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What is the 'S-curve' in earned value and what information does it provide scheduling professionals?

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Key Facts: PMI-SP Exam

170 Qs

Exam Questions

PMI

3.5 hrs

Time Limit

PMI

$520

Member Fee

PMI

3 yrs

Certification Validity

60 PDUs per cycle

60 PDUs

Renewal Requirement

30+ in scheduling topics

The PMI-SP is PMI's specialist certification for project schedulers. It has 170 multiple-choice questions in 3.5 hours. The exam covers schedule development, schedule analysis, Critical Path Method (CPM), earned value management (EVM), resource optimization, risk-based scheduling (Monte Carlo), schedule compression, and monitoring/controlling. The passing score is determined by psychometric analysis. PMI member fee is $520; non-member fee is $670.

Sample PMI-SP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PMI-SP exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the PRIMARY purpose of a project schedule?
A.To track employee attendance
B.To define the planned start and finish dates for project activities, establish the critical path, and serve as a baseline for performance measurement
C.To schedule meetings for the project team
D.To determine the project budget
Explanation: A project schedule defines the planned timing of project activities, establishes logical relationships between tasks, identifies the critical path, determines resource requirements over time, and serves as the baseline against which actual performance is measured. It is the primary tool for time management and communicating the project timeline to stakeholders.
2What are the four types of logical relationships (dependencies) in a project schedule?
A.Strong, weak, mandatory, and discretionary
B.Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), and Start-to-Finish (SF)
C.Internal, external, mandatory, and discretionary
D.Linear, parallel, converging, and diverging
Explanation: The four types of logical relationships in project scheduling are Finish-to-Start (FS — successor starts after predecessor finishes), Start-to-Start (SS — both start together), Finish-to-Finish (FF — both finish together), and Start-to-Finish (SF — predecessor start enables successor finish). FS is the most common relationship. Understanding all four and when to use each is fundamental to building accurate schedule logic.
3What is the 'critical path' in a project schedule?
A.The path with the highest cost activities
B.The longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the minimum project duration, where any delay extends the project end date
C.The path most critical for project quality
D.The shortest path through the project network
Explanation: The critical path is the longest sequence of logically dependent activities through the project network diagram, determining the minimum possible project duration. Activities on the critical path have zero total float — any delay to these activities directly delays the project completion date. The critical path may shift during project execution as activities are completed ahead of or behind schedule.
4What is 'total float' in schedule analysis?
A.The total number of floating activities in the schedule
B.The maximum amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the project completion date
C.The total scheduled time for the project
D.The floating point decimal used in duration calculations
Explanation: Total float (also called total slack) is the maximum amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the project completion date. It is calculated as Late Start minus Early Start (or Late Finish minus Early Finish). Activities on the critical path have zero total float. Understanding total float is essential for schedule analysis, resource allocation, and identifying schedule flexibility.
5What is 'earned value' (EV) in the context of schedule performance measurement?
A.The value of materials earned through purchasing
B.The authorized budget assigned to the work that has actually been completed at a given point in time
C.The revenue earned from the project
D.The value of earned experience points for the team
Explanation: Earned Value (EV) represents the authorized budget assigned to the work that has actually been completed at a given measurement point. It is the 'value' of work done. Combined with Planned Value (PV) and Actual Cost (AC), EV enables objective schedule and cost performance measurement. Schedule Variance (SV = EV - PV) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI = EV/PV) use EV to assess schedule performance.
6What is 'resource optimization' in scheduling?
A.Hiring the best employees available
B.Techniques such as resource leveling and resource smoothing that adjust the schedule to balance resource demand with availability
C.Optimizing the salary structure for project resources
D.Purchasing the newest equipment for the project
Explanation: Resource optimization involves adjusting the project schedule to better align resource demand with availability. The two primary techniques are resource leveling (resolving over-allocation by delaying activities, which may extend the project duration) and resource smoothing (adjusting activities within their float to reduce resource demand peaks without extending the project). Both are essential for creating realistic, achievable schedules.
7What is 'schedule risk analysis' and why is it important?
A.Analyzing the risk of the schedule being stolen
B.Quantitative analysis using techniques like Monte Carlo simulation to determine the probability of meeting schedule targets and identify high-risk activities
C.Assessing the risk of using scheduling software
D.Analyzing schedule conflicts between team members
Explanation: Schedule risk analysis uses quantitative techniques like Monte Carlo simulation to assess the probability of meeting schedule milestones and completion dates. By assigning probability distributions to activity durations and running thousands of simulations, it produces probabilistic forecasts (e.g., '80% confidence of completing by date X'). This is far more realistic than deterministic single-point estimates and identifies which activities contribute most to schedule risk.
8What is 'crashing' as a schedule compression technique?
A.A software crash in the scheduling tool
B.Adding resources or cost to critical path activities to reduce their duration, accepting increased cost for reduced time
C.Crashing the project schedule to start over
D.Rapidly completing all remaining work in the last phase
Explanation: Crashing involves adding resources (overtime, additional crews, premium shipping, etc.) to critical path activities to reduce their duration and compress the project schedule. It always increases cost because more resources are applied to achieve the same scope in less time. Effective crashing targets activities with the best time-cost trade-off ratio: the maximum duration reduction per dollar of additional cost.
9What is the 'forward pass' in Critical Path Method calculations?
A.Passing the schedule forward to the client
B.A calculation that moves forward through the network diagram from start to finish, computing the earliest possible start and finish dates for each activity
C.Advancing the project schedule by one month
D.A forward-looking schedule review meeting
Explanation: The forward pass is the first step in CPM calculations, moving forward through the network diagram from the project start to determine the earliest possible start (ES) and earliest possible finish (EF) for each activity. ES is determined by the latest EF of all predecessors, and EF = ES + Duration. The forward pass establishes the minimum project duration by identifying the latest EF in the network.
10What is 'Schedule Performance Index' (SPI) and what does an SPI of 0.9 indicate?
A.SPI measures cost efficiency; 0.9 means 10% under budget
B.SPI = EV/PV; 0.9 means the project is behind schedule, having completed only 90% of the planned work value
C.SPI measures quality; 0.9 means 90% quality achieved
D.SPI = PV/EV; 0.9 means the project is 10% ahead of schedule
Explanation: Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is calculated as EV/PV (Earned Value divided by Planned Value). An SPI of 0.9 means the project has completed only 90% of the work value planned for this point in time — it is behind schedule. SPI < 1.0 indicates behind schedule, SPI = 1.0 indicates on schedule, and SPI > 1.0 indicates ahead of schedule. SPI is a key metric for schedule performance monitoring.

About the PMI-SP Exam

The PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) certification validates specialized expertise in project scheduling, including schedule development, critical path analysis, earned value management, resource optimization, and risk-based scheduling. It is the premier credential for project scheduling specialists.

Assessment

170 multiple-choice questions

Time Limit

3.5 hours

Passing Score

Determined by psychometric analysis

Exam Fee

$520 PMI member / $670 non-member (PMI)

PMI-SP Exam Content Outline

20%

Schedule Development

WBS, activity sequencing, duration estimation, network diagrams, constraints, calendars, and baselines

20%

Schedule Analysis & Monitoring

Float analysis, near-critical paths, schedule updates, variance analysis, health assessment, and delay analysis

20%

Critical Path Method

Forward/backward pass, critical path identification, drag calculation, precedence diagramming, and logic validation

15%

Earned Value Management

PV, EV, AC, SPI, SV, EAC, TCPI, earned schedule, S-curves, and cost-schedule integration

15%

Resource Optimization

Resource leveling, smoothing, histograms, availability analysis, skill matching, and productivity

10%

Risk-Based Scheduling & Compression

Monte Carlo, sensitivity analysis, buffers, crashing, fast-tracking, and recovery planning

How to Pass the PMI-SP Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Determined by psychometric analysis
  • Assessment: 170 multiple-choice questions
  • Time limit: 3.5 hours
  • Exam fee: $520 PMI member / $670 non-member

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PMI-SP Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Critical Path Method calculations: forward pass, backward pass, total float, free float, and critical path drag
2Memorize all earned value formulas: SV, SPI, CV, CPI, EAC, ETC, VAC, TCPI, and earned schedule concepts
3Understand Monte Carlo simulation setup, interpretation, and sensitivity analysis including tornado diagrams
4Know the difference between resource leveling and resource smoothing — when and why to use each
5Study schedule compression techniques: crashing (cost analysis) and fast-tracking (risk analysis) trade-offs
6Learn delay analysis methods: as-planned vs as-built, impacted as-planned, collapsed as-built, and time impact analysis
7Practice network diagram calculations — expect multiple CPM calculation questions on the exam
8Understand schedule quality metrics: logic density, constraint usage, float distribution, and open-ended activities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PMI-SP certification?

The PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) is a specialist certification for project schedulers. It validates expertise in schedule development, critical path analysis, earned value management, resource optimization, risk-based scheduling, and schedule control. It is the premier credential for scheduling specialists.

How many questions are on the PMI-SP exam?

The PMI-SP exam has 170 multiple-choice questions with a 3.5-hour time limit. The passing score is determined by psychometric analysis. The exam is administered at Pearson VUE test centers or via online proctoring.

What are the PMI-SP prerequisites?

PMI requires a combination of education and project scheduling experience. A secondary degree with 5 years (40 months) of scheduling experience, or a bachelor's degree with 3 years (24 months) of scheduling experience, plus 40 hours of project scheduling education.

How much does the PMI-SP exam cost?

The PMI-SP exam costs $520 for PMI members and $670 for non-members. PMI membership is $139/year. The certification is valid for 3 years and requires 60 PDUs for renewal, with at least 30 in scheduling topics.

How does PMI-SP differ from PMP?

While PMP covers all aspects of project management broadly, PMI-SP specializes deeply in project scheduling. It covers advanced topics like critical path drag, earned schedule, Monte Carlo simulation, delay analysis methods, and resource optimization that PMP only touches on briefly.

Is Monte Carlo simulation covered on the PMI-SP exam?

Yes, Monte Carlo simulation and probabilistic schedule analysis are significant topics. You should understand how to set up and interpret Monte Carlo results, probability distributions, confidence levels (P50, P80), sensitivity analysis, tornado diagrams, and risk-adjusted schedules.

What scheduling software should I know?

The PMI-SP exam is tool-agnostic — it tests scheduling concepts rather than specific software. However, familiarity with industry-standard tools like Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project is beneficial for understanding practical application of scheduling concepts.