Last Updated on November 27, 2021 by andrewshih
PMP Formulas Cheat Sheet
The PMP cheat sheet is aligned with PMP PMBOK 6 and includes the PMP exam formulas that you will need to know to pass the PMP exam.
Cost Management Formulas
| PV | Planned Value |
| EV | Earned Value |
| AC | Actual Cost |
| BAC | Budget at Completion |
| EAC | Estimate at Completion |
Use the chart to help you understand the cost management formulas.
| Cost Variance: CV = EV – AC | |
| The amount of budget deficit or surplus | + = Under planned cost 0 = On planned cost – = Over plan cost |
| Schedule Variance: SV = EV – PV | |
| The amount by which the project is ahead or behind the planned delivery date. | + = Ahead of Schedule 0 = On Schedule – = Behind Schedule |
| Variance at Completion: VAC = BAC – EAC | |
| A projection of the amount of budget deficit or surplus. | + = Under Planned Cost 0 = On Planned Cost – = Over Planned Cost |
| Cost Performance Index: CPI = EV / AC | |
| Shows the percentage of how much costs are over or under the amount of work accomplished. | Greater than 1.0 = Under planned cost 1.0 = On planned cost Less than 1.0 = Over planned cost |
| Schedule Performance Index: SPI = EV / PV | |
| A measure of schedule efficiency. | Greater than 1.0 = Ahead of Schedule 1.0 = On Schedule Less than 1.0 = Behind Schedule |
| Estimate at Completion: The expected total cost of completing all work expressed as the sum of the actual cost to date and estimate to complete. | |
| EAC = AC + ETC | If the initial plan is no longer valid. Use new estimate. |
| EAC = AC+BAC-EV | If the future work will be accomplished at the planned rate, use the remaining budget. |
| EAC = BAC/CPI | If CPI is expected to be the same for the remainder of the project. |
| EAC = AC+(BAC-EV)/(CPI*SPI) | If both CPI and SPI influence the remaining work. |
| Estimate to Complete: The expected cost to finish all remaining project work. | |
| ETC = EAC – AC | Assuming the work is proceeding on plan |
| To Complete Performance Index: A measure of the cost performance that must be achieved with the remaining resource in order to meet a specific management goal. | |
| TCPI = remaining work/budget available | Greater than 1.0 = Harder to complete 1.0 = Same to complete Less than 1.0 = Easier to complete |
| TCPI = (BAC-EV)/(BAC-AC) | The efficiency that must be maintained in order to complete on plan |
| TCPI = (BAC-EV)/(EAC-AC) | The efficiency that must be maintained in order to complete the current EAC. |
Schedule Management Formulas
| PERT Weighted Average = (O+4M+P)/6 |
| PERT Standard Deviation = (P-O)/6 |
| Project Evaluation & Review Technique for estimating activity duration. O=optimistic, M=Most likely, P=Pessimistic |
| Float (or slack) = LS – ES Float (or slack) = LF – EF |
LS = Late Start ES = Early Start LF = Late Finish EF = Early Finish |
Communication Management Formulas
| Communication Channels = N(N-1)/2 |
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Additional PM Exam Resource
In additional to this PMP Formulas Cheat Sheet, you may want to check out the resource page for recommended resource and links to a collection of free exam questions. If you are looking for a study guide, check out the PMP Study Guide with Pros/Cons of most popular PMP books including Rita Mulcahy, Andy Crowe, and Head First PMP.
