You’re absolutely right, that’s one of the most significant mindset shifts when preparing for the PMP. The exam doesn’t really test what you know in isolation; it tests how you think and apply that knowledge
under pressure.
Many of the questions are deliberately situational because PMI wants to see if you can demonstrate professional judgment, balancing people, process, and business environment.
It’s not about memorizing keywords but about understanding context.
What helps me (and what I also recommend to my students) is this:
Step back before you answer. Ask yourself what’s actually happening here and what the real problem is.
Identify your role and perspective. Are you the project manager, sponsor, or team lead in this situation?
Think in terms of PMI values. The best answer is usually the one that’s proactive, ethical, and stakeholder-oriented, not reactive or punitive.
In addition please refer to this article here:
www.project-management-prepcast.com/pmp-exam-questions
BR
Once you start approaching the questions this way, you realize that most tricky items aren’t meant to confuse you. They’re designed to test whether you can think like a project leader, not just recall the PMBOK Guide.
