PRINCE2F Practice Exam 4 — 20 Questions

Question 1

What is the difference between the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO/Executive) and a Project Sponsor?

Accepted Answer

The SRO is a PRINCE2 role; 'Project Sponsor' is not a PRINCE2 term. PRINCE2 defines the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) as the single person accountable for the business case and overall project success, and it is a formal role within the PRINCE2 Project Board. 'Project Sponsor' is a generic term used in many organizations but is not a defined role in the PRINCE2 methodology. Therefore, the key difference is that the SRO is a specific PRINCE2 role, while 'Project Sponsor' is not part of the PRINCE2 terminology.

Answer

The SRO is a member of the Project Board; the Sponsor is not

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They are the same role with different names

Answer

The Project Sponsor is more senior than the SRO

Question 2

What is the difference between a Request for Change (RFC) and an Off-specification (Off-spec)?

Accepted Answer

An RFC is a proposal for a change; an Off-spec is a deviation from specification. In PRINCE2, a Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify a product, baseline, or plan, while an Off-specification (Off-spec) is a formal notification that a product or component does not meet its agreed specification. Option D correctly captures this distinction: an RFC proposes a change, whereas an Off-spec identifies a deviation from the specification that already exists. This is a fundamental difference in the PRINCE2 change control approach, where RFCs are about future modifications and Off-specs are about current non-conformance.

Answer

An RFC is always approved; an Off-spec is always rejected

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An RFC relates to cost; an Off-spec relates to quality

Answer

An RFC is initiated by the Project Manager; an Off-spec is initiated by the Team Manager

Question 3

A project is being executed in a stage. The Team Manager reports that a Work Package is likely to exceed its tolerances. What should the Project Manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Assess the situation and consider corrective actions within the stage tolerance. According to PRINCE2, when a Team Manager reports that a Work Package is likely to exceed its tolerances, the Project Manager must first assess the situation and consider corrective actions within the stage tolerance. This is because the Project Manager has delegated authority to manage the stage within the agreed stage tolerances, and only if the forecast exceeds those tolerances should an Exception Report be raised to the Project Board. The correct first step is always to evaluate whether the issue can be resolved within the existing tolerance limits before escalating.

Answer

Immediately raise an Exception Report to the Project Board

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Inform the Project Board at the next Highlight Report

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Request the Team Manager to continue and monitor the situation

Question 4

Which document is used by the Project Board to monitor progress at the end of a stage?

Accepted Answer

End Stage Report. The End Stage Report is provided by the Project Manager to the Project Board at the end of each stage to enable review.

Answer

Highlight Report

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Checkpoint Report

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Exception Report

Question 5

During the Controlling a Stage process, a Team Manager reports that a work package is complete. What should the Project Manager do next?

Accepted Answer

Review the work package and, if acceptable, approve it. In PRINCE2, the Project Manager must first review the completed work package against its agreed criteria (e.g., quality tolerances, deliverables) before formally accepting it. This aligns with the 'Review Work Package' step in the Controlling a Stage process, ensuring that only verified outputs are approved. Option B is correct because the Project Manager cannot proceed to authorize further work or update plans until the current work package is formally accepted.

Answer

Immediately authorize the next work package

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Update the Project Plan

Answer

Raise an Exception Report

Question 6

Which of the following is a difference between the Directing a Project and Controlling a Stage processes?

Accepted Answer

Directing a Project is performed by the Project Board; Controlling a Stage is performed by the Project Manager. Directing a Project is performed by the Project Board; Controlling a Stage is performed by the Project Manager.

Answer

Directing a Project is performed by the Project Manager; Controlling a Stage is performed by the Team Manager

Answer

Both are performed by the Project Board

Answer

Directing a Project is performed once; Controlling a Stage is performed multiple times

Question 7

A project is forecast to exceed its stage cost tolerance. What should the Project Manager do?

Accepted Answer

Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board. According to PRINCE2's management by exception, if a tolerance is forecast to be exceeded, the Project Manager must escalate to the Project Board via an Exception Report.

Answer

Increase the stage budget using contingency reserves

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Close the project as the Business Case is no longer viable

Answer

Continue with the current plan and report the overrun in the next Highlight Report

Question 8

What is the first step in the PRINCE2 recommended risk management procedure?

Accepted Answer

Identify. The PRINCE2 risk management procedure follows a logical sequence: Identify, Assess, Plan, Implement, and Communicate. The first step is 'Identify' because risks must be identified before they can be assessed or managed. Without identification, no further risk management actions are possible.

Answer

Plan

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Assess

Answer

Implement

Question 9

What is the PRINCE2 definition of quality?

Accepted Answer

Fit for purpose. In PRINCE2, quality is defined as 'fit for purpose,' meaning the product meets the stated requirements and is suitable for its intended use. This definition emphasizes that quality is about satisfying the customer's needs and expectations, not just adhering to a specification or achieving zero defects. It aligns with the PRINCE2 principle of continued business justification, ensuring the product delivers value.

Answer

Customer satisfaction

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Conformance to specification

Answer

Zero defects

Question 10

Who is responsible for authorising the start of a project in PRINCE2?

Accepted Answer

The Project Board. In PRINCE2, the Project Board is responsible for authorising the start of a project. This occurs at the end of the Initiating a Project process, when the Project Board reviews the Project Initiation Documentation and gives approval to proceed with the project. The Project Board provides overall direction and control, ensuring the project aligns with business, user, and supplier interests.

Answer

The Senior Supplier

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The Project Manager

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The Senior User

Question 11

Which ONE of the following is an output of the Closing a Project process?

Accepted Answer

End Project Report. The Closing a Project process produces the End Project Report, which provides a summary of the project's performance and lessons learned. The Project Product Description is an input to the Closing a Project process, not an output. The other options (Benefits Management Approach, Lessons Log, Project Plan) are also inputs or earlier outputs, not deliverables of the Closing a Project process.

Answer

Project Product Description

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Benefits Management Approach

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Lessons Log

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Project Plan

Question 12

Why does PRINCE2 separate the Project Manager role from Project Assurance?

Accepted Answer

To ensure independent oversight and avoid conflicts of interest. PRINCE2 separates the Project Manager role from Project Assurance to ensure independent oversight and avoid conflicts of interest. The Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making, while Project Assurance provides an objective check that the project remains aligned with business, user, and supplier interests. This separation prevents the Project Manager from being the sole judge of their own work, which could compromise governance and control.

Answer

To allow the Project Manager to focus on team management

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To comply with corporate governance regulations

Answer

To reduce the workload of the Project Manager

Question 13

Which document is the key output of the Initiating a Project process?

Accepted Answer

Project Initiation Documentation. The Project Initiation Documentation (PID) is the definitive output of the Initiating a Project process, as it consolidates all key planning information—such as the Business Case, project scope, and risk assessment—into a single baseline that authorizes the project to proceed. PRINCE2 mandates that the PID is created during this process to provide a firm foundation for the project and is used throughout the remaining stages.

Answer

Stage Plan

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Benefits Management Approach

Answer

Project Brief

Question 14

In which process are Work Packages authorized and progress reviewed by the Project Manager?

Accepted Answer

Controlling a Stage. The Controlling a Stage process is where the Project Manager authorizes Work Packages to Team Managers and reviews their progress against the stage plan. This process ensures that work is executed, monitored, and controlled within the current stage, with the Project Manager managing day-to-day activities and escalating issues as needed.

Answer

Directing a Project

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Managing a Stage Boundary

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Managing Product Delivery

Question 15

Which TWO of the following are purposes of the Directing a Project process?

Accepted Answer

To authorize the stage plans. The Directing a Project process is for the Project Board to make key decisions and provide overall control. One purpose is to authorize initiation (option C), allowing the project to proceed from initiation to delivery. Another purpose is to authorize stage plans (option A), approving the work to be done in each management stage. Option B (manage day-to-day activities) is the Project Manager's role in Managing a Stage Boundary. Option D (create Exception Plan) is done by the Project Manager, not the Board. Option E (accept work packages) is part of Managing Product Delivery.

Answer

To manage the day-to-day activities of the project

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To create the Exception Plan

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To accept work packages from the Project Manager

Question 16

A project is in the Managing Product Delivery process. A team member identifies a quality issue with a product being developed. Who is responsible for producing a Checkpoint Report?

Accepted Answer

Team Manager. In the Managing Product Delivery process, the Team Manager is responsible for producing the Checkpoint Report. This report provides the Project Manager with progress information on the work packages assigned to the team, including any issues such as quality problems. The Checkpoint Report is a key control document that the Team Manager uses to communicate status at regular intervals, typically weekly.

Answer

Senior User

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Project Manager

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Project Support

Question 17

Which TWO of the following are produced during the Starting Up a Project process?

Accepted Answer

Initiation Stage Plan. SU produces the Project Brief and the Initiation Stage Plan. The PID and End Project Report are produced later.

Answer

Benefits Management Approach

Answer

End Project Report

Answer

Project Initiation Documentation

Question 18

Which TWO of the following are PRINCE2 principles?

Accepted Answer

Tailor to suit the project environment. 'Tailor to suit the project environment' is one of the seven PRINCE2 principles. This principle requires that the method be adapted to the specific context, complexity, size, and risk of the project, ensuring the framework remains relevant and practical without unnecessary overhead.

Answer

Manage by phases

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Document everything

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Assign all roles to one person

Question 19

Which PRINCE2 principle is applied when a Project Manager escalates a forecast tolerance deviation to the Project Board?

Accepted Answer

Manage by exception. When a Project Manager forecasts that a tolerance (e.g., cost or time) will be exceeded, they escalate to the Project Board. This is the direct application of the 'Manage by exception' principle, which defines tolerances for each management level and requires escalation only when those tolerances are forecast to be breached, allowing normal management within tolerances without board intervention.

Answer

Manage by stages

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Focus on products

Answer

Continued business justification

Question 20

During a quality review, it is discovered that the acceptance criterion 'The system shall be compatible with Windows 10 and macOS' has been classified as 'Should' (i.e., a desirable but not essential criterion). Which action should be taken?

Accepted Answer

Seek confirmation from the customer that the classification is acceptable.. In PRINCE2, the classification of acceptance criteria (e.g., 'Must', 'Should', 'Could') is a customer decision. When a criterion classified as 'Should' is discovered during a quality review, the correct action is to seek confirmation from the customer that the classification is acceptable, as only the customer can decide whether a desirable criterion can be downgraded or reclassified. This ensures the project remains aligned with customer expectations and avoids unauthorized changes to the Project Product Description.

Answer

Remove the criterion from the Project Product Description.

Answer

Ignore the issue because the criterion is already documented.

Answer

Reclassify it as 'Must' to ensure delivery.