Free PMP Cheat Sheet 2025: Quick-Reference

Among many credentials, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is still touted as the most prestigious in the field of project management. To put things into perspective, acquiring a job offer with a PMP certification in hand can increase your salary by 25% or more, even when compared to other business credentials. But let's face it, preparing for the PMP exam is no easy task, more like a daunting flood of information.

This is precisely where a purposeful PMP cheat sheet can help. Unlike general study guides that try to broad and encompass everything under the sun, a good cheat sheet zeroes in on particular pieces of vital information that is required to be recalled quickly for the exam. Studying smarter and not harder.

What makes our 2025 guide remarkable? It has been designed with perpetual feedback from existing users. Updated for the most recent exam changes, our 2025 guide is completely free, which makes it stand out. I have gone over the PMBOK 7th Edition and spoke to numerous recent passers of the exam hear the focus of the current exam and ensure this guide addresses their concerns. Also, I have structured it in a way that is compatible to how you think, allowing you recall information effortlessly.
 

The PMP exam has undergone remarkable changes over the years, with its most recent iteration in 2025 reflecting the ongoing evolution of the PMI's integrated project management approach that began with PMBOK 7 compliance.

The primary changes as of now are noted as follows:

• Improved integration of agile and hybrid methodologies (Approximately 50% of exam content)
• More emphasis placed on business and entrepreneurial thinking alongside leadership skills
• Lesser focus on rote memorization of ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, and Techniques, Outputs)
• More situational application-based test questions
• Ongoing assessment on the three domains of People, Process, and Business Environment

Like in the previous iteration, the 2025 exam features traditional knowledge areas and process groups, however, the approach taken towards evaluating exam takers has shifted to considering practical application rather than memorization. This shift in approach requires definitive change in study materials, emphasizing concepts and their applications instead of definitions.

"Recent PMP passer quote: …The 2025 exam isn't testing whether you can memorize the PMBOK Guide, but whether you can think like a project manager."
 

No PMP formulas cheat sheet would be sufficient without providing these critical calculations, which I provide in the simplest, easy-to-remember formats.

Float (Slack) = LS - ES or LF - EF

Project Duration = Length of Critical Path

PERT Estimate = (O + 4M + P) ÷ 6 Where:

• O = Optimistic
• M = Most Likely
• P = Pessimistic

Earned Value Management (EVM)

• PV (Planned Value) = BAC × % scheduled
• EV (Earned Value) = BAC × % complete
• AC (Actual Cost) = Actual amount spent
• CV (Cost Variance) = EV - AC
• SV (Schedule Variance) = EV - PV
• CPI (Cost Performance Index) = EV ÷ AC
• SPI (Schedule Performance Index) = EV ÷ PV
• EAC (Estimate at Completion) = BAC ÷ CPI
• ETC (Estimate to Complete) = EAC - AC
• VAC (Variance at Completion) = BAC - EAC
• TCPI (To-Complete Performance Index) = (BAC - EV) ÷ (BAC - AC)

Communication Channels

Number of Communication Channels = [N × (N-1)] ÷ 2

Where N = Number of stakeholders

Probability Formulas

• Standard Deviation = (P – O) ÷ 6
• Reserve Analysis = Contingency Reserve + Management Reserve

In my opinion, making flashcards for these formulas helps as it allows for quick recall to the point of instant retention. This PMP exam cheat sheet section alone helps in saving precious time during the assessment.
 

The cheat sheet for the knowledge areas of the PMP exam is very helpful when trying to understand relationships within project management concepts. Here are the 10 knowledge areas of the PMBOK Guide 6 that still form the basis of the exam:

1. Integration Management

These project components are bound together with Integration Management. Critical documents include the project charter, management plan, and lessons learned registers of the project. Do not forget that all change requests funnel through integrated change control; hence the project manager's responsibility is to balance the competing demands.

2. Scope Management

Scope Management deals with the required work needed which is also the only work needed for the project. The most valuable asset provided to a project manager that seeks to achieve this is the work breakdown structure (WBS). Keep in mind: verification of scope happens prior to acceptance from the customer and scope creep is the worst enemy.

3. Time Management (Schedule Management)

Also referred to as Schedule Management, this consists of defining activities, arranging them, estimating resources and durations, controlling the schedule, and much more. The critical path method, PERT, and resource leveling are the most prevalent techniques. Remember that crashing adds resources while fast-tracking increases risk.

4. Cost Management

Cost Management refers to estimating, budgeting, and controlling expenditures. Here, the reserve analysis, both in terms of contingency and management reserves, becomes important. Cost allocation gives value to each segment of the project while direct costs and indirect costs must be differentiated. It is critical to understand EVM formulas.

5. Quality Management

Quality Management guarantees that the project will meet the recognized requirements. Essential elements revolve around prevention rather than inspection, cost of quality, and the PDCA cycle. Quality tools are divided into two groups: the seven basic quality tools and the seven management and planning tools.

6. Resource Management

Resource Management deals with planning, organizing, and supervising the project team as well as the physical resources. Among the key elements are resource histograms, RACI charts, and Tuckman's ladder; which consists of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

7. Communications Management

Communications Management maintains effective and timely creation, collection, and distribution of information relevant to the project. Also, it is critical to employ appropriate models on the stakeholders as communication with them has to be tailored to their needs.

8. Risk Management

As it relates to a project, Risk Management is the identification, assessment, and response to the risks associated with that project. Key concepts are the risk register, probability and impact matrix, and the four response strategies to negative risks: avoid, transfer, mitigate, and accept.

9. Procurement Management

Procurement Management is concerned with the purchase of goods and services from outside the project team. Understand the various contract types (FFP, CPFF, T&M, etc.) and what risk is associated with them. Note that procurement closure occurs before administrative closure.

10. Stakeholder Management

Stakeholder Management describes the identification of individuals and companies that are affected by the project and control their expectations and involvement. The stakeholder register and power/interest grid are important tools for this purpose.
 

With PMBOK 7th Edition, there has been a major change from processes to focus on principles. This change is evident in the 2025 PMP certification exam. Rather than concentrating on the 49 processes, you are required to comprehend 12 project management principles:

• Stewardship – Act as a diligent caretaker, respectful and attentive.
• Team – Cultivate respect and accountability.
• Stakeholders – Involve them in order to elicit their needs.
• Value – Emphasize value as the judicious focus.
• Systems thinking – Acknowledge, as well as react to system interrelations.
• Leadership – Provide motivation, influence, and support to the team.
• Tailoring – Modification of processes to suit the surroundings.
• Quality – Ensure that processes and deliverables are exhibited in the defined quality.
• Complexity – Respond to complexity with adaptability.
• Risk – Take action towards uncertainty in a proactive manner.
• Adaptability and resilience – Welcome change.
• Change – Get ready for and react to change.

The PMBOK 7 also adds new performance domains which include all areas of project management:

• Team
• Stakeholders
• Development Approach and Life Cycle
• Planning
• Project Work
• Delivery
• Uncertainty
• Measurement

These principles and domains will be essential for understanding during the 2025 exam, and should be included in your PMP cheat sheet free resource.

The inclusion of agile and hybrid approaches considering almost half of the exam weight, makes this section of your PMP cheat sheet PDF even more critical. Here is what you must understand:

Scrum Framework Essentials

Roles:

• Product Owner
• Scrum Master
• Development Team

Events:

• Sprint
• Sprint Planning
• Daily Scrum
• Sprint Review
• Sprint Retrospective

Artifacts:

• Product Backlog
• Sprint Backlog
• Increment

Visualizing workflow, limiting work in progress, managing flow, and making policies explicit are the core principles of Kanban Concepts.

Key metrics:

• Lead time
• Cycle time
• Throughput

Kanban board components include at a minimum To Do, In Progress and Done
 

XP and Other Methodologies
 

XP practices:

• Pair programming
• Test-driven development
• Continuous integration

Lean principles:

• Eliminate waste
• Build quality in
• Create knowledge

Crystal, DSDM, FDD: Know the basics of each

Hybrid Approaches

• When the two approaches predictive and agile are blended.
• How the approaches can be tailored to fit the project requirements.
• Governance considerations in hybrid projects

Do not forget that agile is more of a mindset than an action. The exam will focus on whether you understand value delivery and customer collaboration as much as particular frameworks.
 

The 2025 PMP examination comes with different question types, each requiring specific strategies:

Situational: what would you do scenarios

Tips:

• Determine the process group or knowledge area relevant to the question
• Note stakeholder priorities and project constraints
• Do not forget PMI ethics
• Search for clues that would lead you to the correct answer.

Calculation questions

Steps on how to solve a formula question:

• Read the entire statement first to look for the correct answer
• Record all provided values.
• Work on the problem in steps.
• Check your answer.
• Be mindful of the unit, whether it is in hours, days or dollars.

Best answer selection

Tips:

• All answers may seem to have a portion of truth. Wrong answers can and should be eliminated.
• Focus on looking for the answer that satisfies all parts of the question.
• PMI opinion on best practices should be viewed.
• Focus on prevention instead of correction.
   

You have 230 minutes to answer 180 questions, equating to approximately 1.3 minutes per question.

• Flag questions that you find difficult so that you can tackle them later
• Always provide an answer, there is no penalty set for guesses.

Having these strategies on your PMP exam cheat sheet will help you navigate the test efficiently.
 

In an effort to ease your study journey, I have put together a few downloadable resources that accompany this guide:

Free PMP Cheat Sheet PDF

You may download our comprehensive PMP cheat sheet by clicking here. This mobile-friendly document covers everything in this article in a condensed format that is both printable and easy to review at the last minute.

Companion Flashcards

Our companion digital flashcards have been thoughtfully designed for studying on the go. They focus on:

• Key formulas
• Relations structure of process group with knowledge area
• Agile vocabulary
• Frequently used terms in the exam

Practice Questions

Assess your knowledge with our set of 100 multiple-choice practice questions that is aligned to the 2025 exam content. These questions replicate the exam's difficulty level and format, allowing you to gain insight into what to expect come exam day.

Study Schedule Template

Are you having trouble structuring your study time? Our templates come with pre-prepared schedules for:

• 1-month intensive preparation
• 3-months balanced approach
• 6-month gradual prep

This resource combines those free PMP cheat sheets I mentioned earlier into an all-inclusive study system.

I conducted some research and spoke with project managers who recently passed their PMP exams and this is what they have to offer:

"Real Study Strategies That Worked"

• "Each knowledge area is represented on a mind map, and the related processes are visually interconnected within each knowledge area."
• "During my commute, I would listen to recordings of myself reciting the formulas."
• "I was part of a formal study group that met once a week for the purpose of tackling challenging concepts."
• "I taught others, which improved my understanding of the concepts."

Common Missteps They Made

• Do not memorize without comprehending
• Do not solely concentrate on the PMBOK Guide
• Avoid cramming the night before
• Neglecting the agile section of the exam

Last-Minute Skills

• Go over your tailored PMP cheat sheet designed for beginners the day prior
• Zero in on areas of weakness highlighted by practice exams
• Go over essential formulas one last time
• Sleep instead of studying the night before the exam

Test Day Best Practices

• Show up to the testing room on time
• Come with the prescriptive forms of ID
• Familiarize yourself with the test center policies (breaks, food, and other items)
• If feeling nervous, implement calming strategies
   

"Based on my experience, this online PMP cheat sheet resource is best used when paired with the following methods:"

Daily Study Recommendations

• Study for 1 to 2 hours each day.
• One Knowledge Area/Domain Each Day
• Real-world application of concepts through activities.
• Rest for five minutes following every twenty-five minutes of work (Pomodoro).

Studying With Other Resources

• Work with this cheat sheet while referring to the PMBOK Guide.
• Use a PMP exam prep book as a supplementary resource.
• Video explanations of complex concepts.
• Use practice exams to assess knowledge gaps.

Measuring Results And Progress

Our companion tracking tool helps you:

• Mark complete topics.
• Rate individual area confidence.
• Monitor practice test scores over time.
• Spot definable patterns and areas for improvement.

Adapting To Personal Preference

• Visual: design diagrams and mind maps.
• Auditory: capture concepts in sound and listen to them.
• Kinesthetic: act out project scenarios.
• Writing and reading: involve note taking and writing.

Though this free PMP cheat sheet contains essential information, I suggest consulting the resources below:

Recommended Literature

• "PMP Exam Prep" by Rita Mulcahy
• "The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" by Andy Crowe
• "Agile Practice Guide" by PMI
• "PMBOK Guide 7th Edition" by PMI

Useful Online Forums

• r/pmp on Reddit
• ProjectManagement.com forums
• LinkedIn PMP study groups
• PMI Chapter events (virtual/in-person)

Practice Tests (Free, Paid)

• Official PMI Practice Exam (paid)
• PM PrepCast Simulator
• ExamPM
• Free questions from different blogs relating to PMP

Mobile Applications

• PMP Pocket Prep
• PM Study
• PMP Exam Simulator
• Flashcard applications such as Anki or Quizlet
   

With this Free 2025 PMP Cheat Sheet in hand, you're set on the road to PMP success. This isn't just about passing an exam; it's about becoming a capable project manager. Each concept you learn will benefit you throughout your career.

Here's your roadmap to certification success:

• Remember to download the PDF version of this cheat sheet.
• Ensure to complete your personalized study schedule.
• Join our supportive study community.
• Practice with sample questions on a regular basis.
• Integrate the concepts into your ongoing projects.

Like with most certifications, the journey can be long and daunting, but it is very much possible with the right tools and mindset. The best part? Every year, thousands from all walks of life successfully take and pass the exam.

What's been your experience with the PMP? Let me know in the comments–I'll be sure to respond to all study tips and questions. And if this Cheat Sheet helped you, I encourage you to share it with your colleagues – there's no better way to spread success.