as expected monetary value. |
| Risk Strategy and Planning[5] | 22% | PMI-RMP Certification Core Principles & Fu... Review how risk appetite, thresholds, roles and the risk management plan shape every later decision. |
| Risk Response[5] | 13% | PMI-RMP Certification Risk Response Planni... Match each strategy to the situation it suits, for threats and for opportunities, and know when a contingency plan applies. |
| Monitor and Close Risks[5] | 19% | PMI-RMP Certification Risk Response Planni... Practise reading triggers, tracking residual and secondary risks, and deciding when a risk can be closed. |
Prepare for the PMI-RMP Certification exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the purpose of a risk trigger (also called a risk symptom or warning sign)?
Answer: A. To indicate that a risk event is about to occur so a contingency plan can be activated
Explanation:
A risk trigger, also called a risk symptom or warning sign, is an observable event or condition that shows a risk is about to occur. That gives the team time to activate the contingency plan before the impact lands, so the first option is correct.
Calculating EMV is a separate analysis step and has nothing to do with a trigger. Assigning ownership is part of the response plan, made before any trigger is seen. Closing a risk that has passed is a monitoring decision made after the fact, while a trigger looks forward.
Rule to remember: a trigger is an early signal tied to a planned response. If an option describes measuring, assigning or closing, it is describing a different step.
Question: Expected Monetary Value (EMV) is calculated by multiplying which two factors?
Answer: A. Probability × Impact (in monetary terms)
Explanation:
Expected Monetary Value is probability multiplied by impact expressed in money. That is why the first option is correct. The result lets you compare options in a decision tree on one scale.
Likelihood multiplied by severity is a qualitative scoring idea. It gives a rank, not a monetary value. Frequency multiplied by cost mixes up how often something happens with the chance that it happens on this project. Risk score multiplied by contingency reserve combines two outputs of other processes and does not describe an expected value.
Rule to remember: EMV needs a probability and a monetary impact. If either is missing from an option, it is not EMV.
Question: How does ongoing professional development support professional standards & ethics in PMI-RMP?
Answer: A. It keeps professionals informed of evolving standards and best practices
Explanation:
Ongoing professional development keeps practitioners informed of changing standards and good practice, so the first option is correct. Ethical conduct depends on knowing what the current expectations are.
Saying it is irrelevant to compliance outcomes is wrong, because out-of-date knowledge is a common cause of lapses. Saying it only benefits entry-level professionals is wrong, because standards change for everyone, and senior people are expected to keep up too. Saying it replaces formal compliance audits is wrong, because learning and independent checking do different jobs and neither substitutes for the other.
Rule to remember: be wary of absolute wording such as only, replaces or irrelevant. Professional development supports compliance but does not stand in for oversight.
Start with the official PMI-RMP exam outline so you know which content areas the exam covers and how they are weighted. Then take one of our topic sets cold, before you review anything, to see where you stand. Do not treat the score as a prediction, since PMI does not publish a passing score.
Spend extra time on risk identification and analysis and on response planning and monitoring, because the outline gives these the largest shares of the exam. Close the gaps in terminology, then do a mixed session to practise switching topics, as the real exam does. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to test understanding rather than to memorise answers.
The exam has 115 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions. Of these, 100 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest questions. You cannot tell which are the pretest items, so treat every question as if it counts.
PMI does not publish a passing score. It states that the passing score for all PMI exams is determined by sound psychometric analysis. Because of this, a fixed percentage target is not reliable, and it is better to check that you understand each content area.
PMI lists $520 for PMI members and $670 for non-members. Check pmi.org before booking, because fees can change and the official page is the source that applies when you pay.
You may take the exam up to 3 times within your 1-year eligibility period. After 3 attempts, you must wait 1 year from the date of your last attempt before you reapply for the certification.
Yes. You can test at a Pearson VUE test center, which PMI recommends, or online with remote proctoring through OnVUE. If you test on a computer, you receive a copy of your score report when you finish.
The certification runs on a 3-year cycle that begins the day you pass. To maintain it you need to earn 30 PDUs in each cycle and pay a renewal fee. The official PMI page lists the current details.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.