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. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a stakeholder register? → To identify stakeholders and record their interests, involvement, and potential impact
2. What does the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) measure in project schedule tracking? → The ratio of earned value to planned value
3. Which technique is most effective for building trust within a newly formed project team? → Creating early opportunities for small collaborative wins
4. 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
5. In a hybrid project management approach, which phase is MOST likely to use predictive methods? → Requirements gathering and initial scope definition
6. A project has EV = $200,000, PV = $250,000, and AC = $220,000. What is the Schedule Variance (SV)? → -$50,000
7. 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
8. Which concept describes the ongoing incremental effort to improve products, services, and processes in quality management? → Continuous process improvement (Kaizen)
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. Which scaling framework is specifically designed to apply agile practices across multiple teams in large organizations? → SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
13. During an agile iteration review, who is the PRIMARY audience for the demonstration of completed work? → Stakeholders and the product owner
14. A project manager wants to improve team motivation on a long-duration project. Which factor does Herzberg's theory identify as a true motivator? → Recognition for meaningful accomplishments
15. When transitioning from a traditional to a hybrid approach, what should the project manager address FIRST? → Establishing organizational change management strategies
16. In agile project management, what does the concept of 'velocity' measure? → The amount of work a team completes during a single iteration
17. What is the consequence of failing to establish a clear governance framework at the start of a project? → Ambiguous decision-making authority leading to delays and scope disputes
18. In PMBOK, which quality management process involves auditing quality requirements and results to ensure appropriate standards are being used? → Manage Quality
19. What is the main output of the Collect Requirements process? → Requirements documentation
20. What does a Gantt chart primarily display in project schedule management? → Activity durations plotted along a timeline with start and finish dates
21. Which stakeholder engagement level describes a stakeholder who is aware of the project but neither supportive nor resistant? → Neutral
22. Which of the following would the PMBOK Guide (Sixth Edition) rank as the project manager's top set of skills? → Interpersonal and team skills
23. Which performance domain in the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition addresses how teams interact and collaborate? → Team Performance Domain
24. What is the primary purpose of run charts in quality management? → To display trends in a process or measurement over time
25. What is a Control Account in PMBOK cost management? → A management control point where scope, budget, and schedule are integrated and measured
26. What does the term 'sunk cost' mean in project cost management? → Costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered
27. What should a project manager do first when a governance policy change occurs mid-project? → Perform an impact assessment on current project scope, schedule, and budget
28. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a risk register in project management? → To serve as a repository for all identified risks and their response plans
29. Which of the following best describes 'Cost of Quality' (COQ) in PMBOK? → The costs of conformance and nonconformance to quality requirements
30. Which EVM metric represents the authorized budget assigned to scheduled work? → Planned Value (PV)