RTPM Exam Guide: Key Concepts
in Telecom Project Management
EXAM 2026
Exam Mindset—ANSWER--Use this as your default decision logic: Assess/analyze first (root
cause, review plan/data), Review the relevant plan (PM Plan / scope plan / risk plan, etc.), Meet
/ collaborate with stakeholders, Then take action, Avoid "extreme" actions (escalate/terminate)
unless clearly justified.
Analogous Estimating—ANSWER--Use a similar past job (fast, less accurate).
Parametric Estimating—ANSWER--$/ft, $/pole, $/hr type math (medium effort/accuracy).
Bottom-up Estimating—ANSWER--Add the smallest WBS pieces (slow, most accurate).
3-point Average—ANSWER--(O+M+P)/3.
PERT (Weighted)—ANSWER--(O + 4M + P)/6.
Forward Pass—ANSWER--EF = ES + Dur − 1; ES = highest previous EF + 1.
Backward Pass—ANSWER--LS = LF − Dur + 1; LF = lower LS − 1.
Float—ANSWER--LS − ES; Critical path = zero float.
BAC—ANSWER--Total planned budget.
PV—ANSWER--Work that should have been completed by now.
in Telecom Project Management
EXAM 2026
Exam Mindset—ANSWER--Use this as your default decision logic: Assess/analyze first (root
cause, review plan/data), Review the relevant plan (PM Plan / scope plan / risk plan, etc.), Meet
/ collaborate with stakeholders, Then take action, Avoid "extreme" actions (escalate/terminate)
unless clearly justified.
Analogous Estimating—ANSWER--Use a similar past job (fast, less accurate).
Parametric Estimating—ANSWER--$/ft, $/pole, $/hr type math (medium effort/accuracy).
Bottom-up Estimating—ANSWER--Add the smallest WBS pieces (slow, most accurate).
3-point Average—ANSWER--(O+M+P)/3.
PERT (Weighted)—ANSWER--(O + 4M + P)/6.
Forward Pass—ANSWER--EF = ES + Dur − 1; ES = highest previous EF + 1.
Backward Pass—ANSWER--LS = LF − Dur + 1; LF = lower LS − 1.
Float—ANSWER--LS − ES; Critical path = zero float.
BAC—ANSWER--Total planned budget.
PV—ANSWER--Work that should have been completed by now.
