ExpertCheat Sheet
PMP
PMPPMP Exam Cheat Sheet: Formulas, Domains, and Key Concepts
The essential reference for PMP candidates — earned value formulas, the three domains, agile vs predictive triggers, and the ITTOs most likely to appear on the 2024 ECO exam.
ExpertMinds Editorial·21 January 2026·7 min read
The PMP exam (current ECO, since January 2021) is 180 questions in 230 minutes. Approximately 50% of questions are agile or hybrid. The exam does not reward memorising processes — it rewards understanding why a project manager would take a specific action. This cheat sheet focuses on concepts and formulas that distinguish right from wrong answers.
Key fact:180 questions · 230 minutes · No published passing score. Results reported as Above Target / Target / Below Target per domain. PMI recommends "Target" or above in all three.
The Three Domains
| Domain | Exam weight | Core theme |
|---|---|---|
| People | 42% | Leading teams, managing stakeholders, resolving conflict, building a collaborative environment |
| Process | 50% | Executing projects — scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, procurement — in predictive and agile contexts |
| Business Environment | 8% | Benefits realisation, compliance, org change management, external factors affecting the project |
Tip:Domain weighting means Process has the most questions, but People questions are where most candidates lose marks. They require judgment, not recall.
Earned Value Formulas
| Term / Formula | Definition | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| PV (Planned Value) | Budget authorised for scheduled work | What you planned to spend by now |
| EV (Earned Value) | Budget authorised for work actually completed | What you've earned for work done |
| AC (Actual Cost) | Cost actually incurred | What you've spent |
| SV = EV − PV | Schedule Variance | Positive = ahead; Negative = behind |
| CV = EV − AC | Cost Variance | Positive = under budget; Negative = over budget |
| SPI = EV / PV | Schedule Performance Index | >1 = ahead; <1 = behind |
| CPI = EV / AC | Cost Performance Index | >1 = under budget; <1 = over budget |
| EAC = BAC / CPI | Estimate at Completion (if current CPI continues) | What the project will cost at completion |
| EAC = AC + ETC | Estimate at Completion (with new estimate) | Actual spent + new estimate to complete |
| ETC = EAC − AC | Estimate to Complete | Cost remaining to finish |
| VAC = BAC − EAC | Variance at Completion | Projected over/under budget at end |
| TCPI = (BAC − EV) / (BAC − AC) | To-Complete Performance Index | CPI needed to finish within original budget |
Key fact:Memory trick for SV and CV: always EV minus the other one. "Earned" is always first. SV = EV−PV. CV = EV−AC.
Agile vs Predictive — Reading the Question
| Trigger phrase in question | Likely approach |
|---|---|
| "requirements are unclear or likely to change" | Agile / iterative |
| "customer wants early and frequent delivery" | Agile |
| "self-organising team" | Agile |
| "regulatory compliance", "fixed requirements" | Predictive / waterfall |
| "contract with fixed scope and price" | Predictive |
| "some parts uncertain, some fixed" | Hybrid |
| "retrospective" | Agile (Scrum) |
| "lessons learned" | Predictive (PMI traditional) |
| "sprint", "velocity", "backlog" | Scrum / agile |
| "WBS", "baseline", "change control board" | Predictive |
Conflict Resolution — Order of Preference
- Collaborating / Problem Solving — address root cause, best for PMI exams
- Compromising — both parties give something up
- Smoothing / Accommodating — emphasise agreement, de-emphasise differences
- Forcing — one party imposes their position
- Withdrawal / Avoiding — delay or retreat (worst option on PMI exams)
Tip:On PMP exam questions about conflict: the answer is almost always "collaborate and problem-solve." Forcing and avoidance are almost always wrong.
Power / Interest Grid — Stakeholder Engagement
| Power | Interest | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| High | High | Manage closely — key stakeholders |
| High | Low | Keep satisfied — don't overload with detail |
| Low | High | Keep informed — engaged but limited influence |
| Low | Low | Monitor — minimum effort |
Risk Response Strategies
| Strategy | For threats or opportunities? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid (threats) / Exploit (opportunities) | Both | Change plan to eliminate threat / ensure opportunity occurs |
| Transfer (threats) / Share (opportunities) | Both | Shift impact to third party (insurance, contracts) |
| Mitigate (threats) / Enhance (opportunities) | Both | Reduce probability or impact |
| Accept | Both | Acknowledge risk, no action (active = contingency plan; passive = deal with it if it happens) |
| Escalate | Both | Risk is outside project scope — pass to programme or portfolio level |
Test your PMP knowledge
Reading formulas is not the same as applying them under pressure. Practice PMP scenario questions to see how these concepts appear on the real exam.
Leadership Styles — Quick Reference
| Style | When to use | PMI preference? |
|---|---|---|
| Servant Leadership | Agile teams — PM serves the team, removes blockers | Yes — strongly preferred for agile contexts |
| Laissez-faire | Highly experienced, self-directed experts | Situational — not the default |
| Transactional | Clear deliverables, reward/punishment structure | Acceptable for predictive |
| Transformational | Leading change, inspiring vision | Yes — for driving change |
| Authoritative / Directing | Crisis, new team members, or when clarity is needed fast | Situational |
Ready to Practice the full PMP?
Graded results, exam simulation, and detailed guidance on every question.