CAPM Practice Test 5 — 25 Questions

Question 1

A key stakeholder requests a new feature after the project requirements have been formally approved and the scope baseline has been set. What is the first process the project manager should follow?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request through Perform Integrated Change Control. When a change is requested after the scope baseline is set, the formal process is to submit a change request through Perform Integrated Change Control. Option A (Validate Scope) is about formal acceptance of deliverables, not handling changes. Option C (Control Scope) monitors scope status but does not approve changes. Option D (Direct and Manage Project Work) executes work, not manages change requests.

Answer

Validate Scope to confirm the new feature

Answer

Control Scope to update the scope baseline

Answer

Direct and Manage Project Work to incorporate the feature

Question 2

A business analyst needs to capture and manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle. Which artifact is most suitable for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Requirements traceability matrix. The requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is the most suitable artifact because it links each requirement to its origin, source, and corresponding deliverables throughout the project lifecycle, enabling bidirectional traceability. This allows the business analyst to capture, track, and manage changes to requirements, ensuring that all requirements are met and that no scope creep occurs. The RTM is specifically designed for this continuous tracking and management role, unlike the other artifacts which serve different purposes.

Answer

Project charter

Answer

Business case

Answer

Stakeholder register

Question 3

Drag and drop the steps for performing risk management planning in the correct order.

Accepted Answer

Plan Risk Management, then Identify Risks, then Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis, then Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis, then Plan Risk Responses. Risk management follows the sequence: planning, identification, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, and response planning.

Answer

Identify Risks, then Plan Risk Management, then Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis, then Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis, then Plan Risk Responses

Answer

Plan Risk Management, then Identify Risks, then Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis, then Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis, then Plan Risk Responses

Answer

Plan Risk Management, then Identify Risks, then Plan Risk Responses, then Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis, then Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis

Question 4

Which THREE of the following are considered key schedule management tools for predictive projects?

Accepted Answer

Critical path method. Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM), and PERT analysis are classic schedule management tools used in predictive projects. Burndown charts and Kanban boards are typically used in agile methodologies.

Answer

Burndown chart

Answer

Kanban board

Question 5

A project manager is reviewing the project's cost performance. The actual cost (AC) is $50,000, the earned value (EV) is $45,000, and the planned value (PV) is $60,000. What is the cost variance (CV)?

Accepted Answer

-$5,000. Cost variance (CV) is calculated as EV minus AC. Here, EV = $45,000 and AC = $50,000, so CV = $45,000 - $50,000 = -$5,000. A negative CV indicates the project is over budget, which matches option C.

Answer

$5,000

Answer

-$15,000

Answer

$10,000

Question 6

In a predictive project, the project manager needs to estimate the cost of each work package with a high level of accuracy. Which technique is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Bottom-up estimating. Bottom-up estimating provides the highest accuracy by estimating costs at the work package level and summing them.

Answer

Parametric estimating

Answer

Expert judgment

Answer

Three-point estimating

Question 7

Which TWO of the following are true regarding a project's life cycle?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid life cycles combine predictive and adaptive approaches.. Hybrid life cycles intentionally blend predictive (plan-driven) and adaptive (iterative) approaches to leverage the strengths of both. For example, a project might use a predictive phase for requirements gathering and high-level design, then switch to adaptive sprints for development and testing. This allows flexibility in execution while maintaining upfront planning where needed.

Answer

Adaptive life cycles are only used for software projects.

Answer

All projects have the same number of phases.

Answer

The project life cycle defines the product life cycle.

Question 8

A software development team has been using a feature branch workflow with long-lived branches. They frequently experience merge conflicts and integration delays. The team wants to adopt a more agile approach to reduce these issues. Which practice should the team adopt?

Accepted Answer

Adopt continuous integration, integrating code at least daily. Continuous integration (CI), which requires developers to merge their changes into the main branch frequently (at least daily) to detect conflicts early. Feature flags allow incomplete work to be hidden while merged, but the core practice to avoid merge conflicts is CI. Pair programming helps code quality but not integration delays. Timeboxing is a sprint planning technique, not directly related to integration.

Answer

Implement timeboxed iterations for each feature

Answer

Implement feature flags to hide incomplete work

Answer

Use pair programming to improve code quality

Question 9

A project is experiencing scope creep because additional features are being added without formal approval. What framework could have prevented this?

Accepted Answer

Requirements Baseline. Establishing a requirements baseline sets the agreed scope and prevents unauthorized additions. MoSCoW prioritizes, change control manages changes but not prevention, and stakeholder engagement focuses on involvement.

Answer

Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Answer

MoSCoW Prioritization

Answer

Change Control Process

Question 10

Refer to the exhibit. The team has a capacity of 5 story points for the sprint. Which items should they commit to?

Accepted Answer

Item 1 only. The team should take the highest-priority item that fits within capacity. Item 1 (High priority, 5 points) fits exactly. Option B is wrong because item 2 (Low) and item 3 (8) exceed capacity. Option C is wrong because item 1 (5) and item 2 (1) total 6, exceeding capacity. Option D is wrong because item 3 alone exceeds capacity.

Answer

Items 2 and 3

Answer

Items 1 and 2

Answer

Item 3 only

Question 11

Refer to the exhibit. The business analyst is asked to ensure that all customer records are kept for at least two years. Which change to the policy is required?

Accepted Answer

Increase retentionDays for CustomerRecord to 730. Current retention for CustomerRecord is 365 days (1 year). To meet at least two years (730 days), the retentionDays value must be increased to 730.

Answer

Add a new rule for CustomerRecord with 730 days

Answer

Remove the CustomerRecord rule

Answer

Change action for CustomerRecord to Delete

Question 12

A business analyst is selecting a requirements elicitation technique for a complex project. Which THREE of the following are considered active elicitation techniques?

Accepted Answer

Observation. Active elicitation techniques involve direct interaction with stakeholders, such as interviews, observation, and prototyping.

Answer

Document analysis

Answer

Brainstorming

Question 13

Which TWO techniques are commonly used for requirements analysis? (Choose 2)

Accepted Answer

Process modeling. Process modeling (e.g., flowcharts) and prototyping are analysis techniques that help understand and refine requirements.

Answer

Survey

Answer

Brainstorming

Answer

Benchmarking

Question 14

Match each project management methodology to its characteristic.

Accepted Answer

Waterfall: Sequential phases with distinct stages such as requirements, design, implementation, testing, and deployment.. Waterfall uses sequential phases; Agile is iterative and flexible; Scrum is an Agile framework with sprints; Kanban visualizes workflow with WIP limits. Common confusions: swapping Kanban with Agile, or describing Waterfall as iterative.

Answer

Agile: Visual management of work in progress with limits on simultaneous tasks.

Answer

Waterfall: Iterative cycles with frequent reassessment and adaptation.

Question 15

Match each knowledge area to its primary process.

Accepted Answer

Scope Management: Plan Scope Management. Each knowledge area has a planning process that establishes the approach for that area. Common confusions arise from mixing up similar-sounding planning processes. The correct matches are Scope→Plan Scope Management, Time→Plan Schedule Management, Cost→Plan Cost Management, and Quality→Plan Quality Management.

Answer

Scope Management: Plan Quality Management

Answer

Time Management: Plan Cost Management

Question 16

Match each project management process group to its primary purpose.

Accepted Answer

Initiating: Define a new project or phase and obtain authorization. The five process groups are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Each has a distinct purpose: Initiating authorizes, Planning defines scope and plan, Executes performs work, M&C tracks and adjusts, Closing formalizes completion.

Answer

Planning: Monitor and control project progress

Answer

Monitoring and Controlling: Establish project scope and objectives

Answer

Initiating: Track, review, and regulate project performance

Question 17

Match each project constraint to its typical trade-off.

Accepted Answer

Time: If time is reduced, scope or cost must be adjusted. The triple constraint model (scope, time, cost) states that changing one constraint typically impacts the others. Scope increases lead to time and cost increases; reducing time requires scope or cost adjustments; reducing cost requires scope or time adjustments. Common confusions include reversing the direction of trade-offs.

Answer

Scope: If scope increases, time and cost typically decrease

Answer

Time: If time is increased, scope and cost must be reduced

Question 18

A business analyst is selecting a business analysis framework for a small project with limited budget. Which framework characteristic is most important to consider?

Accepted Answer

Scalability to fit the project size and complexity. For a small project with a limited budget, the most important characteristic of a business analysis framework is scalability, because it allows the framework to be tailored to the project's size and complexity without incurring unnecessary overhead or costs. A framework that is too rigid or comprehensive would waste resources on activities that do not add value for a small project, while a scalable approach ensures that only essential analysis tasks are performed. This directly aligns with the principle of 'just enough' business analysis, which is critical when budget constraints are tight.

Answer

Alignment with industry standards

Answer

Comprehensiveness to cover all possible scenarios

Answer

Integration with existing project management tools

Question 19

Which tool is used to visually represent the relationships between requirements and other project artifacts?

Accepted Answer

RTM. The Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) is a grid that links requirements to their origin, design, development, and testing artifacts.

Answer

WBS

Answer

Network diagram

Answer

Gantt chart

Question 20

A business analyst is facilitating a requirements workshop. Which technique is best for generating creative ideas?

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming. Brainstorming is a group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas, making it the best choice for creative thinking in a workshop setting.

Answer

Interview

Answer

Survey

Answer

Document analysis