CAPM® FAQ — Common Questions (Prep, Formulas, Agile, BA)

Quick answers to common CAPM® questions: what to study, how to handle formulas, predictive vs agile scenarios, business analysis basics, and a practical prep strategy.

Do I need to memorize every process and artifact?

You don’t need rote memorization for its own sake. You do need to recognize:

  • the purpose of key artifacts (charter, WBS, risk register, issue log, change control)
  • the order of operations (clarify objectives → identify constraints → plan → deliver → measure → close)
  • the correct next step when information or approvals are missing

What formulas should I know?

Be comfortable with meaning + direction, not just computation:

  • PERT (3‑point estimates)
  • EVM basics (PV/EV/AC, SV/CV, SPI/CPI, simple EAC idea)

See the Cheatsheet for a compact formula pack.

How do I handle “predictive vs agile” questions?

Read the constraints:

  • If requirements are stable, compliance-heavy, or scope must be fixed → predictive controls tend to fit (concept).
  • If uncertainty is high and feedback is frequent → agile/iterative approaches tend to fit (concept).

Most wrong answers ignore the constraint and pick a favorite method.

How much business analysis should I know for CAPM?

Enough to:

  • clarify the problem vs the solution
  • elicit and document requirements that are testable
  • use acceptance criteria and traceability to reduce rework

Does PMI publish a “passing score”?

PMI exam policies and scoring details can change. Use the official certification page for the current details: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certified-associate-capm

What’s the fastest way to use this site?

  1. Syllabus: work through objectives in order.
  2. Practice: drill immediately after each section.
  3. Cheatsheet: keep it open as your “pattern library.”
  4. Keep a miss log and revisit weak objectives until they feel automatic.