How to apply PRINCE2 7 to a scenario in the PRINCE2 7 Practitioner exam
I’m glad you’re interested in applying PRINCE2 to a given scenario in the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam. In this blog article, I’ll share some tips and examples to help you ace this part of the exam.
PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a widely used project management methodology that provides a clear and structured framework for managing projects. The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam tests your ability to apply PRINCE2 principles, themes, processes, and techniques to a realistic project scenario.
Objective testing
70 questions per paper
42 marks or more required to pass (out of 70 available): 60%
Two-and-a-half hours’ (150 minutes) duration, no additional reading time
Open book. Candidates are permitted to use the official printed hard copy of the PRINCE2® 7 Managing Successful Projects. The official manual may be annotated and tabulated but no sticky notes and loose leaf papers containing additional notes will be allowed.
Navigating the PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam Maze
So, how can you prepare for the scenario-based questions and demonstrate your PRINCE2 knowledge and skills? Here are some steps you can follow:
Read the case study carefully. Before answering the questions, you should read the case study thoroughly and understand the project’s background, objectives, scope, risks, issues, and stakeholders.
You should also identify the essential documents and products relevant to the project, such as the business case, project plan, risk register, issue log, etc.
Analyze the questions and identify the focus area. Each question will have a focus area that indicates which aspect of PRINCE2 you need to apply to the scenario.
The focus area could be a principle, a theme, a process, or a technique.
For example, a question could ask you to apply the principle of “manage by exception”, the theme of “quality”, the process of “controlling a stage”, or the technique of “product-based planning” to the scenario.
Pay attention to the focus area and answer the question accordingly.
Cracking the Code: Analyzing Scenario-Focused Questions
Use the manual as a reference. The PRINCE2 manual is your friend during the exam, but you must use it wisely. It would help if you did not waste time looking for information you already know or irrelevant to the question.
Use the manual as a reference to confirm or clarify your understanding of the focus area and how it relates to the scenario.
You should also use the manual to find definitions, examples, diagrams, tables, checklists, or templates to help you answer the question.
Choose the best answer from the options. Each question will have four possible answers: one that is correct, one that is partially correct but not as good as the right answer, and two that are wrong.
First, you should eliminate the wrong answers by checking if they are inconsistent with PRINCE2 or the scenario. Then you should compare the remaining answers and choose the one that best applies PRINCE2 to the scenario.
Your Ultimate PRINCE2 Practitioner Scenario Survival Guide
To illustrate these steps, let’s look at an example question from a sample PRINCE2 Practitioner exam:
The project manager has just completed stage 3 of their project and has produced an end-stage report for stage 3 and a plan for stage 4.
Which statement applies PRINCE2’s principle of continued business justification?
- The project manager should compare actual benefits realized with expected benefits in stage 3.
- The project manager should confirm that there is still a business case for stage 4 before starting it.
- The project manager should update the business case with revised costs and benefits for stage 4.
- The project manager should review whether any changes have occurred that affect the business case.
The focus area of this question is the principle of continued business justification, which means there should be a valid reason for starting and continuing a project.
The first step is to read the case study carefully and understand the context of the question. The case study describes a project to develop a new website for an online retailer. The project has six stages, each lasting one month. The project is currently at the end of stage 3.
The second step is to analyze the question and identify what it is asking. The question asks which statement applies PRINCE2’s continued business justification principle to this scenario.
The third step is to use the manual as a reference. The manual explains that continued business justification means that “the business case is used as a tool throughout each stage of a project’s life cycle” and that “the business case must be updated at key points such as end-stage assessments.
From Question to Mastery: Applying PRINCE2 to Scenarios
The fourth step is to choose the best answer from the options. Let’s evaluate each option:
Option (1) is wrong because it confuses benefits with objectives. Benefits are measurable improvements resulting from an outcome perceived as an advantage by one or more stakeholders.
Objectives are desired results to be achieved by a specific time. The question is about the business case based on benefits rather than objectives.
Option (2) is partially correct but not as good as the right answer. The project manager should confirm that there is still a business case for stage 4 before starting it, but more is needed to apply the continued business justification principle.
The project manager should also update the business case with any changes that affect it, such as risks, issues, costs, or benefits.
Option (3) is the correct answer. It applies the continued business justification principle by stating that the project manager should update the business case with revised costs and benefits for stage 4.
This ensures that the project remains aligned with the organization’s objectives and that the expected benefits outweigh the costs and risks.
Option (4) is wrong because it is too vague and does not specify what the project manager should do if any changes affect the business case. The project manager should review the business case, update it, and seek approval from the project board.
This example has helped you understand how to apply PRINCE2 to a given scenario in the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam. Here are some more tips to help you prepare for the exam:
Re-read the way the question is framed, you need to have clarity about which aspect is being asked. One or more of the answer options will be correct as a statement, but does not relate to the question being asked!
Review the PRINCE2 manual and use it as a study guide. You can also use flashcards, mind maps, or summaries to help you memorize key concepts and definitions.
Join a PRINCE2 training course or study group. You can benefit from an experienced instructor’s guidance and other learners’ feedback.
Our PRINCE2 7th Edition Masterclass guarantees you a clear exam pass
Relax and be confident. You have the knowledge and skills to pass the exam. Remember to read the questions carefully, use the manual wisely, and choose the best answers.
Good luck with your exam!
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The PRINCE2 Foundation examination assesses your knowledge and comprehension of the PRINCE2 project management methodology as detailed in the syllabus. The PRINCE2 Practitioner examination, on the other hand, gauges your ability to apply and tailor the PRINCE2 method. Candidates who pass the Practitioner exam should be able to start implementing the method on an actual project with some guidance. However, their effectiveness may differ based on their experience in project management, the complexity of the project, and the level of support they receive in their work environment.
