The Association for Project Management (APM) is the only chartered membership organisation for the project profession in the world. With over 42,000 members and more than 470 corporate partners committed to developing their project management capability, APM plays a vital role in advancing professional standards wherever projects take place.
Due to this, the validity and integrity of APM’s assessments are vital in recognising project professionals’ expertise and upholding the high standards of a chartered body.
In late 2021, APM engaged with The Assessment Network at Cambridge to support the redevelopment of their flagship Project Management Qualification.
Jackie Martin, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning at APM, explains:
“It’s easy for any organisation to stay within its own bubble, assuming what it’s doing is right. We wanted to look beyond that, to understand what best practice in assessment looks like elsewhere and learn from other practitioners who specialise in this area.
Working with The Assessment Network offered that external perspective. You have experts who can give an overview of what’s considered best in assessment, and that’s hugely valuable.”
The Assessment Network supported the Project Management Qualification reform across several key phases:
- Assessment design consultancy: Reviewed the proposed assessment changes, including question types, alignment with APM’s competency framework, and practical elements such as exam length and the inclusion of breaks. This had the overall aim of balancing relevance of the assessment to key competencies, but also to improve the overall learner experience.
- Evidence-based recommendations: Shared research on assessment design, including the impact of digital exam breaks on candidate performance, and advised on appropriate standard setting methods for determining pass marks.
- Pilot and training support: Worked with APM’s team of item writers – both new and experienced – to help them adapt to a broader range of question formats, including multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-response questions.
- Capacity building: Delivered training to build confidence and ensure the writers could produce high-quality items that reflected the revised Project Management Qualification structure.
- Data evaluation and next steps: Supported APM to analyse pilot performance data, identify areas for refinement, and deliver additional training on standard setting to ensure the new assessment was valid, reliable, and fair.
Head of Professional Standards at APM, Emily Long, is delighted with the impact of the reform process.
“One of our biggest goals was improving accessibility and inclusivity. Previously, the Project Management Qualification was a three-hour written exam. We realised this was not ideal for everyone; especially those with additional learning needs.
Since we’ve made the changes, the feedback has been phenomenal. Our approval rates have increased by 70% and our pass rates have risen from an average of 39% to 63%.”
Jackie adds:
“We can now stand back and say that we are satisfied with this assessment and the way it is performing. We can explain every aspect of the redevelopment because it was evidence-based and right for our learners. That’s a fantastic position to be in.”
Further assessment support
Alongside ongoing support for the Project Management Qualification, The Assessment Network and APM have continued working together on several key assessment projects. These projects include:
- Consultancy and support on the reform of APM’s Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) assessment model
- Internal professional development initiatives with training including item writing workshops (MCQs, oral, written) and standardisation training for assessors
Head of Assessment Training at The Assessment Network, Dr Simon Child, explains the role his team have played in supporting APM:
“When we first started working with APM, our main objective was to act as a critical friend to their team. This meant providing constructive challenge and independent advice, while also supporting them as they made important decisions about their qualification reforms.
It’s been inspiring to see how they’ve used our support to make real, positive change. The team at APM have shown genuine commitment to improvement, and I think their attitude has been a key factor in the success of their projects.”
Implementing an AI and assessment strategy
APM recently commissioned an additional bespoke training session based on The Assessment Network’s popular Assessment Practitioner Workshop, Designing Assessments with AI, with Senior Professional Development Manager, James Beadle.
Senior Professional Standards Manager at APM, Tracey Unwin, who organised the training, shares her reflections:
“The AI training was excellent. We had colleagues from across departments attend, and I’ve had several messages since saying how it’s changed the way they think about their work.
AI can feel quite abstract or intimidating, but James made it practical and relevant. The session sparked ideas for how we might use AI to support our processes, and we’re already exploring some small pilots internally.
It also worked well as a bespoke, in-person session – fully tailored to APM, rather than something less focused on our context. That relevance made a real difference in supporting our implementation.”
A continuing project
Reflecting on the successful ongoing relationship, Simon highlights APM’s thoughtful approach:
“One of the things APM did really well was taking the time to explore the full range of possibilities at the start of the process. They considered what changes were feasible, what might be too challenging, and what could be ruled out altogether due to factors like scalability or practicality.
APM went to great lengths to understand how other organisations were tackling assessment reform. This broader perspective informed their decisions and ensured they weren’t reinventing the wheel. My advice to anyone else looking at reform would be to take a similarly investigative approach: research, network, and learn before committing to a particular path.”
Jackie adds: "Working with The Assessment Network has reinforced the value of looking more widely at best practice in assessment and learning from others."
Tracey continues:
“We still refer back to The Assessment Network’s materials and use them as part of our internal development. It wasn’t a one-off event — it’s become an ongoing resource that continues to strengthen our processes.”
Emily adds:
“It’s been a genuine partnership. What’s worked particularly well is that The Assessment Network’s bespoke solutions are not offered as a fixed package or one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we’ve built a consultancy relationship that flexes around our needs. That flexibility has been incredibly valuable, especially given how quickly things change in our sector.”
Learn more about The Assessment Network’s bespoke offer and how their tailored approach to assessment can help your organisation.