PMI-ACP study guide · 2026

The 4 PMI-ACP domains, explained

4 domains and 24 official tasks. Mindset carries the most weight at 28%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 1 See all domains
Questions
120 (100 scored, 20 unscored pretest)
Time
180 minutes (3 hours), with one 10-minute break
Passing score
Not published; PMI reports pass/fail with performance ratings by domain
Outline
PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (November 2024; current as of October 2026)

Exam blueprint

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

  1. 1 28%
  2. 2 25%
  3. 3 19%
  4. 4 28%
  1. 1 Mindset
  2. 2 Leadership
  3. 3 Product
  4. 4 Delivery

All 4 domains

24 official tasks 105–140 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 28%

    Mindset

    Mindset is tied for the largest share of the PMI-ACP exam. It tests whether you think like an agile practitioner: experimenting early, choosing an approach that fits the problem's complexity, keeping work transparent, and making it safe for a team to raise bad news.

    Inside this domain

    • Experiment Early
    • Embrace Agile Mindset
    • Promote Collaborative Team Environment
    • Build Transparency
    • and 3 more tasks

    Watch for Plan harder for uncertainty

    Tasks
    7
    Questions est.
    ~34
    Study time est.
    30–40 hrs
  2. Domain 02 25%

    Leadership

    Leadership covers how an agile practitioner influences without commanding: empowering the team, guiding problem resolution and conflict, spreading knowledge and agile practices, and keeping everyone pointed at a shared vision. It is a quarter of the exam and full of near-miss options.

    Inside this domain

    • Empower Teams
    • Facilitate Problem Resolution
    • Promote Knowledge Sharing
    • Promote agile mindset principles and practices
    • and 2 more tasks

    Watch for Decisive leader

    Tasks
    6
    Questions est.
    ~30
    Study time est.
    25–35 hrs
  3. Domain 03 19%

    Product

    Product is the smallest PMI-ACP domain by weight but the most technique-heavy. It covers how a team decides what to build next: refining and sizing the backlog, shaping increments around business priorities, making work visible, and defining and confirming value.

    Inside this domain

    • Refine product backlog
    • Manage increments
    • Visualize work
    • Manage value delivery

    Watch for Horizontal story split

    Tasks
    4
    Questions est.
    ~23
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  4. Domain 04 28%

    Delivery

    Delivery is tied for the largest share of the PMI-ACP exam and is where agile becomes measurable. It covers getting feedback early, choosing and using agile metrics, managing impediments and risk, removing waste, improving continuously, engaging customers and optimizing flow.

    Inside this domain

    • Seek early feedback
    • Manage agile metrics
    • Manage impediments and risk
    • Recognize and eliminate waste
    • and 3 more tasks

    Watch for Keep everyone busy

    Tasks
    7
    Questions est.
    ~34
    Study time est.
    30–40 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 105–140 hrs of study.

  1. 1 Mindset 28% · 30–40 hrs
  2. 4 Delivery 28% · 30–40 hrs
  3. 2 Leadership 25% · 25–35 hrs
  4. 3 Product 19% · 20–25 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 1: Mindset

A team is asked to build a new mobile ordering feature. The sponsor believes customers want it, but no customer research exists, and the technology is familiar to the team. What should the agile practitioner recommend FIRST?

One trap from every domain

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

  • Domain 1

    Plan harder for uncertainty

    Clue The scenario says stakeholders are unsure, the market is new, or requirements keep shifting after each demo.

  • Domain 2

    Decisive leader

    Clue The decision is within the team's authority and the conflict is at a low level.

  • Domain 3

    Horizontal story split

    Clue The story is too big for one iteration and the options include splitting by layer versus by workflow or rule.

  • Domain 4

    Keep everyone busy

    Clue A board or CFD shows work piling up in one state while finished work grows slowly.

Other Project Management certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with PMI-ACP.

Practise what you read

PMI-ACP domains: common questions

How many domains are in the PMI-ACP exam?

PMI-ACP has 4 domains with 24 official tasks between them: Mindset, Leadership, Product and Delivery.

Which PMI-ACP domain carries the most weight?

Mindset is the heaviest at 28%, followed by Delivery (28%). The lightest is Product (19%). Weights come from PMI's official outline.

What is the PMI-ACP exam format?

Questions: 120 (100 scored, 20 unscored pretest). Time allowed: 180 minutes (3 hours), with one 10-minute break. Passing score: Not published; PMI reports pass/fail with performance ratings by domain.

How long should I study for PMI-ACP?

Our planning estimate is 105–140 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 Mindset, 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 PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (November 2024; current as of October 2026), published by PMI. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and tasks come from PMI's official outline (PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (November 2024; current as of October 2026)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.