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Why PRINCE2 7 Feels Harder Than PRINCE2 6 And What You Can Do About It 

 May 12, 2026

By  Dave Litten

Many students say PRINCE2 7 feels harder than PRINCE2 6. The new version is more subtle, more people focused, and more integrated. Here is why it feels more difficult and how to make it easier.

Why PRINCE2 7 Feels Harder Than PRINCE2 6

If you studied PRINCE2 years ago or you are comparing the new version with older material, you may already feel it.
PRINCE2 7 seems more demanding.

Not because the content is impossible, but because the method has evolved.
It now reflects modern projects, modern teams, and modern challenges.

Let’s break down exactly why PRINCE2 7 feels harder and what you can do to make it easier.

Reason 1: The Language Is More Natural and Less Mechanical

PRINCE2 6 used very structured, predictable language.
PRINCE2 7 uses more natural, conversational wording.

This means:

  • fewer obvious keywords
  • fewer predictable phrases
  • more interpretation
  • more context based understanding

Students who expect rigid terminology feel lost when the exam uses everyday language instead of textbook phrases.

Reason 2: The People Focus Adds New Layers Of Complexity

PRINCE2 7 introduces a stronger emphasis on:

  • leadership
  • communication
  • culture
  • behaviour
  • collaboration

These topics were barely mentioned in PRINCE2 6.

Now they appear in both Foundation and Practitioner questions.

This makes the method feel broader and more human, but also more challenging for students who expected a purely process driven approach.

Reason 3: The Practices Are Deeper and More Integrated

The old Themes were simpler and more isolated.
The new Practices are:

  • more detailed
  • more practical
  • more interconnected
  • more scenario driven

For example:

  • quality now focuses on outcomes and acceptance
  • planning is woven into several Practices
  • the business case is tied to benefits and sustainability

This makes the method more realistic, but also more demanding.

Reason 4: Tailoring Is Now a Core Principle

In PRINCE2 6, tailoring was often treated as an optional extra.
In PRINCE2 7, tailoring is central to the method.

You must understand:

  • what can be tailored
  • what cannot be tailored
  • how tailoring affects roles
  • how tailoring affects documentation
  • how tailoring affects controls

This is a major shift, and it catches students off guard.

Reason 5: The Exam Questions Are More Subtle

PRINCE2 7 questions are:

  • longer
  • more scenario based
  • more interpretive
  • more behaviour focused
  • more subtle in their wording

Two answers may sound correct.
One may be correct in real life but wrong in PRINCE2.
One may be correct in PRINCE2 but wrong for the scenario.

This is why the exam feels harder.

Reason 6: Outdated Study Material Makes Everything Worse

Many students are still using:

  • PRINCE2 6th Edition books
  • old PDFs
  • outdated videos
  • old mock exams
  • training courses that have not been updated

These materials do not match PRINCE2 7.
If you study the wrong version, the new exam feels impossible.

Reason 7: PRINCE2 7 Requires Understanding, Not Memorisation

This is the biggest change.

PRINCE2 6 allowed more memorisation.
PRINCE2 7 requires:

  • interpretation
  • judgement
  • reasoning
  • scenario based thinking
  • understanding the intention behind the method

This makes the method more powerful, but also more challenging for students who expect a simple recall based exam.

How To Make PRINCE2 7 Feel Easier

Here is the good news.

PRINCE2 7 becomes much easier when you approach it the right way.

Step 1: Learn The Practices Properly
The Practices are the backbone of PRINCE2 7.
Once you understand what each Practice is trying to achieve, the method becomes far easier to apply.

Step 2: Understand The Roles And Responsibilities
The exam loves asking who approves, who escalates, who owns, who monitors, and who decides.
Knowing the roles removes a huge amount of confusion.

Step 3: Study Tailoring Early
Tailoring is everywhere in PRINCE2 7.
Once you understand how tailoring works, the entire method becomes more logical.

Step 4: Use Updated PRINCE2 7 Material Only
If your material is older than 2023, it is not valid.
You need explanations, examples, and mock questions written specifically for PRINCE2 7.

Step 5: Practise With Realistic PRINCE2 7 Questions
This is where confidence comes from.
The more you practise the new style, the more predictable the real exam becomes.

The Fastest Way to Pass PRINCE2 7 Foundation or Practitioner

If you want a clear, simple, step by step route to passing PRINCE2 7, start here:

The Fastest Way To Pass Your PRINCE2 7 Foundation Or Practitioner Exam

This is the exact route hundreds of students have used to pass first time.


If you want a clear and practical route through PRINCE2 7, you can start with my step by step guide to passing the Foundation or Practitioner exam.

Dave Litten


Dave spent 25+ years as a senior project manager for UK and USA multinationals and has deep experience in project management. He now develops a wide range of Project Management Masterclasses, under the Projex Academy brand name. In addition, David runs project management training seminars across the world, and is a prolific writer on the many topics of project management.

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