Short answer
ITIL 5 Foundation, officially ITIL Foundation (Version 5), is the entry certification of ITIL v5, PeopleCert's framework for managing digital products and services. The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions, lasts 60 minutes, is closed book and needs 65% to pass. MicroPlay helps you prepare with short rounds on your phone and spaced repetition.
What is ITIL version 5?
ITIL (Version 5) is the latest version of ITIL. PeopleCert calls it an evolution, not a revolution: it keeps the core ideas of ITIL 4, such as the guiding principles and the service value system, and brings digital product management and service management together.
The official name is ITIL (Version 5). People also call it ITIL v5 or ITIL 5. The first certification on the path is ITIL Foundation (Version 5), which PeopleCert describes as suitable for any career stage.
What changed from ITIL 4?
According to PeopleCert, and in particular the article by the ITIL architects, these are the main changes at Foundation level:
- A product and service lifecycle with eight activities that apply to every product and service: discover, design, acquire, build, transition, operate, deliver and support.
- Built for AI and complexity: Foundation was written with the use of AI, and the need to govern it, in mind.
- A simpler value chain, easier to recognise than the ITIL 4 one.
- The 34 management practices stay, with some adjustments, and are now in two groups: product and service management practices and general management practices.
- Ideas from advanced modules, such as the service journey model from ITIL 4 Drive Stakeholder Value, are now introduced at Foundation level.
- A fictional story of a company going through AI-enabled transformation runs through the Foundation book and returns in the advanced modules.
ITIL 4 certifications remain valid prerequisites for the advanced ITIL (Version 5) modules. If you hold ITIL 4 Foundation and want the new certificate, you can take ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5): a one-day course with a 20-question, 30-minute exam and a 65% pass mark.
What is the ITIL 5 Foundation exam like?
The ITIL Foundation (Version 5) exam is multiple choice and closed book. These are the figures PeopleCert publishes (the number of correct answers is worked out from the 65%):
| Item | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40, multiple choice |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Materials | Closed book |
| Pass mark | 65%, that is 26 correct answers out of 40 |
| Languages | Nine, including English and Brazilian Portuguese |
| Renewal | Every 3 years, with 60 continuing professional development (CPD) points or another ITIL certification |
The syllabus topics, according to PeopleCert: digital product and service management concepts, value co-creation, the four dimensions, the ITIL value system, the guiding principles, the product and service lifecycle, the management practices, continual improvement, and value stream mapping and management.
How MicroPlay helps you prepare
MicroPlay turns studying into daily practice. Instead of rereading the book, you answer questions, read the explanation and come back to the ones you are forgetting.
Six multiple-choice questions per round, one to two minutes, on your phone.
A memory model per person and per question brings back what you are starting to forget, before the exam.
The game alternates practice levels, with question variants, and exam levels, in the style of the exam questions.
After you answer, a short explanation says why the right answer is right.
The questions are practice questions, written in the style of the exam and organised by the topics of the official syllabus. They are not real exam questions. A level is only complete when you still remember the questions from earlier levels, so older topics are not lost as you move on.
The ITIL game is in English. For trainers, MicroPlay adds class codes, a leaderboard per class and an Excel report with participation, accuracy, retention and the hardest questions. See how it works and why retrieval practice and spaced repetition work.
Who is behind it: Better Skills
MicroPlay is made by Better Skills, a Portuguese service management training and certification company and a PeopleCert ATO (Accredited Training Organization), as shown in the PeopleCert ATO directory. Better Skills runs the ITIL Foundation (Version 5) and Bridge courses with the official materials.
The game complements the course and the official book. It does not replace them.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the ITIL 5 Foundation exam?
40 multiple-choice questions, answered in 60 minutes, closed book. You need 65% to pass, that is 26 correct answers.
What is the difference between ITIL 4 and ITIL v5?
ITIL v5 keeps the guiding principles and the value system of ITIL 4, brings products and services together in an eight-activity lifecycle, simplifies the value chain and was written with AI in mind. The 34 practices stay, now in two groups.
Is my ITIL 4 certificate still valid?
Yes. ITIL 4 certifications remain valid prerequisites for the advanced ITIL (Version 5) modules. If you want the new Foundation certificate, the Bridge has a 20-question, 30-minute exam.
Does MicroPlay have the real exam questions?
No. It has exam-style practice questions, organised by the topics of the official syllabus, with an explanation for every answer. To simulate the exam, PeopleCert sells official mock exams.
What language is the ITIL game in?
English. The exam is available in nine languages, including English.
Can I use MicroPlay with my class or team?
Yes. Each class joins with its own code and has its own leaderboard, and the trainer exports an Excel report with participation, accuracy and retention. Book a demo to see the ITIL game.
Sources
Facts about ITIL and the exam checked on the official pages, read on 18 October 2026. ITIL is a registered trademark of PeopleCert.
- PeopleCert, ITIL Foundation (Version 5): number of questions, duration, closed book, pass mark, languages, renewal and syllabus topics.
- PeopleCert, ITIL Foundation (Version 5): What's New?, by Roman Jouravlev and Adam Griffith: eight-activity lifecycle, AI and complexity, value chain, service journey and story.
- PeopleCert, ITIL FAQ: practices in two groups, Bridge and validity of ITIL 4 certifications.
- ITIL, New ITIL explained: evolution from ITIL 4 and the 34 practices.
- PeopleCert, ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5): 20 questions, 30 minutes, 65%.
- PeopleCert, ATO directory: Better Skills and better-skills.com: accreditation and ITIL (Version 5) courses.
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