CAPM Practice Test

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from the Project Management Institute is for people early in project work who want a recognised credential. The exam has 150 questions in 180 minutes. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, worked explanations of sample questions and a study plan. It also lists the exam facts PMI publishes and names the official PMI pages where you can check them.

CAPM Exam at a Glance

What the CAPM is and how it works

According to Project Management Institute, “150 questions 15 unscored pretest questions, 135 scored questions”^[1]

The CAPM checks whether you understand the terms, processes and approaches used on projects: predictive (plan-based) work, agile methods, business analysis, and core project management concepts. PMI publishes the content outline, and the blueprint table on this page follows it.

Format and delivery. The exam has 150 questions. Of these, 135 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest questions. You have 180 minutes. You can take it at a Pearson VUE test center or online through OnVUE, with a remote proctor watching.

Fees. The fee is $225 for PMI members and $300 for non-members. You pay only after PMI accepts your application and you are ready to schedule.

Scoring. PMI does not publish a passing score. It is set by psychometric analysis. If you take the exam on a computer, you get your score report when you finish. Paper-based results take 6–8 weeks.

Eligibility window and retakes. Once your application is approved, you have 1 year to take the exam, and you can schedule at any time of year. You get up to 3 attempts in that year. If you fail 3 times, you must wait 1 year from your last exam before you can reapply. PMI sets the education requirements for the application and can change them, so check the current PMI certification handbook before you apply.

Keeping the credential. The certification runs on a 3-year cycle. To renew, you earn 15 PDUs per cycle, with at least 9 in Education and no more than 6 in Giving Back.

CAPM content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CAPM content outline published by Project Management Institute, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CAPM questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A project manager notices the same scheduling problem occurred in three consecutive sprints. Which continuous improvement technique is MOST appropriate to identify the root cause?

1. SWOT analysis
2. Five Whys analysis
3. Cost-benefit analysis
4. Decision tree analysis

Answer: B. Five Whys analysis

Explanation:

Five Whys analysis is correct. A problem that keeps coming back points to a cause no one has fixed yet. Asking 'why' again and again gets past the symptoms to the process problem underneath.

• SWOT analysis looks at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats at the project or organization level. It does not trace one specific problem back to its cause.
• Cost-benefit analysis compares the costs and benefits of possible fixes. It helps you choose a fix after you know the cause, not find the cause.
• Decision tree analysis models choices under uncertainty using probabilities and outcomes. It is not a diagnostic tool.

Rule to remember: for a recurring problem, use a root-cause tool such as Five Whys or a fishbone diagram. To choose between options, use cost-benefit analysis or a decision tree.

Example 2

Question: When using the Estimate at Completion (EAC) formula that assumes past CPI performance will continue, the formula is:

1. AC + (BAC - EV)
2. BAC / CPI
3. AC + ETC
4. EV / SPI

Answer: B. BAC / CPI

Explanation:

BAC / CPI is correct. It predicts the final cost by assuming the cost efficiency so far, measured by CPI, continues for the rest of the project.

• AC + (BAC - EV) assumes the remaining work will be done at the budgeted rate. You use it when the variance so far is treated as a one-off (atypical).
• AC + ETC is the general form. It needs a separate estimate to complete, often built bottom-up, and does not itself assume CPI continues.
• EV / SPI combines earned value with a schedule index. It is not a standard EAC formula.

Rule to remember: if the variance is expected to continue (typical), use BAC / CPI. If it was a one-off (atypical), use AC + (BAC - EV). If the old estimate no longer holds, re-estimate and use AC + ETC.

Example 3

Question: What does 'free float' (free slack) mean in schedule network analysis?

1. The amount of time a project can be delayed without delaying the project end date
2. The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of its successor
3. The total time a project schedule can slip
4. Extra budget reserved for schedule risks

Answer: B. The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of its successor

Explanation:

Option B is correct. Free float is measured against the next activity: it is how long an activity can slip before it delays the early start of any successor.

• Option A describes total float. Total float is measured against the project finish date or an imposed date, not against the next activity.
• Option C describes overall schedule slippage. Free float belongs to a single activity, not to the whole schedule.
• Option D describes a budget reserve, such as a contingency reserve. Float is measured in time, not money.

Rule to remember: free float protects the successors; total float protects the end date. An activity's free float can never be larger than its total float.

How to use these practice tests

1. Start with the official outline. Read PMI's CAPM exam content outline and its list of reference material. Use the blueprint table above to pick a practice set for each content area.
2. Do a first untimed pass. Work through each set without a timer. For every question you miss, write down the rule in your own words, for example which EAC formula goes with which assumption, or how free float differs from total float.
3. Fix weak areas at the source. Sort your misses by content area. Reread the matching sections of PMI's reference material before you go back to the questions.
4. Space your retakes. Wait a few days, then retake the sets where you scored lowest. Read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right, so that you are not just recognising answers you have seen.
5. Practise pacing. Closer to test day, work through several sets back to back. On the real exam you will have 180 minutes for 150 questions.
6. Sort out logistics early. If you are testing online through OnVUE, read Pearson VUE's requirements for your computer and room ahead of time. If you are going to a test center, confirm the location and what ID you need.

Sources & last verified

1. Project Management Institute — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “150 questions 15 unscored pretest questions, 135 scored questions” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
2. Project Management Institute — passing score, retake policy, validity, score release (official source). “The passing score for all PMI exams is determined by sound psychometric analysis.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
3. Project Management Institute — renewal (official source). “If you hold a Certified Associate in Project Management Professional (CAPM)® certification, you are required to earn 15 PDUs in a 3-year cycle.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
4. home.pearsonvue.com — delivery (official source). “Now you can conveniently and easily take these exams in the comfort of your home while being monitored by an offsite proctor.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
5. Project Management Institute — other (official source). “agile frameworks methodologies - 20%” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.