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Exam Review

Key Facts: CAPM Exam

150

Exam Questions

PMI CAPM certification details

Exam Time

PMI CAPM certification details

23 hrs

Education Required

PMI

$225/$300

Reference Member/Nonmember Fee

PMI display checked October 29, 2026; regional checkout and taxes may differ

15 PDUs

Renewal Every 3 Years

PMI CAPM certification page

1 break

Scheduled 10-min break after Q75

CAPM Exam Content Outline

The CAPM exam has 150 questions (135 scored and 15 unscored pretest items) in 180 minutes, with a scheduled 10-minute break after the first 75 questions; that completed section locks when the break starts. Be at least 18 years old, hold a secondary degree (high school diploma, GED, or global equivalent), and complete at least 23 hours of project management education before the exam. No project work experience is required. Pearson VUE offers test-centre and online-proctored delivery. Reference USD display checked October 29, 2026: $225 for PMI members / $300 for non-members. Regional prices and taxes may differ; confirm signed-in checkout. The four domains are Fundamentals 36%, Predictive 17%, Agile 20%, and Business Analysis 27%. Additional attempts require reexamination fees; renewal requires 15 PDUs per three-year cycle and the applicable fee.

Sample CAPM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CAPM exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes a project from ongoing operations?

A.Projects are temporary endeavors with a defined beginning and end

B.Projects require a budget while operations do not

C.Projects are always larger in scope than operations

D.Projects do not require resources like operations do

Explanation: According to PMI, a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The key distinguishing characteristic is its temporary nature - every project has a defined beginning and end. Operations, by contrast, are ongoing and repetitive. Both projects and operations require budgets, resources, and can vary greatly in scope, so those are not distinguishing factors.

2Which of the following is an example of operations rather than a project?

A.Building a new corporate headquarters

B.Developing a new software application

C.Launching a marketing campaign for a new product

D.Processing daily customer service inquiries

Explanation: Processing daily customer service inquiries is an ongoing, repetitive activity that sustains the business - this is the definition of operations. Building a headquarters, developing software, and launching a marketing campaign are all temporary endeavors with unique outcomes and defined end points, making them projects. The distinction matters because projects and operations are managed differently: projects use progressive elaboration toward a unique deliverable, while operations focus on efficiency and consistency of repetitive processes.

3During which project life cycle phase are the project charter and stakeholder register typically created?

A.Planning

B.Executing

C.Initiating

D.Closing

Explanation: The Initiating phase is where the project is formally authorized through the project charter and key stakeholders are identified in the stakeholder register. The project charter defines the project at a high level, names the project manager, and gives them authority to apply organizational resources. The stakeholder register documents information about identified stakeholders. These are foundational documents that must exist before detailed planning can begin.

4In the project life cycle, at what point are cost and staffing levels typically at their highest?

A.Initiating

B.Closing

C.Planning

D.Executing

Explanation: Cost and staffing levels are typically highest during the Executing phase because this is when the majority of the project work is being performed. Team members are actively building deliverables, resources are being consumed at the highest rate, and the project budget is being spent most rapidly. During Initiating and Planning, the team is smaller and costs are lower. During Closing, resources are released and spending decreases as remaining work winds down.

5Which statement best describes the relationship between risk and the ability to influence project outcomes over the project life cycle?

A.Risk and influence both increase as the project progresses

B.Risk increases while the ability to influence outcomes decreases over time

C.Risk is highest at the start and decreases, while cost of changes increases over time

D.Risk and the cost of changes both decrease as the project nears completion

Explanation: This is a fundamental concept in project management. At the beginning of a project, uncertainty (risk) is at its highest because many decisions have not yet been made. As the project progresses, risk decreases because more becomes known and decided. However, the cost of making changes increases over time because more work has been completed that may need to be reworked. Stakeholder influence is greatest early on when changes are least costly, which is why early stakeholder engagement is so important.

6A project manager is completing the final phase of a project. Which of the following activities is MOST important during the Closing phase?

A.Developing the work breakdown structure

B.Conducting procurement audits and archiving project documents

C.Identifying and analyzing project stakeholders

D.Establishing the project baseline

Explanation: The Closing phase involves finalizing all activities, obtaining formal acceptance of deliverables, conducting procurement audits, archiving project documents, and capturing lessons learned. Developing the WBS is a Planning activity, identifying stakeholders is an Initiating activity, and establishing baselines is a Planning activity. Proper closing ensures that organizational knowledge is preserved and contracts are formally closed out, preventing future disputes.

7What is the term for the gradual development of a project through increasingly detailed and specific plans?

A.Rolling wave planning

B.Scope creep

C.Iterative development

D.Progressive elaboration

Explanation: Progressive elaboration is the iterative process of increasing the level of detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available. It is a characteristic of projects that distinguishes them from operations. Rolling wave planning is a specific planning technique where near-term work is planned in detail while future work is planned at a higher level. Iterative development is a methodology approach, and scope creep refers to uncontrolled expansion of project scope.

8The five process groups in project management are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing. Which process group runs concurrently with ALL other process groups?

A.Initiating

B.Planning

C.Executing

D.Monitoring and Controlling

Explanation: Monitoring and Controlling is the only process group that runs concurrently with all other process groups throughout the project life cycle. It involves tracking, reviewing, and regulating the progress and performance of the project, identifying areas where changes to the plan are required, and initiating corresponding changes. From the moment the project starts (Initiating) to when it ends (Closing), monitoring and controlling activities ensure the project stays on track.

9A company is considering whether to upgrade its existing manufacturing line or build an entirely new production facility. Which of the following factors would classify the manufacturing line upgrade as a project rather than routine maintenance?

A.The upgrade involves routine replacement of worn parts

B.The upgrade involves a one-time effort to reconfigure equipment for a new product line with a defined completion date

C.The upgrade is scheduled as part of the annual maintenance plan

D.The upgrade uses the same personnel who handle daily maintenance

Explanation: A one-time effort with a unique purpose (reconfiguring for a new product line) and a defined completion date meets the PMI definition of a project - it is temporary and creates a unique result. Routine replacement of worn parts and scheduled annual maintenance are examples of operations because they are repetitive and ongoing. The personnel involved do not determine whether something is a project or operations; it is the nature of the work that matters.

10Which of the following BEST describes a project phase?

A.A collection of logically related project activities that culminates in the completion of one or more deliverables

B.A single task within the work breakdown structure

C.The time between two consecutive milestones

D.Any activity that requires project management oversight

Explanation: A project phase is a collection of logically related project activities that culminates in the completion of one or more deliverables. Phases allow the project to be segmented into logical subsets for easier management and control. Each phase typically ends with a phase gate or milestone review where the deliverables are evaluated and a decision is made to continue, modify, or terminate the project. A phase is not a single task, not merely the time between milestones, and not just any supervised activity.

About the CAPM Exam

The CAPM certification from the Project Management Institute is designed for aspiring project managers. Restructured in 2023, the exam covers four domains: Project Management Fundamentals & Core Concepts (36%), Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies (17%), Agile Frameworks & Methodologies (20%), and Business Analysis Frameworks (27%). Be at least 18 years old, hold a secondary degree (high school diploma, GED, or global equivalent), and complete at least 23 hours of project management education before the exam. No project work experience is required.

Exam sponsor: PMI (Pearson VUE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

150 questions

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours)

Passing Score

PMI does not publish a fixed passing score (criteria-based scoring)

Exam / Certification Fees

Reference USD display checked October 29, 2026: $225 for PMI members / $300 for non-members. Regional prices and taxes may differ; confirm signed-in checkout.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: PMI does not publish official CAPM pass-rate statistics. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

36%

PM Fundamentals & Core Concepts

Project life cycle, knowledge areas, stakeholder management, project integration, PMI ethics

17%

Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies

Scope, schedule, cost management, WBS, critical path, earned value, quality & risk

20%

Agile Frameworks & Methodologies

Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, user stories, sprint planning, velocity, burndown charts

27%

Business Analysis Frameworks

Needs assessment, requirements elicitation, stakeholder analysis, traceability, solution evaluation

Preparing for the CAPM Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: PMI does not publish a fixed passing score (criteria-based scoring)
Exam length: 150 questions
Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours)
Exam / certification fees: Reference USD display checked October 29, 2026: $225 for PMI members / $300 for non-members. Regional prices and taxes may differ; confirm signed-in checkout. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 200 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
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CAPM: Suggested Study Strategy

1Use the current CAPM ECO as your checklist, starting with Fundamentals (36%): project life cycles, roles, planning, governance, risks and issues, and core terminology.

2Memorize Agile Manifesto values and 12 principles — these appear frequently across agile questions

3Know Scrum roles, events, and artifacts cold: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Sprint Planning, Daily Standup, Sprint Review, Retrospective

4Study business analysis requirements types: business, stakeholder, solution (functional & non-functional), transition

5Learn EVM formulas: PV, EV, AC, SV, CV, SPI, CPI — predictive domain questions often include calculations

6Practice with PMI's official CAPM Exam Prep Course and CAPM Practice Exam, both listed on PMI's CAPM page

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CAPM exam pass rate?

PMI does not publish official CAPM pass-rate statistics. The exam uses 150 questions (about 135 scored, 15 unscored pretest) in 180 minutes, split into two 75-question sections by one scheduled 10-minute break. It uses criteria-based scoring, so PMI does not publish a universal number of correct answers required to pass.

How hard is the CAPM compared to the PMP?

CAPM targets foundational project management knowledge and application for entry and associate roles; PMP targets judgment informed by project leadership experience. Their audiences differ, and neither has a universal difficulty ranking. Use a diagnostic to plan preparation rather than treating a study-hour range as a measured candidate average.

What are the CAPM exam requirements?

Be at least 18 years old, hold a secondary degree (high school diploma, GED, or global equivalent), and complete at least 23 hours of project management education before the exam. No project work experience is required.

Does the CAPM cover agile and business analysis?

Yes. The 2023 CAPM Content Outline restructured the exam into four domains: PM Fundamentals (36%), Predictive (17%), Agile (20%), and Business Analysis (27%). You need to understand Scrum, Kanban, XP, and Lean alongside traditional predictive methodologies. The Business Analysis domain covers requirements, stakeholder analysis, and traceability.

Is the CAPM worth it for career advancement?

The CAPM is valuable for entry-level professionals and career changers. It demonstrates commitment to the profession and provides a foundation for the PMP later. The certification is valid for 3 years and is maintained by earning 15 PDUs per 3-year cycle.

Free Practice Questions for CAPM

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