Self-study can be enough.
One candidate passed Version 5 using only the PeopleCert eBook, the learner kit and practice questions. Another took a 2-day course, passed with 32 of 40 and felt the material could have been covered in a few hours.
ITIL Foundation Exam Guide
Validates foundational knowledge of ITIL concepts, the four dimensions, guiding principles, management practices and continual improvement.
ITIL Foundation tests whether you know the ITIL terms and how the parts of the framework fit together. Questions are mostly vocabulary and light application. Read the official eBook or take one course, then practise with timed 40-question mocks.
Understand the exam
Syllabus
1Key ITIL terms and definitions30%
- 1.1Product and service management
- 1.2Experience, Strategy and Transformation
- 1.3Service offerings
- 1.4Value co-creation
- 1.5Service relationships
Example scenario: A new self-service portal cuts support tickets but frustrates older customers. Which parts of value would you weigh before deciding whether to keep it?
2The ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management10%
- 2.1Introduction to the ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management
- 2.2Internal factors and External factors
Example scenario: A team plans a new monitoring tool but nobody has asked who will respond to its alerts. Which dimension has been overlooked?
3The ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle10%
- 3.1Introduction to ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle
- 3.2Purpose and Scope of ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle activities
Example scenario: A feature is built and released, but the support team first hears of it from a customer call. Which lifecycle activities were not connected?
4The ITIL Value System40%
- 4.1Components of the ITIL Value System
- 4.2The ITIL Guiding Principles
- 4.3Governance
- 4.4Value chain
- 4.5Management practices
- 4.6The ITIL Continual Improvement Model
Example scenario: A manager wants to replace the whole change process at once. Which guiding principles would suggest a different approach?
5Value stream identification, mapping, and management5%
- 5.1Key concepts of value stream mapping and management
- 5.2Application of value streams
- 5.3Purpose of value stream mapping and management
Example scenario: New laptops take three weeks to reach new hires. How would mapping the value stream help you find where the time goes?
6ITIL and AI2.5%
- 6.1Introduction to AI
- 6.2ITIL AI Governance
7ITIL and other frameworks2.5%
- 7.1ITIL and DevOps
- 7.2ITIL and PRINCE2
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) learning areas · Version 5
Format
- Questions
- 40
- Duration
- 60 min
- Passing score
- 65%
- Delivery
- Online
- Languages
- English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish
Question types
Multiple choice. Choose the single best answer from the options given.
CertUp example
A team agrees on how each stage of work flows from request to delivery so that delays and waste become visible. Which activity is this?
Show answer
A. Value stream mapping shows how work flows end to end, which is how you spot delays and waste.
Eligibility and booking
There are no prerequisites. Buy an exam bundle from PeopleCert or an official voucher from an accredited partner, redeem it in your PeopleCert account and book an online time slot.
Make a study plan
Read the official eBook or follow one course first, then use timed mocks to find weak terms and go back to the book for each one.
Most candidates spend 20–40 hours. Plan for the low end if you already work in IT service management or hold ITIL 4; plan for the high end if ITIL terms and practices are new to you.
- 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.1 h
- 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.15 h
- 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.8 h
- 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.1 h
Learn the core concepts
The official eBook comes with every PeopleCert bundle. Add a video course if you prefer to learn from lessons.
Best official bundleITIL Foundation (Version 5) Exam Bundle
Best value with voucherITIL 5 Foundation (Course+Voucher)Best official courseITIL Foundation (Version 5) eLearning+Practice with mock exams
Take timed 40-question mocks you have not seen before. For each wrong answer, find the term in the eBook.
Full-length ITIL 5 Mock Exam
ITIL Foundation Version 5, 6 PracticeITIL Foundation (Version 5) Mock ExamAre you ready?
- You can explain the four dimensions, the Value System and the guiding principles in your own words.
- You score well above 26 of 40 on timed mocks you have not seen before.
- You can say what each lifecycle activity is for without the book.
Prepare for exam day
You take the exam online with a live PeopleCert proctor.
- Redeem your voucher in your PeopleCert account. Your profile name must match your ID, and you can only change it before your first booking.
- Book a time slot and proctor language. Vouchers are valid for 12 months.
- Check your exam software (ExamShield or Web Based Exam Driver) and run the compatibility check before the day.
- Rescheduling is free up to 48 hours before; fees may apply from 48 to 4 hours before.
- Have a government photo ID showing your photo and date of birth in English characters.
- The exam is closed book. You see a preliminary result on screen; the official result and eCertificate follow within 2 business days.
Advice from exam takers
Expect tricky wording.
Candidates describe the exam as mostly vocabulary, but say real questions are worded to make you second-guess yourself, and differ from the sample papers. One who scored 35 of 40 kept taking mocks until passing them comfortably.
Compare voucher prices.
Candidates and trainers advise buying the voucher from an accredited partner rather than at full price from PeopleCert.