PMI-SP study plan

Decompose a sample scope statement into a 25-activity schedule with unique activity IDs, durations, and calendars

Build a precedence diagram using FS, SS, FF, and SF relationships with at least three lags and verify no open ends or dangling logic

Perform a forward and backward pass by hand to derive early start/finish, late start/finish, total float, and free float

Configure a scheduling tool with project calendar, activity codes, and default constraints that match the hand-built model

Apply resource leveling and resource smoothing to a resource-overallocated schedule and quantify the resulting date shift

Crash at least two activities and fast-track at least one path, then compute the schedule gain versus added cost and risk

Establish and lock a performance measurement baseline with a documented data date and percent-complete rules of credit

Define progress measurement methods (weighted milestones, physical percent complete, 0/100) and assign the correct method to five different activity types

Compute schedule variance, SPI, and CPI from a provided status table and interpret each result in plain language

Perform earned schedule analysis to derive ES, actual time, SPI(t), and an independent estimate at completion for duration

Design escalation thresholds and a change-control path for schedule changes, including who approves what variance size

Produce a forecast-to-completion narrative that names the corrective action and its expected effect on the finish date

Compare CPM, graphical evaluation and review technique, and Monte Carlo/quantitative risk analysis, and justify a method choice for three given project contexts

Draft schedule model governance covering activity ID naming, coding structures, layout standards, and version control

Define schedule granularity, rolling-wave rules, and the level of detail appropriate to each stakeholder tier

Identify the schedule strategy decisions that must be made before development begins and sequence them

Build a stakeholder communication matrix mapping each audience to report type, format, frequency, and level of schedule detail

Match reporting formats (Gantt, milestone chart, S-curve, tabular, dashboard) to five distinct audiences and justify each choice

Run a basic schedule risk analysis to place contingency reserve in the correct location and duration

Draft the schedule-reporting section of a communications management plan including escalation and distribution rules

Assemble an as-built schedule and reconcile it against the baseline with documented reasons for each deviation

Conduct a lessons-learned session and convert findings into at least three specific, reusable scheduling process improvements

Write the final schedule performance summary covering baseline versus actual, SPI at close, and variance root causes

Verify the archive package retains the schedule model, baselines, version history, and supporting calculations in a retrievable structure

Complete a timed 60-question mixed practice set spanning all five domains and score it by domain

Catalog every missed item into an error log tagged by domain and by error type (knowledge gap, misread, calculation slip)

Re-drill the two weakest domains until each missed concept is answered correctly with a written rationale

Rehearse the float, earned schedule, and variance formulas until each is written from memory without reference

Retake two timed 60-question practice sets and reach at least 80 percent on each

Consolidate all five domains into a one-page formula and definition sheet written from memory then verified

Re-answer the full week-7 error log and confirm 100 percent correct with rationale

Finalize exam-day logistics: appointment, identification, timing strategy by domain