PMI-ACP Exam Guide: Sample Questions, Exam Format & Preparation Tips

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Certification

The market demand for professionals holding Agile certification has peaked because organizations from various sectors now focus on adaptable project management techniques. Professionals who want to excel in agile work environments need a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner ACP certification because it proves their mastery of agile methodologies. According to Research and Markets, the global Agile market is expected to expand to 27.65 billion by 2030 because more businesses implement Agile frameworks across IT, finance, and healthcare sectors.  

Candidates taking the PMI-ACP exam demonstrate their comprehension of Agile principles, frameworks, and best practices by facing different scenario-based and multiple-choice questions. Passing the exam exceeds basic theoretical knowledge because it requires critical thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, and hands-on Agile concept implementation. The exam is pretty tricky for most professionals, particularly during real-world Agile scenarios, which evaluate their decision-making speed and efficiency.  

This blog provides a detailed explanation of all essential PMI-ACP exam question information, including question formats, sample questions, and the right approaches for success. 

Understanding the PMI-ACP Exam

Organizations worldwide are adopting Agile frameworks at unprecedented rates, which is driving the market demand for Agile-certified professionals to its highest point. A survey from digital.ai revealed that 42% of organizations have chosen hybrid practices, including Agile, alongside DevOps and alternative methodology implementations. PMI-ACP certification has gained rising importance because it establishes professionals' competence in Agile approaches and their related tools and methodologies. 

Further, the PMI-ACP exam evaluates candidates' comprehension of Agile principles through frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban and Lean and Extreme Programming (XP). PMI-ACP also provides global recognition to professionals who demonstrate superior skills in leading Agile teams while creating efficient high-value projects.

Obtain an overview of this exam: 

Exam Component	Details
Exam Name:	PMI-ACP Certification Exam
Exam Format:	Pearson VUE testing center or proctored online
Exam Duration:	180 minutes (3 Hours)
Number of Questions:	120 questions
Question Type:	Multiple choice questions
Prerequisites:	Learners need to obtain secondary degrees, including high school diplomas, associate degrees, and their equivalent international credentials. The candidate must have 12 months of general project experience from the past 5 years unless they hold PgMP or PMP certification. A professional must spend at least 8 months on agile project teams during the last three years. Candidates should have completed 21 contact hours of agile training.
Future Job Roles:	CSM Certified Scrum Master  Agile Project Manager Agile Coach  Certified Scrum Product Owner IT Project Manager  Lean-Agile Consultant Program Manager
Exam Domains:	Candidates must demonstrate their understanding of agile methodologies through the PMI-ACP exam by proving their knowledge of Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and Extreme Programming (XP). The PMI-ACP exam confirms your skills in agile framework implementation, which lets you create timely solutions that help organizations succeed.
Passing Score:	70%
Exam Type:	Closed book
Exam Component:	Details
Certification Validity:	3 years
Exam Language:	English

 

Also Check: PMI Course Domain

Sample PMI-ACP Exam Questions & Answers

 

1. Which of the following best summarizes agile project management's main advantage?

A) Detailed upfront planning
B) Fixed scope and timeline
C) Continuous delivery of value
D) Strict change control processes

Correct Answer: C - The agile method emphasizes continuous iterative development paired with ongoing frequent releases while delivering continuous customer value.
 

2. Who is in charge of optimizing the product's worth in Scrum?

A) Scrum Master
B) Product Owner
C) Development Team
D) Project Manager

Correct Answer: B - The Product Owner establishes product backlog priorities to achieve maximum business value through their definitions.
 

3. What is the core objective of conducting daily stand-up meetings?

A) Discuss project risks in detail
B) Provide status updates and align the team
C) Identify potential new requirements
D) Approve project deliverables

Correct Answer: B - A daily stand-up, also known as daily Scrum, functions as a brief meeting where team members exchange information about their progress, together with the obstacles they encountered and upcoming tasks.
 

4. What agile framework incorporates timeboxing as its method to structure work?

A) Kanban
B) Scrum
C) Lean
D) Crystal

Correct Answer: B - Scrum divides work into defined periods known as sprints that span between one to four weeks.
 

5. In agile terminology, what does "Definition of Done" (DoD) actually mean?

A) A contract between stakeholders
B) The final project deadline
C) A checklist of completed tasks to consider work done
D) The customer’s approval of the final product

Correct Answer: C - The Department of Defense establishes transparency by defining the completion criteria for user stories and tasks before delivery.
 

6. What technique do agile teams typically use for story point estimation?

A) Pareto Analysis
B) SWOT Analysis
C) Planning Poker
D) Fishbone Diagram

Correct Answer: C - Team members use Planning Poker as a consensus-based estimation technique to assign story points through collaborative efforts.
 

7. What function does the Work in Progress (WIP) limit in Kanban help accomplish?

A) Encouraging multitasking
B) Reducing bottlenecks and improving flow
C) Increasing backlog size
D) Ensuring all tasks start simultaneously

Correct Answer: B - WIP limits protect workflow performance through their ability to control ongoing work tasks and prevent work overload.
 

8. What is the essential objective of running an iteration retrospective?

A) Review overall project performance
B) Identify areas for team improvement in future iterations
C) Gather new requirements from stakeholders
D) Approve project deliverables

Correct Answer: B - The retrospective enables teams to evaluate their work methods so they can develop improvements for future sprints.
 

9. Which agile principle emphasizes continuous collaboration with customers?

A) Contract negotiation
B) Following a strict plan
C) Working software over comprehensive documentation
D) Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

Correct Answer: D - Agile maintains continuous customer communication to adapt to changing customer requirements.
 

10. What constitutes the optimal team size for Scrum implementation?

A) 3-9 members
B) 10-15 members
C) 1-2 members
D) 15-20 members

Correct Answer: A - A Scrum team operates best when it consists of 3 to 9 team members for efficient communication.

 

The Best Methods for Addressing PMI-ACP Exam Questions

The PMI-ACP exam evaluates candidates by assessing their understanding of agile methodology and their ability to use this knowledge practically. The 86% agile adoption rate in IT and non-IT industries requires professionals to master agile principles, according to PMI. Some effective strategies to succeed in the exam are explained below:

• To succeed in the PMI-ACP certification, you need to master Agile principles and frameworks. The exam bases its foundation on four methodologies: Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and XP.  
• Taking practice tests alongside example questions helps candidates develop their confidence levels. The review process enables candidates to understand the exam structure, different questions, and proper time allocation methods.  
• The PMI-ACP exam content outline is an essential academic tool for studying every needed subject. The outline is an organizational tool that helps you create an effective study plan.  
• Direct involvement with Agile project work provides significant advantages for your learning process. Implementing Agile methodologies in real environments supports theoretical concepts by enhancing practical comprehension abilities.  
• Participating in study groups and joining PMI-ACP forums enables knowledge sharing and learning from the practical experiences of others. Discussing challenging topics with other members leads to a better understanding of these materials.  
• The efficient management of time plays a critical role throughout the exam. The 180-minute exam requires answering 120 questions; thus, practicing how to distribute time between questions leads to better progress.  
• Regular assessment of Agile Manifesto principles and values helps maintain a firm grasp of their concepts. Understanding these principles at a deep level enables a better selection of answers for scenario-based questions.  
• The official PMI study materials and the recommended Agile book serve as trustworthy learning resources. The resources deliver extensive information about Agile frameworks and best practices for implementation.  

Consequently, you can enhance your exam success potential by implementing these preparation methods when addressing PMI-ACP questions.

Conclusion

Securing the PMI-ACP certification helps you establish your position as a competent Agile professional. Organizations that embrace Agile methodologies now seek certified professionals because of their high demand in the market. The PMI-ACP certification provides both professional approval of your skills and better capabilities to lead Agile project management initiatives. The combination of appropriate study materials with Agile framework mastery and practice of exam questions will help you pass the PMI-ACP certification exam to advance your Agile project management career.  

Moreover, Vinsys has established itself as a reliable training institution that has assisted numerous learners in obtaining their PMI-ACP certifications for many years. Individuals who join Vinsys receive Agile expertise from subject experts through interactive lessons, practical examples, and hands-on workshops so they develop both competence and knowledge for Agile success.  

So, join Vinsys PMI-ACP training sessions now to advance your Agile career.