PMP Exam Tip: Calculating How You’re Doing on Time

So when you’re in the exam, you’re always worried about how you’re doing on time, to make sure that you have enough time to finish every question. I use this simple formula quickly on the provided calculator to see if I’m running ahead or behind.
I am using the PMP for this example, since it is my most recent exam, but many proctored exams have a similar format. The great thing is that the PMP exam counts down in minutes instead of in hours and minutes, so it makes this formula even easier. It is:

Percent complete (PC) = Current question number/ 180 (total number of questions)

Ideal time to complete current number of questions (TC) = 230 x (PC)

Ideal time remaining to complete remaining questions (TR) = 230 – TC

You can use this to give you peace of mind during the exam, so you’ll know whether or not you’re running behind time.

Example

Your have completed 115 questions and the exam clock says you have 105 minutes left. Are you on time or behind?

Percent complete (PC)

115 / 180 = 0.638 or 64%

Ideal Time to complete (TC)

230 x 0.638 = 147 minutes = the time it should have taken you to finish 115 questions

Ideal Time Remaining (TR)

230 – 147 = 83 minutes = the time you should have remaining after finishing 115 questions.

So if the exam clock says you have 105 minutes remaining, when you should have 83 minutes remaining, this means that you are ON TIME, with a lot of time to spare to answer every question.

This method is simple to use in practice, the explanation was just very long. I hope this is helpful for you!