HERMES Advanced Exam
The HERMES Advanced level is the certification aimed at project managers.
HERMES knowledge equivalent to the Foundation level is required.
HERMES Target Audience
- Project Managers
- Project Team Members
- Controllers
- Decision Makers
- PMO Staff
- Quality Management
- Governance/Steering Management
HERMES Advanced Exam Format
- Languages: German, English, French
- Duration: 2 hours
- Each of the two parts lasts 60 minutes, with a break in between
- To pass the entire exam, at least 60% of the maximum score must be achieved in each part
PART 1: No reference materials allowed (“Closed Book”)
PART 2: Allowed materials include the reference manual and scenario overview BK (“Open Book”)
The exam consists of a two-part written test:
Part 1: Multiple Choice – 30 questions, one or more correct answers
Part 2: Multiple Choice with practical scenarios – 15 questions, one or more correct answers
Exam topics include:
- Fundamentals of HERMES project management
- Application of the method, assessment of situations, and drawing conclusions in the “Initialization” and “Closure” phases
- Modules: “Project Steering” and “Project Leadership”
- “Organisation” module
- Use of the “Planning Use Case” and “Explanatory Notes”
HERMES Advanced Exam Sample Questions
The exam consists of two parts:
- Part 1: Multiple Choice – 30 questions, one or more correct answers
- Part 2: Multiple Choice with practical scenarios – 15 questions, one or more correct answers
Sample Questions – HERMES Advanced, Part 1:
For each question, one or more answers may be correct.
- Correct answers = +1 point
- Incorrect answers = –1 point
- Unanswered = 0 points
- Minimum score per question is 0 points.
Questions types: Standard, List, Negative
Example – “Standard” Question
Which decisions are made by the “Steering” level in the “Service/Product Development” scenario?
a) Phase release decision
b) Release approval decision
c) Operational start decision
d) Decision on further proceedings
Example – “List” Question
You are a project manager in a project to develop and implement a unified glossary software in a cantonal administration. The project is in the “Implementation” phase.
Evaluate the following statements:
A) The client is not necessarily required to make the “Release Approval” decision, BECAUSE
B) The “Decision on Further Proceedings” determines whether “Release Approval” is mandatory.
- A) is true and B) is true
- A) is false and B) is true
- A) is true and B) is false
- A) is false and B) is false
- A) is true because B) is true
Example – “Negative” Question
Mark the correct statements regarding the following claim:
“The Implementation Structure Plan is not modeled as a result in HERMES.”
- The claim is correct, because the implementation structure plan is part of the project management plan.
- The claim is incorrect, because the implementation structure plan is a result of variant selection.
- The claim is correct, because the implementation structure plan is included in the study.
- The claim is correct. Creating the implementation structure plan is the basis for further elaborating the project management plan.
Sample Questions – HERMES Advanced, Part 2
For each question, one or more answers may be correct.
- Correct answers = +1 point
- Incorrect answers = –1 point
- Unanswered = 0 points
Minimum score per question is 0 points.
Note: All questions and answers refer exclusively to the HERMES project management method and the reference manual.
Question types: Standard, List, Negative
Your Role: As a project manager, you are responsible for redesigning the website of a railway company.
Practical Situation: The study with the selected solution variant “implementation of an external standard CMS solution” has been completed according to HERMES. You are now preparing the project management plan.
Which components will you include in the project management plan according to HERMES?
- The test plan. It will be conducted according to the test concept document X.
- The application for phase approval.
- The project organisation. It is defined up to the “Introduction” phase.
- The selected scenario with implementation structure plan.
- The change management section, which includes a list of all processed changes.
HERMES Advanced Learning Objectives
After completing the course, participants should:
- Have in-depth knowledge of how a project is initialized and closed, and how project foundations are developed
- Understand how to manage and lead a project, and practice implementing selected tasks from the related modules
- Know the execution-relevant modules for solution development, through detailed work with a case study. Participants will practice implementing tasks and assigning responsibilities to roles
- Understand the “Organisation” module using case studies based on any standard scenario, recognize its importance in all HERMES projects, and practice implementing selected tasks from the module
HERMES Advanced Certification
Participants who pass the exam receive a certificate. If registered early and the exam is passed, the certificate is issued immediately after the exam. For short-notice registrations, the certificate is issued approximately 2–3 weeks after the exam.
The certification body offering HERMES in Switzerland is TÜV SÜD Academy.
Certificates issued by TÜV SÜD Examination Institute are valid for five years (for certificates issued since 01.01.2020).
TÜV SÜD provides comprehensive information about certification and recertification on its website.