ITIL 5 Foundation study guide · 2026

The 7 ITIL 5 Foundation domains, explained

7 domains and 21 official syllabus topics. The ITIL Value System carries the most weight at 40%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 4 See all domains
Questions
40 multiple-choice questions (1 mark each, no negative marking)
Time
60 minutes (75 minutes for candidates sitting in a non-native language), closed book
Passing score
26 of 40 (65%)
Outline
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) Syllabus v5.0 (PeopleCert, February 2026)

Exam blueprint

Bar widths follow the official weights. Weight ranges are drawn at their midpoint.

  1. 1 30%
  2. 2 10%
  3. 3 10%
  4. 4 40%
  5. 5 5%
  6. 6 2.5%
  7. 7 2.5%
  1. 1 Key ITIL terms and definitions
  2. 2 The ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management
  3. 3 The ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle
  4. 4 The ITIL Value System
  5. 5 Value stream identification, mapping, and management
  6. 6 ITIL and AI
  7. 7 ITIL and other frameworks

All 7 domains

21 official syllabus topics 22–31 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 30%

    Key ITIL terms and definitions

    The second-largest category on the Version 5 paper. It sets the vocabulary of digital product and service management: products, services, offerings, value, outcomes, costs, risks and the roles inside a service relationship.

    Inside this domain

    • Product and service management
    • Service offering
    • Value co-creation
    • Service relationships

    Watch for Output presented as outcome

    Syllabus topics
    4
    Questions est.
    ~12
    Study time est.
    6–8 hrs
  2. Domain 02 10%

    The ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management

    Four perspectives every product and service must be designed and managed from, plus the PESTLE factors that constrain them. Version 5 renames the model for product and service management and adds AI to the people and technology views.

    Inside this domain

    • Introduction to the ITIL Four Dimensions
    • Internal and external factors

    Watch for Governance as a dimension

    Syllabus topics
    2
    Questions est.
    ~4
    Study time est.
    2–3 hrs
  3. Domain 03 10%

    The ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle

    The structural change most visible in Version 5: eight lifecycle activities from discover to support that describe how a product and its services are created, run and improved, used iteratively rather than as a fixed sequence.

    Inside this domain

    • Introduction to the ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle
    • Purpose of lifecycle activities

    Watch for Engage in the list

    Syllabus topics
    2
    Questions est.
    ~4
    Study time est.
    3–4 hrs
  4. Domain 04 40%

    The ITIL Value System

    The heaviest category on the paper. It covers the five components of the ITIL Value System: guiding principles, governance, the value chain and its key terms, management practices, and the continual improvement model.

    Inside this domain

    • Components of the ITIL Value System
    • ITIL Guiding Principles
    • Governance
    • Value chain
    • and 2 more syllabus topics

    Watch for Automate first

    Syllabus topics
    6
    Questions est.
    ~16
    Study time est.
    8–10 hrs
  5. Domain 05 5%

    Value stream identification, mapping, and management

    A small but new-looking category: identifying core and enabling value streams, mapping how work actually flows, managing streams over time, and using complexity thinking when workflows are unpredictable.

    Inside this domain

    • Key concepts of value stream mapping and management
    • Application of value streams
    • Purpose of value stream mapping and management

    Watch for Importance means core

    Syllabus topics
    3
    Questions est.
    ~2
    Study time est.
    1–2 hrs
  6. Domain 06 2.5%

    ITIL and AI

    A category with no ITIL 4 Foundation equivalent: basic AI vocabulary, how AI supports the lifecycle and value chain activities, and the governance ideas, including the ITIL AI Capability Model, that keep its use under control.

    Inside this domain

    • Introduction to AI
    • ITIL AI Governance

    Watch for Language means generative

    Syllabus topics
    2
    Questions est.
    ~1 of 40
    Study time est.
    1–2 hrs
  7. Domain 07 2.5%

    ITIL and other frameworks

    The smallest category, shared with ITIL and AI: why ITIL is used alongside DevOps and PRINCE2, and how each framework covers a different part of managing products and services across their lifecycle.

    Inside this domain

    • ITIL and DevOps
    • ITIL and PRINCE2

    Watch for Replacement claim

    Syllabus topics
    2
    Questions est.
    ~1 of 40
    Study time est.
    1–2 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 22–31 hrs of study.

  1. 4 The ITIL Value System 40% · 8–10 hrs
  2. 1 Key ITIL terms and definitions 30% · 6–8 hrs
  3. 2 The ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management 10% · 2–3 hrs
  4. 3 The ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle 10% · 3–4 hrs
  5. 5 Value stream identification, mapping, and management 5% · 1–2 hrs
  6. 6 ITIL and AI 2.5% · 1–2 hrs
  7. 7 ITIL and other frameworks 2.5% · 1–2 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 4: The ITIL Value System

An IT team has found the root cause of repeated database slowdowns and documented a workaround, but the permanent fix is scheduled for next quarter. How should this situation be described in Version 5 value chain terms?

One trap from every domain

The answer that looks right, and the clue that gives it away.

  • Domain 1

    Output presented as outcome

    Clue Look for wording about what a stakeholder can now achieve.

  • Domain 2

    Governance as a dimension

    Clue The question asks for dimensions, not value system components.

  • Domain 3

    Engage in the list

    Clue The stem names the Product and Service Lifecycle.

  • Domain 4

    Automate first

    Clue The stem describes a messy or inconsistent process.

  • Domain 5

    Importance means core

    Clue Check whether the consumer is internal or external.

  • Domain 6

    Language means generative

    Clue Verbs like executes, resolves, closes or provisions.

  • Domain 7

    Replacement claim

    Clue Options with replace, no longer needed or instead of.

Other Enterprise Architecture & IT Governance certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with ITIL 5 Foundation.

Practise what you read

ITIL 5 Foundation domains: common questions

How many domains are in the ITIL 5 Foundation exam?

ITIL 5 Foundation has 7 domains with 21 official syllabus topics between them: Key ITIL terms and definitions, The ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management, The ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle, The ITIL Value System, Value stream identification, mapping, and management, ITIL and AI and ITIL and other frameworks.

Which ITIL 5 Foundation domain carries the most weight?

The ITIL Value System is the heaviest at 40%, followed by Key ITIL terms and definitions (30%). The lightest is ITIL and other frameworks (2.5%). Weights come from PeopleCert's official outline.

What is the ITIL 5 Foundation exam format?

Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions (1 mark each, no negative marking). Time allowed: 60 minutes (75 minutes for candidates sitting in a non-native language), closed book. Passing score: 26 of 40 (65%).

How long should I study for ITIL 5 Foundation?

Our planning estimate is 22–31 hrs across all domains, split by weight. It is an editorial estimate, not an official figure, so adjust it to your experience and to how you score on practice questions.

Where should I start?

Start with The ITIL Value System, because it carries the most marks, then work down by weight. Use the checklist on each domain page to confirm you can do what the domain asks before moving on.

Which outline is this guide based on?

This guide follows ITIL Foundation (Version 5) Syllabus v5.0 (PeopleCert, February 2026), published by PeopleCert. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and syllabus topics come from PeopleCert's official outline (ITIL Foundation (Version 5) Syllabus v5.0 (PeopleCert, February 2026)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.