CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Test 4 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A project is in the execution phase. The earned value analysis shows a Cost Performance Index (CPI) of 0.8 and a Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.9. What is the best interpretation of these metrics?

Accepted Answer

The project is over budget and behind schedule.. Option B is correct because CPI < 1 indicates cost overrun, and SPI < 1 indicates schedule behind. Option A is wrong because it claims ahead of schedule. Option C is wrong because it claims under budget. Option D is wrong because it claims both under budget and ahead of schedule.

Answer

The project is under budget but behind schedule.

Answer

The project is over budget but ahead of schedule.

Answer

The project is under budget and ahead of schedule.

Question 2

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. Option A is correct because changes require Perform Integrated Change Control. Option B is wrong because Direct and Manage Project Work executes the work, not handles changes. Option C is wrong because Control Scope monitors scope status but does not approve changes. Option D is wrong because Validate Scope is about acceptance of deliverables.

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 3

A project manager is estimating activity durations for a new software development project. The manager has data from three similar previous projects, but the new project is slightly larger in scope. Which estimating technique is most appropriate given the available data?

Accepted Answer

Analogous estimating. Option D is correct because analogous estimating uses historical data from similar projects. Option A is wrong because three-point estimating requires optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates, which are not provided. Option B is wrong because parametric estimating uses a statistical relationship, not just historical data. Option C is wrong because bottom-up estimating is detailed and time-consuming.

Answer

Parametric estimating

Answer

Three-point estimating

Answer

Bottom-up estimating

Question 4

In a predictive (waterfall) project, the project phases are completed sequentially. If the design phase is delayed by two weeks, what is the likely impact on the project?

Accepted Answer

The project duration is extended by exactly two weeks.. Option C is correct because in a predictive lifecycle, each phase depends on the previous one. Option A is wrong because the delay propagates through all phases unless compressed. Option B is wrong because only design is delayed? Actually all subsequent phases will be delayed as they depend on design. Option D is wrong because the impact is significant.

Answer

The delay can be recovered by overlapping subsequent phases.

Answer

Only the design phase is affected; later phases can start on time.

Answer

No impact because design is not on the critical path.

Question 5

Which document formally authorizes the project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities?

Accepted Answer

Project charter. Option C is correct because the project charter authorizes the project and assigns the project manager. Option A is wrong because the business case provides justification, not authorization. Option B is wrong because the project management plan guides execution but does not authorize. Option D is wrong because the scope statement details scope but does not authorize the project.

Answer

Project management plan

Answer

Business case

Answer

Project scope statement

Question 6

A project manager is planning risk responses for a high-impact, low-probability risk. The team decides to purchase an insurance policy to cover potential losses. Which risk response strategy is being used?

Accepted Answer

Transfer. Option B is correct because risk transfer involves shifting the impact to a third party, like insurance. Option A is wrong because risk avoidance changes the plan to eliminate the risk. Option C is wrong because risk mitigation reduces probability or impact. Option D is wrong because risk acceptance acknowledges the risk without action.

Answer

Avoidance

Answer

Acceptance

Answer

Mitigation

Question 7

Which TWO of the following are tools and techniques used in the Plan Schedule Management process?

Accepted Answer

Leads and lags. Options A and C are correct. Plan Schedule Management uses expert judgment, data analysis, and meetings. Critical path method (A) and leads and lags (C) are part of schedule development, but they are also considered techniques. Rolling wave planning is for scope, not schedule management. Bottom-up estimating is for cost. Decomposition is for scope.

Answer

Rolling wave planning

Answer

Bottom-up estimating

Answer

Decomposition

Question 8

Which THREE of the following are outputs of the Control Quality process?

Accepted Answer

Work performance information. Options B, C, and D are correct. Control Quality outputs include quality control measurements, validated deliverables, work performance information, change requests, and project documents updates. A (Quality metrics) is an input. E (Project management plan updates) is not a direct output; changes to the PM plan go through integrated change control.

Answer

Quality metrics

Answer

Project management plan updates

Question 9

Which THREE of the following are components of the project management plan?

Accepted Answer

Schedule baseline. Options A, C, and E are correct. The project management plan includes baselines (scope, schedule, cost) and subsidiary plans. The risk register is a project document, not a component of the PM plan. Quality metrics may be part of the quality management plan but not a standalone component; typically baselines are considered components.

Answer

Quality metrics

Answer

Risk register

Question 10

How many work packages are at WBS level 2 (the second level) in this exhibit?

Accepted Answer

3. Option C is correct. Level 1 is '1.0 Project'. Level 2 consists of '1.1 Planning', '1.2 Execution', and '1.3 Closure' — that's three work packages. Option A counts only two, option B counts four incorrectly, option D counts six (the leaf nodes).

Answer

4

Answer

2

Answer

6

Question 11

Based on the schedule network shown in the exhibit, what is the critical path?

Accepted Answer

A-C-D-E. Option A is correct. Path A-B-D-E: 5+3+2+1 = 11 days. Path A-C-D-E: 5+4+2+1 = 12 days. The longest path is A-C-D-E (12 days). Option A gives 11 days, option B gives 12 days (correct), option C gives 14 days (incorrect addition), option D gives 10 days.

Answer

A-B-D-E

Answer

A-B-C-E

Answer

A-B-C-D-E

Question 12

Using the risk register entry shown, what is the expected monetary value (EMV) of this risk?

Accepted Answer

$40,000. Option D is correct. EMV = Probability * Impact = 0.8 * $50,000 = $40,000. Option A is $10,000 (0.2*50000), option B is $40,000, option C is $50,000 (full impact), option D is $80,000 (wrong multiplication).

Answer

$10,000

Answer

$50,000

Answer

$80,000

Question 13

During the execution phase of a predictive project, the team discovers that a key deliverable does not meet the acceptance criteria defined in the project management plan. What is the FIRST step the project manager should take?

Accepted Answer

Initiate a change request. The first step is to initiate a change request to correct the defect, as changes to deliverables require formal change control. Updating the risk register or re-baselining without change authorization is incorrect. Root cause analysis may follow but is not the immediate first step.

Answer

Re-baseline the schedule

Answer

Conduct a root cause analysis

Answer

Update the risk register

Question 14

A project manager is developing the WBS for a large construction project. She has identified the major deliverables and decomposed them into work packages. Which of the following BEST describes the next step in the WBS creation process?

Accepted Answer

Decompose work packages into activities. After creating the WBS and decomposing deliverables into work packages, the next step is to further decompose work packages into activities for scheduling. Assigning resources or estimating costs comes later, and stakeholder approval occurs after verification.

Answer

Estimate the cost of each work package

Answer

Assign resources to each work package

Answer

Obtain stakeholder approval of the WBS

Question 15

In a predictive project, the project manager has calculated the critical path and determined that the project duration is 100 days. The total float for a non-critical activity is 5 days. If the project manager wants to reduce the overall project duration by 3 days, which action is MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Fast-track the project by overlapping activities on the critical path. To reduce project duration, the focus must be on the critical path. Fast-tracking by overlapping activities on the critical path can reduce duration with less risk than crashing. Adding resources to a non-critical activity or increasing float will not affect the project duration.

Answer

Increase the total float of the critical path by adding buffer

Answer

Add more resources to the non-critical activity to reduce its duration

Answer

Crash the non-critical activity to reduce its duration by 3 days