PMBOK Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PMBOK facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. On a project with PV = $300,000, EV = $270,000, and AC = $260,000, what is the Schedule Variance (SV)? → -$30,000
2. A project manager is applying the 'Focus on Value' principle. Which action best reflects this? → Continuously evaluating whether the project is aligned with its intended business benefits
3. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a stakeholder register? → To identify stakeholders and record their interests, involvement, and potential impact
4. A program manager wants to ensure that interdependent project benefits are coordinated and do not conflict. Which tool best supports this? → Program-level benefits map
5. In PMBOK terminology, what is a 'deliverable'? → A unique and verifiable product, service, or result produced during a project
6. What does the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) measure in project schedule tracking? → The ratio of earned value to planned value
7. Which PMBOK 7th Edition principle focuses on anticipating and minimizing negative impacts of uncertainty on project outcomes? → Optimize risk responses
8. Which PMBOK 7th Edition principle is most relevant when a project manager balances competing demands from multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities? → Navigate complexity
9. Which technique is most effective for building trust within a newly formed project team? → Creating early opportunities for small collaborative wins
10. According to PMBOK, what distinguishes a hybrid life cycle from a purely agile life cycle? → Hybrid projects combine predictive and adaptive elements within the same project
11. Which document formally captures the expected measurable improvements that a project is intended to deliver to the organization? → Benefits management plan
12. In a hybrid project management approach, which phase is MOST likely to use predictive methods? → Requirements gathering and initial scope definition
13. According to PMBOK 7th edition, what is the primary role of metrics in the Measurement Performance Domain? → To provide data that informs decision-making and enables corrective action
14. A project has EV = $200,000, PV = $250,000, and AC = $220,000. What is the Schedule Variance (SV)? → -$50,000
15. Which PMBOK concept captures the idea that every project exists within a larger system and practitioners must consider interactions among components? → Recognize, evaluate, and respond to system interactions
16. A team consistently meets deadlines but produces work with quality defects. What should the project manager investigate first? → Whether the definition of done includes adequate quality criteria
17. Which technique is used during requirements collection to allow stakeholders to anonymously provide and refine estimates or opinions over multiple rounds? → Delphi technique
18. Which of the following is NOT typically included in the stakeholder engagement plan? → Detailed personal background information on each stakeholder
19. Which concept describes the ongoing incremental effort to improve products, services, and processes in quality management? → Continuous process improvement (Kaizen)
20. The Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix compares which two states for each stakeholder? → Current engagement level and desired engagement level
21. Which component of the project management plan MOST directly guides how compliance issues will be identified and managed? → Quality management plan
22. A project team discovers that a deliverable was inadvertently omitted from the WBS. What should happen next? → Submit a change request through integrated change control
23. A secondary risk is defined as a risk that: → Arises as a direct result of implementing a risk response
24. In a Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) network, what does a Finish-to-Start (FS) dependency mean? → The successor can start only after the predecessor finishes
25. Which leadership style is MOST appropriate when team members are highly skilled but lack motivation on a familiar task? → Supporting style, encouraging and praising contributions
26. Which PMBOK 7th Edition principle calls for project teams to help the organization move to a desired future state? → Enable Change
27. During a complex project, two senior team members have a persistent conflict over technical direction. What should the project manager do first? → Facilitate a structured discussion focused on project objectives
28. Which scaling framework is specifically designed to apply agile practices across multiple teams in large organizations? → SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
29. During an agile iteration review, who is the PRIMARY audience for the demonstration of completed work? → Stakeholders and the product owner
30. A project manager is creating a WBS and cannot determine how to decompose a future deliverable because requirements are unclear. What is the best approach? → Use a planning package to represent that portion of scope