By: Alvin the PM | Last Updated: December 23, 2020
Topic: CAPM & PMP Exam Study Notes
What are the most commonly referenced pages in the PMBOK 6th Edition to use for studying for the CAPM Exam and PMP Exam?
How Do You Read the PMBOK Guide?
The Project Management Body of Knowledge 6th Edition (also known as the PMBOK Guide) can look intimidating at first, especially since…
- The PMBOK Guide has over 700+ pages!
- The PMBOK Guide does NOT read like your favorite Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Thriller books, like the Harry Potter series, books written by Stephen King, or your favorite Personal Development books authored by Stephen Covey, Tony Robbins, or John C. Maxwell.
And so, when I first started studying for my CAPM Exam, it was challenging for me to skim through it. At night, I would stare at a page, and get lost in the lingo & project management terminology… but, I knew that I had to crack open my PMBOK 6th Edition, sooner rather than later, since it was the source of information that was covered on the Exam.
As I was reviewing my Rita’s CAPM Exam Prep Book after work, everything finally clicked for me! You have to use the PMBOK Guide as your reference tool.
DO NOT READ the PMBOK Guide straight through from beginning to end.
- Let me repeat, DO NOT READ THE PMBOK Guide as if it were a novel.
- Instead, use it as your Handy-Dandy Reference Manual if you get stuck or have trouble understanding a tough concept when you’re either reviewing your Exam Prep Book or watching Training Videos.
As a Reference Manual, I’ve found that there are quite a few sections and pages which are worth referencing throughout your Exam Prep Journey.
Top Areas You Must Reference in the PMBOK Guide
I’ve compiled the list below so you can quickly flip through the PMBOK 6th Edition and find the topic you’re having a tough time understanding, or if you’re looking for a particular Knowledge Area, Process Group, or Image/Graph to study for your CAPM Exam & PMP Exam.
Since the PMBOK 6th Edition is more than 700 pages long, I highly recommend you place sticky notes on the pages listed below so you can quickly flip to the topic you’re researching, and to be more efficient with your time when you’re using your PMBOK Guide as a reference aid during your Exam Prep Journey!
#1: Key Tables & Images
- Table 1-4: Process Group vs Knowledge Area Chart
- Page 25: This is the Key Chart that most people memorize and include as part of their Brain Dump to better understand which Process Group maps to each Knowledge Area.
- Alvin’s Tip: You MUST understand the sequencing and flow of each Process Group and HOW each integrates with each other in order to pass your CAPM Exam!
- Table 4-1: List of the Project Management Plan & Project Documents
- Page 89: This lists all of the components of the Project Management Plan, as well as all Project Document artifacts which are created as outputs of each Process Group.
- Alvin’s Tip: I found this Table very useful when understanding the difference between the ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, Techniques, and Outputs), and the classification of each type of Project Document.
- Schedule Management
- Agile Release Planning Flowchart: pg 216
- Example of a graphical schedule / Gantt Chart: pg 219
- Example of Iteration Burndown Chart: pg 226
- Cost Management
- Figure 7-8: What is a Project Budget made of: pg 255
- Figure 7-9: Graph of Cost Baseline as a S-Curve: pg 255
- Figure 7-12: Graph of Earned Value Analysis: pg 264
>> This graph helps illustrate Actual Cost (AC), Earned Value (EV), Planned Value (PV) relative to time, and how this compares to the Project’s Approved Budget and Planned Budget At Completion - Table 7-1: Earned Value Analysis Equations for each Key Parameter: pg 267
- Figure 7-13: Graphical Illustration of TCPI (To-Complete Performance Index): pg 268
- Quality Management
- Figure 8-5: Cost of Quality Explained (Cost of Conformance vs Nonconformance): pg 283
- Figure 8-6: What is the SIPOC Diagram: Pg 285
- Figure 8-9: Example of a Cause-and-Effect Diagram: Pg 294
- Figure 8-12: Example of a Check Sheet: pg 302
- Resource Management
- Figure 9-4: Example of RACI Chart, pg 317
- Figure 9-7: Resource Breakdown Structure, pg 327
- Risk Management
- Figure 11-4: Example of a Risk Breakdown Structure: pg 406
- Table 11-1: Example of Probability & Impact Definitions: pg 407
- Figure 11-5: Example of a Probability & Impact Matrix: pg 408
- Qualitative Risk Analysis:
Figure 11-10: Bubble Chart Diagram: pg 426 - Quantitative Risk Analysis:
Figure 11-13: S-Curve Graph: pg 433
Figure 11-14: Tornado Diagram: pg 434
Figure 11-15: Decision Tree Example: pg 435
#2: High-Level Overview of ITTOs for each Process Group
- List of all Process Groups and Knowledge Areas, pg 23-24
- Integration Management Overview, pg 70-71
- Scope Management Overview, pg 129-130
- Schedule Management, pg 173-174
- Cost Management, pg 231-232
- Quality Management, pg
- Resource Management, pg 307
- Communication Management, pg
- Risk Management, pg 395
- Procurement Management, pg
- Stakeholder Management, pg
#3: The Critical Process Group / Knowledge Areas You Must Master
- Integration Management
- 4.1 Develop Project Charter: pg 75
- 4.2 Develop Project Management Plan: pg 82
- 4.3 Direct & Manage Work: pg 90
- 4.4 Manage Project Knowledge: pg 98
- 4.5 Monitor & Control Work: pg 105
- 4.6 Close Project/Phase: pg 121
- Scope Management (pg 129)
- 5.1 Plan Scope Management: pg 134
- 5.2 Collect Requirements: pg 138
- 5.3 Define Scope: pg 150
- 5.4 Create WBS: pg 156
- 5.5 Validate Scope: pg 163
- 5.6 Control Scope: pg 167
- Schedule Management (pg 173)
- 6.1 Plan Schedule Management: pg 179
- 6.2 Define Activities: pg 183
- 6.3 Sequence Activities: pg 187
- 6.4 Estimate Activity Durations: pg 195
- 6.5 Develop Schedule: pg 205
- 6.6 Control Schedule: pg 222
- Cost Management (pg 231)
- 7.1 Plan Cost Management: pg 235
- 7.2 Estimate Costs: pg 240
- 7.3 Determine Budget: pg 248
- 7.4 Control Costs: pg 257
- Quality Management (pg 271)
- 8.1 Plan Quality Management: pg 277
- 8.2 Manage Quality: pg 288
- 8.3 Control Quality: pg 298
- Resource Management (pg 307)
- 9.1 Plan Resource Management: Pg 312
- 9.2 Estimate Activity Resources: Pg 320
- 9.3 Acquire Resources: Pg 328
- 9.4 Develop Team: Pg
- 9.5 Manage Team : Pg
- 9.6 Control Resources: Pg