Formulas To Pass CAPM Exam

Formulas you should know for the CAPM® Exam
Summary: Many Candidates, especially those who do not come from science or mathematics
background, would consider the most difficult part of the CAPM® exam to be the calculation
questions involving CAPM® formulas.
The good news is that CAPM® calculation is not rocket science and the CAPM® Exam is not a test of
your mathematics skills. You just need to understand and memorize the following CAPM®
Calculation formulas in order to be well prepared.
Relax and keep calm and study on regular basis and You will get CAPM® certified!
CAPM® Formulas mentioned in the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition

The formulas table below summaries the most important formulas that candidates would need to
understand and learn in order to be able to answer questions correctly.
There are tons other formulas you may find from the internet or in facebook preparation books
that claimed to be related to the CAPM® Exam (e.g. there are over 40 different EVM formulas). The
good news is the other formulas not listed below are mostly from previous versions of the PMBOK®
Guide.
One advise to You, not only remember the formulas but also understand their meaning.
1
Name Formula Explanation
No. of n (n-1)/2 n should include the project
Communication n = number of members in the team manager
Channels
e.g. if the no. of team
members increase from 4 to 5,
the increase in
communication channels:
5(5-1)/2 – 4(4-1)/2 = 4
Schedule SPI = EV/PV < 1 behind schedule
Performance Index EV = Earned Value = 1 on schedule
(SPI) PV = Planned Value > 1 ahead of schedule
Cost Performance CPI = EV/AC < 1 Over budget
Index (CPI) EV = Earned Value = 1 On budget
AC = Actual Cost > 1 Under budget
sometimes the term

‘cumulative CPI’ would be
shown, which actually is the
CPI up to that moment
Schedule Variance SV = EV – PV < 0 Behind schedule
(SV) EV = Earned Value = 0 On schedule
PV = Planned Value > 0 Ahead of schedule
Cost Variance (CV) CV = EV – AC < 0 Over budget
EV = Earned Value = 0 On budget
AC = Actual Cost > 0 Within budget
Estimate at EAC = AC + New ETC if the original estimate is
Completion (EAC) if AC = Actual Cost based on wrong
original is flawed New ETC = New Estimate to data/assumptions or
Completion circumstances have changed
Estimate at EAC = AC + BAC – EV the variance is caused by a
Completion (EAC) if AC = Actual Cost one-time event and is not
BAC remains the BAC = Budget at completion likely to happen again
same EV = Earned Value
Estimate at EAC = BAC/CPI if the CPI would remain the
Completion (EAC) if BAC = Budget at completion same till end of project, i.e.
CPI remains the CPI = Cost performance index the original estimation is not
same accurate
Estimate at EAC = AC + [(BAC -EV)/(CPI*SPI)] use when the question gives
Completion (EAC) if all the values (AC, BAC, EV, CPI
2
substandard AC = Actual Cost and SPI), otherwise, this
performance BAC = Budget at completion formula is not likely to be used
continues EV = Earned Value
CPI = Cost Performance Index
SPI = Schedule Performance Index
To-Complete TCPI = (BAC – EV)/ < 1 Under budget
Performance Index (BAC – AC) = 1 On budget
(TCPI) BAC = Budget at completion > 1 Over budget
EV = Earned value
AC = Actual Cost
TCPI = Remaining Work
/Remaining Funds
BAC = Budget at completion
EV = Earned value
CPI = Cost performance index
Estimate to ETC = EAC -AC
Completion EAC = Estimate at Completion
AC = Actual Cost
Variance at VAC = BAC – EAC < 0 Over budget
Completion BAC = Budget at completion = 0 On budget
EAC = Estimate at Completion > 0 Under budget
PERT Estimation (O + 4M + P)/6
O= Optimistic estimate
M= Most Likely estimate
P= Pessimistic estimate
Standard Deviation (P – O)/6 this is a rough estimate for
O= Optimistic estimate the standard deviation
P= Pessimistic estimate
Float/Slack LS – ES = 0 On critical path
LS = Late start < 0 Behind schedule
ES = Early start
LF – EF
LF = Late finish
EF = Early finish
The above 17 CAPM® formulas are all that you’ll need for the CAPM® Exam in the latest PMBOK®
Guide edition. Try to learn them and understand their applications by heart and you will be able to
solve the calculation questions in the real CAPM® Exam.

Formulas To Pass CAPM Exam

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Formulas you should know for the CAPM® Exam

CAPM® Formulas mentioned in the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition

sometimes the term

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