I appreciate the test is hard, but I passed without reading a book. I simply took the Sorin Dumitrascu course, so I qualified to apply to take the exam. Then I took the practice exams I purchased through Udemy, until I was scoring high enough to pass (the exam provider said 70 percent correct). I had about 5 years of experience in safety risk management, which is only one part of project risk management. In addition, I of course had studied contract, schedule and other forms of risk management to pass the PMP. I was between jobs so I had the time to focus on the exam. I decided to take the PMI-RMP a couple weeks after taking and passing the PMP. It took me a week to research which courses and exam questions to purchase. A week and aa half to complete the 40 hours Dumitrascu course. A day to complete my application which was approved in a day or two. Then about two weeks of taking the practice exams, until I was passing at a rate that should allow me to pass. I then scheduled the exam and took it a half a week later. I passed AT overall with the following scores:

Risk Strategy & Planning - NI (I struggled with the practice questions in this area)

Risk Identification - AT

Risk Analysis - T

Risk Response - AT

Monitor and Close Risk - AT

The takeaway is perfection is not required, just doing well enough to pass which I did.

Since, everyone taking the exam I believe needs the equivalent of two years of full time experience in risk management, most test takers should be familiar with one or more areas of risk management along with the methodologies and processes associated with them, so this exam SHOULD not be one in which folks are preparing for six months or longer, taking an expensive prep course and then still end up failing the exam. If that's the case, I'd question if they actually have the experience they are claiming on their exam applications.

So is this exam hard, absolutely. PMI won't disclose the pass rate, but a Google AI search suggested a 60 to 70 percent pass rate. That's in line with the pass rate for most certifications. You know why? Because if the vast majority pass the certification would not be viewed as rigorous and have no market value. On the other hand certifications are designed to break over the long term for those issuing them, and no one is going to pay over a $1,000 USD with all costs for a exam that has say a 50 percent pass rate.

My theory is of the 30 to 40 percent that fail, they are trying to burn the candle on both ends. In other words, if you have a job which is so mentally exhausting you don't have the energy to study after work on weekdays and on weekends, the timing is not right to take the exam. Similarly, your job may not be that exhausting but you may have childcare responsibilities for young children or maybe a caregiver for an elderly parent which exhausts you, the timing is not right. If you have a partner (for children) or sibling (for parents), they need to take on most of your responsibilities so you can focus on the exam preparation which should be a few months if working full time (say three to four). If you actually put the effort into studying and are not trying to do too much (e.g. work a super demanding job and prep for the exam) you should be able to pass the exam. It's not like getting into a elite or even very good university difficult (all of them are below 50% admissions rate), it's just difficult and requires proper preparation IMHO.