PMP (Project Management Professional) Formulas & Calculators
Plug in your numbers and see every result worked out, step by step — then use the reference below to recognise which formula a question is really asking for.
← Back to the full “How to pass PMP (Project Management Professional)” guideEarned Value calculator
Enter the four EVM inputs to get every variance, index, and forecast — with the worked formula for each.
Cost Variance (CV)
EV − AC = 400 − 500
Schedule Variance (SV)
EV − PV = 400 − 500
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
EV ÷ AC = 400 ÷ 500
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
EV ÷ PV = 400 ÷ 500
EAC — current performance continues
BAC ÷ CPI = 1,000 ÷ 0.8
EAC — variance was atypical
AC + (BAC − EV) = 500 + (1,000 − 400)
EAC — cost & schedule
AC + (BAC − EV) ÷ (CPI × SPI)
Estimate to Complete (ETC)
EAC − AC = 1,250 − 500
Variance at Completion (VAC)
BAC − EAC = 1,000 − 1,250
To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI)
(BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC)
PERT three-point estimate
A beta-weighted estimate that leans on the most-likely value.
Expected estimate (E)
(O + 4M + P) ÷ 6 = (2 + 4×4 + 12) ÷ 6
Standard deviation (SD)
(P − O) ÷ 6 = (12 − 2) ÷ 6
Communication channels
Two-way communication lines among the stakeholders on a project.
Channels
n(n − 1) ÷ 2 = 5 × 4 ÷ 2
Formula reference
What each formula means and when to reach for it on exam day.
-
Earned Value (EV)
EV = % complete × BAC
The budgeted cost of the work actually completed so far.
When: The anchor of every EVM calculation — work out EV first.
-
Cost Variance (CV)
CV = EV − AC
Negative = over budget; positive = under budget.
When: When asked whether the project is over or under budget in dollars.
-
Schedule Variance (SV)
SV = EV − PV
Negative = behind schedule; positive = ahead.
When: When asked whether the project is ahead of or behind plan in dollars.
-
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
CPI = EV ÷ AC
Below 1.0 = over budget; above 1.0 = under budget.
When: The cost-efficiency ratio — value earned per dollar spent.
-
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
SPI = EV ÷ PV
Below 1.0 = behind schedule; above 1.0 = ahead.
When: The schedule-efficiency ratio — progress against plan.
-
Estimate at Completion (typical)
EAC = BAC ÷ CPI
Forecast final cost if current cost performance continues.
When: The default EAC — current cost variance is expected to continue.
-
Estimate at Completion (atypical)
EAC = AC + (BAC − EV)
Forecast final cost when the current variance was a one-off.
When: When the cost overrun/underrun is atypical and won’t repeat.
-
Estimate at Completion (cost + schedule)
EAC = AC + (BAC − EV) ÷ (CPI × SPI)
Forecast that weighs both cost and schedule performance.
When: When both cost and schedule must be recovered together.
-
Estimate to Complete (ETC)
ETC = EAC − AC
Expected cost of the remaining work.
When: When asked how much more it will cost to finish.
-
Variance at Completion (VAC)
VAC = BAC − EAC
Negative = forecast to finish over the original budget.
When: When asked the projected budget surplus/shortfall at the end.
-
To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI)
TCPI = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC)
Above 1.0 = the remaining work must be more efficient than the plan to hit BAC.
When: When asked how efficient the rest of the work must be to stay on budget.
-
PERT / three-point estimate
E = (O + 4M + P) ÷ 6
A beta-weighted estimate that leans on the most-likely value.
When: Estimating an uncertain duration or cost from three scenarios.
-
PERT standard deviation
SD = (P − O) ÷ 6
The spread/uncertainty of a three-point estimate.
When: When asked for the range or confidence of a PERT estimate.
-
Communication channels
channels = n(n − 1) ÷ 2
The number of two-way lines among n stakeholders.
When: When stakeholders are added/removed and channels change.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the PMP exam give you the formulas?
- No. PMI does not provide a formula sheet, so you need to memorize the earned-value, forecasting, PERT, and communication-channel formulas and recognize when each applies. The Pearson VUE platform does provide a basic on-screen calculator.
- Which formulas matter most on the PMP exam?
- Earned value management — EV, CV, SV, CPI, and SPI — plus the forecasting formulas (EAC, ETC, VAC, TCPI), PERT three-point estimates, and the n(n − 1) ÷ 2 communication-channels formula. Most quantitative questions reduce to these.