Free Printable PMI Chart (Plus, Minus, Interesting)
A printable PMI chart with plus, minus and interesting columns and a box for your final thinking. 1 version, free to print.
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Handout Hero · handouthero.com Handout Hero · handouthero.comAbout these pmi chart handouts
PMI stands for Plus, Minus, Interesting. It is a thinking tool described by Edward de Bono for looking at an idea from three sides before deciding what to think. The plus column is for what is good about the idea, the minus column for what is not, and the interesting column for anything worth noticing or wondering about that is neither good nor bad.
The interesting column is what sets it apart from a simple pros and cons list. It lets students record questions, surprises and possible consequences instead of forcing every thought into good or bad. This makes it useful for discussions where students tend to take a side too quickly. The page has three tall columns with lines, and a box at the bottom for what the student thinks now: keep, change or drop the idea.
Use it for a class vote, a school rule, a book character's choice, a historical decision or a science technology issue. Type the idea in the Subject box to print it at the top. Give students five or ten minutes and ask them to fill in all three columns before they talk about their view.
How to use them
- Type the idea or decision into the Subject box and print.
- Set a timer for a few minutes and fill the Plus column.
- Fill the Minus column with what could go wrong or what is difficult.
- Use the Interesting column for questions, surprises and effects that are neither good nor bad.
- Write what you think now in the box, using at least one point from each column.
Classroom tips
- Do the columns in order and in fixed time blocks so every column gets equal attention.
- Ask students to explain which column was hardest to fill.
- Use PMI before a class debate to prepare both sides.
- Count the points only after: a single large minus can outweigh several small plus points.
Where the facts come from
- University of Toronto (Easterbrook, EKAW 1992): Discusses de Bono's thinking tools, including PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting)
Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Handout Hero designs are original and made for this site. They are general reference material; check your own school, district or tradition where it matters.
Frequently asked questions
What does PMI stand for?
Plus, Minus, Interesting. It is a thinking tool for judging an idea by listing what is good, what is not, and what is interesting about it.
How is PMI different from pros and cons?
A pros and cons list has two columns. PMI adds an interesting column for questions and observations that are neither good nor bad.
Which grades is it for?
PMI fits grades 4 to 12 for decisions and discussions. Younger students can do it orally with a few points per column.
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