AXELOS / PeopleCert · PRINCE2 7th Edition

PRINCE2 7 Foundation

PRINCE2-F

PRINCE2 Foundation is the entry-level certification for the world's most widely adopted project management method, owned by AXELOS and delivered by PeopleCert. For project coordinators, business analysts, and PMO staff, it's often a hard requirement on job specs and the gateway to the higher-value Practitioner credential. The current 7th edition raised the pass mark to 60%, so a single weak area across the principles, practices, and processes can be the difference between a pass and a costly resit. This page breaks down exactly what the exam tests, how it's delivered, and how to get it done right the first time.

60 minutes
60 Questions
60% to Pass
Online or Center

Pay Only After You Pass

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Exam Spec Sheet

Provider AXELOS / PeopleCert
Edition PRINCE2 7 (7th edition)
Format Multiple choice · closed book
Duration 60 minutes
Questions 60
Pass mark 60% (36 of 60)
Delivery Online proctored or center
Renewal Every 3 years (60 CPD pts)
Languages English & others
See PRINCE2 Help Options

EXAM FORMAT

How PRINCE2 7 Foundation is built — at a glance

60

Multiple-choice questions

Each question is worth one mark with exactly one correct answer. Expect standard, "missing word", list, and negative ("which is NOT…") item styles.

36

Marks to pass (60%)

You need 36 correct out of 60. The 7th edition lifted the threshold from the old 55% to 60%, leaving little room for guesswork across the syllabus.

60

Minutes, closed book

One hour of seat time with no manual or notes allowed. Candidates sitting in a non-native language may qualify for additional time.

Pacing & no negative marking

Sixty questions in sixty minutes works out to about one minute each. There's no penalty for a wrong answer, so every question should be attempted — but Foundation rewards recall, and the closed-book format means you can't pause to look anything up.

Foundation vs Practitioner

Foundation is closed-book and tests knowledge and terminology. The follow-on Practitioner exam is open-book, scenario-based, and applies the method to a project. You must hold a Foundation pass before you can take Practitioner, which is why getting Foundation right matters.

WHAT'S TESTED

The PRINCE2 7 method is built on three sets of seven — principles, practices, and processes

1

7 Principles

Core

The non-negotiable guiding rules of PRINCE2: continued business justification, learn from experience, defined roles & responsibilities, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to suit the project.

2

7 Practices

Core

Renamed from "themes" in the 7th edition: Business Case, Organizing, Plans, Quality, Risk, Issues, and Progress. Each must be addressed continuously throughout the project lifecycle.

3

7 Processes

Core

The lifecycle steps from start-up to closure: Starting Up, Directing, Initiating, Controlling a Stage, Managing Product Delivery, Managing a Stage Boundary, and Closing a Project — plus the terminology that ties them together.

Foundation questions are spread across all three areas plus core terminology, so a candidate who masters the processes but stays fuzzy on the practices (or the renamed 7th-edition vocabulary) can still slip below the 60% line. The 7th edition also strengthened its treatment of people, sustainability, and digital/data, which the latest syllabus expects you to recognise.

DELIVERY & PROCTORING

Two ways to sit the exam — and what to expect on test day

Online, PeopleCert proctored

The most common route. You take the exam from a private room at home or work, monitored remotely by PeopleCert's online proctoring. You'll install the PeopleCert exam application, run a system test, complete a webcam room scan, and pass an ID check before the exam unlocks. Sessions can be booked 24/7 once you hold a valid exam voucher.

Classroom or training-provider center

Many candidates take Foundation at the end of an accredited course, paper-based or on-screen, supervised by the training organisation. Fees vary by provider and region and are usually bundled with the course, so check what your booking includes before test day.

ID & identity check

A valid, unexpired government photo ID whose name matches your PeopleCert booking exactly. The proctor captures a photo before the exam unlocks.

Environment scan

A clear desk, no notes or manual within reach (it's closed book), no second monitor or phone nearby, and a 360° webcam scan of the room. No one else may enter during the exam.

During the exam

Stay in frame and on-camera the whole hour. Reading questions aloud, leaving the seat, or losing connection can flag the session. Your provisional result appears as soon as you submit.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS

PRINCE2 Foundation is the entry point to the world's most-used PM method

  • Project coordinators, PMO staff, and aspiring project managers
  • Business analysts and team members on PRINCE2-governed projects
  • Candidates who need Foundation before taking PRINCE2 Practitioner
  • Professionals where PRINCE2 is a hard requirement on the job spec
  • Career changers entering project management in the UK, EU, and beyond

PREREQUISITES & DIFFICULTY

No formal requirements — but the recall bar is real

  • No formal prerequisites — open to anyone, no experience required
  • Accredited training or self-study of the official PRINCE2 7 manual is strongly advised
  • Comfort memorising structured terminology and definitions
  • Awareness that the 7th edition renamed and reorganised parts of the syllabus

Difficulty: Foundation is knowledge-based rather than conceptually hard, but the closed-book format and 60% pass mark punish shallow memorisation. Most candidates put in roughly 12–20 hours of focused study across the syllabus areas — exactly the kind of structured prep our help is designed to take off your plate.

HOW EXAM ASSIST HELPS YOU PASS PRINCE2 FOUNDATION

PRINCE2 Foundation is a closed-book, recall-heavy exam standing between you and the next step in your project management career. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted PRINCE2 specialist and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.

1

Share your exam details

Tell us your delivery method (PeopleCert online or a center), your target date, and whether you're also planning Practitioner. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.

2

Get an honest feasibility answer

We review your timeline and goal and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.

3

The sitting is handled

Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a PRINCE2 specialist who maps the work around the seven principles, practices, and processes, the 7th-edition terminology, and the PeopleCert proctoring environment — discreetly and confidentially.

4

Settle after the verified result

You only pay once your passing result is confirmed. No verified result, nothing owed.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED

Straight answers about PRINCE2 7 Foundation

What is the pass mark for the PRINCE2 7 Foundation exam? +
The PRINCE2 7 Foundation exam has a 60% pass mark, which means 36 correct answers out of 60 questions. This is higher than the old 55% threshold used in the previous (6th edition) PRINCE2 Foundation exam, so the current 7th edition demands a little more accuracy across the syllabus.
How many questions are on PRINCE2 7 Foundation and how long is it? +
PRINCE2 7 Foundation is a single 60-minute paper with 60 multiple-choice questions, each worth one mark with one correct answer. It is a closed-book exam, so you cannot refer to the PRINCE2 manual or any notes during the test. Candidates sitting in a non-native language may qualify for extra time.
Is PRINCE2 7 Foundation open book or closed book? +
Foundation is a closed-book exam — no manual, notes, or reference material are allowed. That is the key difference from the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, which is open book and permits the official PRINCE2 manual. So Foundation rewards recall of terminology, principles, practices, and processes rather than look-up speed.
Can I take PRINCE2 7 Foundation online from home? +
Yes. PeopleCert delivers PRINCE2 7 Foundation as an online, remotely proctored exam you can take from a private room at home or office, as well as in classroom settings through accredited training organisations. The online version requires a webcam, a stable internet connection, a clear workspace, and a government photo ID check before the exam unlocks.
What does PRINCE2 7 Foundation actually test? +
The 7th edition syllabus covers PRINCE2's seven principles, seven practices (renamed from the old themes), and seven processes, plus core terminology and how the elements fit together. Foundation confirms you understand the method and its vocabulary well enough to work effectively within a PRINCE2-governed project.
Do I pay Exam Assist before or after I see my PRINCE2 result? +
You settle only after your verified passing result is confirmed. There is no upfront fee — you share your exam details, receive an honest feasibility answer, and decide before any money changes hands. We advertise a guaranteed pass with money back if you do not pass; we offer a transparent, results-first arrangement.

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