Your Simple Guide to PRINCE2 7 Exam Success
If you’re studying for the PRINCE2 7th Edition Foundation or Practitioner exams, or you just want to run smoother projects at work, this post is for you.
One mistake I see over and over is people forgetting that the new Project Log is the single place for all the day-to-day records. Many still talk about the old separate registers from the 6th Edition, and that leads to wrong answers in exams and extra work on real projects.
In plain English, we’ll walk through what the Project Log is, why it replaces those old registers, how it helps you track progress, and exactly what to do in exams and at work to get the benefits. By the end, you’ll have clear actions you can use tomorrow.
What the Project Log Actually Is and Why It Matters
In the 6th Edition you had several separate documents.
Each lived in its own file or spreadsheet. It worked, but you spent time hunting for information and copying things between files.
The PRINCE2 7th Edition Project Log puts everything in one place. Think of it as a single notebook with labelled sections. You open it, flip to the right page, and add or read what you need.
Actions you can take today
Create a new folder on your computer called “Project Log”. Inside it, make five blank documents or spreadsheet tabs:
- Daily Log
- Lessons Log
- Issues Log
- Risk Log
- Ideas Log
Save the folder in the same place as your Project Plan and Business Case.
Benefits you will notice
- Everyone finds information in seconds instead of minutes.
- Nothing gets forgotten because it is all in one spot.
- You spend less time on admin and more time on actual project work.
How the Old Registers Fit into the New Project Log
Old name – Daily Log
New home – Daily Log section in the Project Log
Old name – Lessons Log
New home – Lessons Log section in the Project Log
Old name – Issue Register
New home – Issues Log section in the Project Log
Old name – Risk Register
New home – Risk Log section in the Project Log
Old name – Benefits notes
New home – Benefits Log section in the Project Log
Action for exam revision
Write the list above on a piece of paper and stick it on your wall. When a Foundation question asks “Where do you record an informal risk?”, the answer is “Project Log – Risk Log section”.
Benefit for your CV
In job interviews you can say: “I use the PRINCE2 7th Edition consolidated Project Log to keep all records in one place, which saves my team about two hours a week on administration.”
Using the Project Log to Track Progress Without Confusion
Progress tracking means knowing what has happened, what is happening now, and what might happen next. The Project Log gives you that picture in one view.
Step-by-step example
You are managing a website redesign. During the week:
Monday – A developer mentions the hosting company is slow to reply.
→ Open the Project Log, go to Daily Log, write: “Hosting delay noted – chase reply by Wednesday.”
Wednesday – The team realises the old way of testing pages was faster.
→ Open Lessons Log section, write: “Old test script saved 30 minutes per page – reuse in next stage.”
Friday – The client asks for an extra page that was not in the budget.
→ Open Issues Log section, write: “Scope change request – estimate extra £800 and 3 days.”
At the end of the week you open the single Project Log folder and see everything in one place. You can write your highlight report in ten minutes instead of thirty.
Action for real projects
Set a calendar reminder every Friday at 4 pm: “Review Project Log and prepare highlight report.”
Benefit
Your highlight reports are accurate, and the Project Board trusts your updates because nothing is missing.
Avoiding Exam Mistakes Caused by Old Habits
Foundation exams test memory. A typical question looks like this:
“During routine project work, where should the Project Manager record a new lesson learned?”
A) Lessons Log (standalone)
B) Project Log – Lessons Log section
C) End Project Report
D) Risk Register
If you choose A, you lose the mark because the correct answer is B.
Three simple revision actions
Make flashcards. Front: “Record informal issue”. Back: “Project Log – Issues Log section”.
Do ten Foundation questions every morning before breakfast.
Before you click “submit” on a mock exam, ask yourself: “Did I mention the Project Log as the central place?”
Benefit
You score 80 % or higher on the progress and organising practice areas, which is usually enough to pass.
Practitioner Exam: What to Write in Scenario Answers
Practitioner questions give you a story and ask what you would do. A common story is: “The team keeps missing risks because records are spread across emails and spreadsheets.”
What to write (copy this structure)
- Identify the problem
- “Records are fragmented, causing overlooked risks.”
- Recommend the solution
- “Introduce the PRINCE2 7th Edition Project Log as the single repository.”
List the actions
Create the Project Log with sections for risks, issues, lessons, daily notes.
Train the team to add entries within 24 hours of spotting something.
Review the log every Friday and escalate formal risks to the Risk Register.
State the benefits
- Faster risk identification.
- Less duplication of work.
- Clear audit trail for the Project Board.
Benefit
Examiners give full marks for clear actions and measurable benefits, and you finish the answer in under eight minutes.
Using the Project Log When You Work Alone or Freelance
Even if you are the only person on the project, the Project Log keeps you organised.
Actions
- Use a free tool like Notion or Google Docs.
- At the start of each day, open the Daily Log section and write three bullet points of what you plan to do.
- At the end of the day, add what actually happened and any new ideas.
- Every Sunday evening, copy the best lessons into a personal “career lessons” file.
Benefits
You never forget a client request.
When you quote for the next job, you can show exactly how long similar tasks took last time.
Future employers see a professional, organised approach.
Quick Start Checklist You Can Print
- Create Project Log folder with five sections.
- Add today’s date and first entry in Daily Log.
- Tell your team (or remind yourself) to use only this log.
- Set Friday 4 pm calendar reminder for review.
- Download the free Project Log template from www.projex.com/resources.
The way ahead
The PRINCE2 7th Edition Project Log is not complicated; it is just one folder instead of five.
Use it for your exams and you will remember the right answers. Use it at work and you will save time, impress your boss, and feel in control.
Until next time, keep your projects simple and your logs in one place.
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