MSP Foundation study plan

MSP Foundation · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Principles

Define each of the seven principles in one sentence without notes
Map every principle to at least one decision it would change in a programme scenario
Explain how the principles constrain tailoring of the programme lifecycle
Build a 40-card flashcard deck covering each principle and its intent

Closed-book one-page principles summary plus a 25-question principles quiz scored at 70% or better

Week 2

Answer 40 scenario-style principles questions and record the reasoning behind every incorrect answer
Diagnose which principle is being compromised in 10 short programme vignettes
Compare pairs of principles and describe a situation where they pull in opposite directions
Re-teach three principles aloud in under five minutes each, without notes

Error log of at least 15 logged mistakes with corrected reasoning, plus a second principles quiz scored at 80% or better

Week 3

Describe the people-related responsibilities attached to each programme role
Plot stakeholders from a worked example onto a power/interest grid and justify each placement
Explain how leadership emphasis shifts across the programme lifecycle
List the behaviours that build trust and collaboration across organisational boundaries

A stakeholder analysis and role-responsibility matrix completed for one realistic programme scenario

Week 4

Answer 50 mixed questions spanning Principles and People
Explain conflict handling and team development in a programme setting
Draft a one-page guide to leading change through people
Re-test the 15+ errors logged in week 2 and confirm each is now answered correctly

Timed 30-question mock across Domains 1 and 2 scored at 75% or better

Week 5

Outline the purpose and key outputs of each practice area in your own words
Describe how the programme's justification is developed, tested and maintained across the lifecycle
Sequence the programme lifecycle and place each practice at the stages where it bites
Draft a benefits map for a sample programme showing outcomes, capabilities and benefits

A one-page practice map linking each practice to lifecycle stages and to the principles it serves

Week 6

Answer 50 scenario questions on the practices and log reasoning for errors
Diagnose weak or missing practices in a failing-programme case study
Explain with two worked examples how principles and practices interlock in practice

A 400-word case-study write-up identifying failures by practice area, cross-checked against the official guidance

Week 7

Sit two full timed 60-question mocks under exam conditions
Tabulate scores by domain and identify the weakest 20% of content
Re-derive 30 missed questions from first principles until each is explainable aloud

Domain-by-domain score breakdown from two mocks with a ranked list of weak areas and a remediation list

Week 8

Close the top three weak areas with targeted re-study and re-testing
Sit a final full mock and review every answer, right or wrong
Recite all principles and the purpose of each practice from memory in one sitting

Final mock scored at 80% or better overall with no single domain below 70%

Week 2: Principles quiz at 80%+ and a complete error log with corrected reasoning for every miss

Week 4: Mixed Domains 1-2 mock at 75%+ and all week-2 errors cleared on re-test

Week 6: Practice case-study write-up completed and a 50-question practices set at 75%+

Week 8: Final full mock at 80%+ overall and no domain below 70%