PMP Practice Test 30 — 15 Questions

Question 1

In your agile project, the team's velocity has been declining over the past three sprints from 30 to 25 to 20 story points. The team members report feeling overworked and demotivated. The daily standup meetings are running long, and the product owner is adding too many stories each sprint. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes and collaboratively develop improvement actions. Option D is correct because the project manager should facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes and let the team propose solutions. Option A is a temporary fix. Option B addresses symptoms but not root causes. Option C is dictatorial and not agile.

Answer

Ask the product owner to reduce the number of stories per sprint

Answer

Reduce the sprint length to create urgency and improve focus

Answer

Mandate that the team must increase velocity to 30 story points next sprint

Question 2

You are managing a software upgrade project using a hybrid approach. During execution, the team discovers a critical security vulnerability that was not identified during risk planning. The vulnerability requires immediate patching to avoid a potential data breach. Which TWO actions should you take NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Assess the impact of the vulnerability on the project scope, schedule, and cost. Options B and D are correct. The PM should assess the impact of the vulnerability (B) to understand the urgency and then submit a change request (D) to address it through formal change control. Option A is wrong because ignoring the vulnerability is irresponsible. Option C is premature before assessment. Option E is wrong because a workaround is not a permanent fix and may not be sufficient.

Answer

Immediately assign the team to fix the vulnerability without formal approval

Answer

Add the vulnerability to the risk register and continue with the current sprint as planned

Answer

Implement a temporary workaround to reduce the risk and monitor the situation

Question 3

Your project is using a predictive approach. A key vendor notifies you that they will be unable to deliver a critical component for another four weeks. This component is on the critical path, and you have no schedule reserve left. You have identified that a different vendor can deliver in two weeks at a 20% higher cost. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Perform a quantitative analysis comparing the cost of the alternative vendor versus the cost of delay, then submit a change request. The first step is to evaluate the situation objectively: assess the cost and schedule impact of each option, then proceed with the change control process to implement the best solution.

Answer

Immediately contract the alternative vendor to avoid further delay

Answer

Ask the original vendor to expedite delivery at no extra cost

Answer

Update the risk register and accept the four-week delay

Question 4

You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During sprint planning, the product owner requests adding a new feature that was not in the project scope. The team estimates it will take two additional sprints. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Initiate a change request and assess the impact on schedule, cost, and scope before seeking approval. Option B is correct because PMI requires all scope changes to go through the Integrated Change Control process to evaluate impacts before approval. Option A bypasses formal change control. Option C is reactive after the fact. Option D ignores the product owner's request without assessment.

Answer

Tell the product owner that no new features can be added mid-project

Answer

Ask the team to include the feature in the current sprint if possible

Answer

Add the feature to the backlog and inform the product owner it will be addressed in a later phase

Question 5

In a project closure phase, you are preparing the lessons learned report. The project performed well, but some stakeholders were dissatisfied with the communication frequency. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Document the communication issue and recommend a more frequent communication plan for future projects. Option B is correct: lessons learned should capture both successes and areas for improvement to benefit future projects. Option A ignores the issue. Option C is defensive. Option D is irrelevant.

Answer

Add the feedback to the issue log for resolution

Answer

Focus only on technical successes and omit the communication issue

Answer

Explain to stakeholders that communication was adequate and disregard their feedback

Question 6

Your project is using a predictive lifecycle. A team member notices that a task on the critical path is taking longer than estimated, threatening the project completion date. What is the BEST action to take?

Accepted Answer

Analyze the situation and apply schedule compression techniques such as crashing or fast tracking.. When a critical path task is delayed, the project manager should assess the situation and consider schedule compression techniques like crashing (adding resources) or fast tracking (performing tasks in parallel). This is a proactive response to get back on track.

Answer

Immediately add more resources to the task without analysis.

Answer

Inform the sponsor that the project will be delayed and request a new deadline.

Answer

Reduce the scope of the project to compensate for the delay.

Question 7

Your project is halfway through its schedule. Earned value analysis shows: EV = $120,000, PV = $150,000, AC = $140,000. What is the best interpretation of the project's performance?

Accepted Answer

The project is behind schedule and over budget.. SPI = EV/PV = 0.8, indicates behind schedule. CPI = EV/AC = 0.857, indicates over budget. The project is both behind schedule and over budget.

Answer

The project is behind schedule but under budget.

Answer

The project is on schedule and under budget.

Answer

The project is ahead of schedule but over budget.

Question 8

During a sprint planning meeting, the product owner proposes a user story that the team feels is too large to complete in one sprint. What is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Break the story down into smaller, more manageable stories that can be completed within the sprint.. Large user stories should be decomposed into smaller stories that can be completed within a sprint. This facilitates estimation and tracking.

Answer

Ask the product owner to remove the story from the sprint backlog.

Answer

Include the story as is and let the team work on it across multiple sprints.

Answer

Estimate the story with a high point value and accept that it may spill over.

Question 9

Your construction project is ahead of schedule but over budget. The earned value metrics are: EV = $500,000, PV = $450,000, AC = $550,000. What is the cost performance index (CPI) and schedule performance index (SPI)?

Accepted Answer

CPI = 0.91, SPI = 1.11. Option B is correct: CPI = EV/AC = 500,000/550,000 = 0.91; SPI = EV/PV = 500,000/450,000 = 1.11.

Answer

CPI = 1.11, SPI = 0.91

Answer

CPI = 1.10, SPI = 0.91

Answer

CPI = 0.91, SPI = 0.91

Question 10

In an agile project, the team's velocity has been declining over the last three sprints. The team is delivering fewer story points each sprint. The product owner is concerned about the release date. What should the Scrum Master do first?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a retrospective focused on identifying root causes of the declining velocity. Option D is correct: Understanding the root cause is the first step. Option A ignores the causes, B is reactive, C may be a result but not the first action.

Answer

Ask the product owner to descope some features to meet the release date

Answer

Add more story points to the next sprint to compensate for the loss

Answer

Extend the sprint duration to give the team more time

Question 11

In a hybrid project, the development team is using Scrum, and the project manager is responsible for overall coordination. During a sprint, the product owner asks the team to add a high-priority user story that was not included in the sprint planning. The team is concerned about overcommitment. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Ask the product owner to add the story to the product backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint.. In Scrum, the sprint backlog is fixed once sprint planning is completed. The product owner cannot add work during the sprint. The correct action is to ask the product owner to add the story to the product backlog for prioritization in a future sprint. This respects the team's commitment and the sprint goal.

Answer

Remove a lower-priority story from the sprint to make room for the new one.

Answer

Allow the team to add the story if they can accommodate it without affecting the sprint goal.

Answer

Escalate to the project sponsor to resolve the conflict.

Question 12

During a daily standup, a developer mentions that they are blocked due to a missing API from a third-party vendor. The vendor had promised delivery two days ago. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Check the risk register for any identified risk response related to vendor delays.. The PM should first check the risk register to see if this vendor delay was identified as a risk, and review the planned response. This is a proactive step before taking further action.

Answer

Contact the vendor to understand the delay and expedite delivery.

Answer

Escalate the issue to senior management immediately.

Answer

Ask the developer to work on other tasks until the API is available.

Question 13

A project is using a predictive approach. The project manager discovers that a team member has been gold-plating by adding extra features to a deliverable without authorization. What should the project manager do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Meet with the team member to discuss the issue and explain that only approved scope should be worked on.. Gold-plating is a violation of scope management. The PM must address the issue directly with the team member, explain why it's problematic, and reinforce the need to follow the defined scope. Corrective action may include removing the extra features.

Answer

Praise the team member for going above and beyond to satisfy the customer.

Answer

Submit a change request to formally approve the extra features.

Answer

Ignore it because it might improve customer satisfaction.

Question 14

You are managing a pharmaceutical research project that is subject to strict regulatory compliance. Mid-project, a new regulation requires additional testing that will add 4 weeks to the schedule and $50,000 in costs. The sponsor is anxious about the delay. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request with the impact analysis to the change control board for approval. Option C is correct because the change control process must be followed for any scope change. The PM should assess the impact and submit a change request for formal approval.

Answer

Instruct the team to begin the additional testing immediately to ensure compliance

Answer

Inform the sponsor that the project will be delayed and request more budget

Answer

Update the risk register and issue log to reflect the new regulation

Question 15

Your agile team is struggling with consistently low velocity. The team is demotivated. Which THREE actions should the project manager take to address this?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate a retrospective to identify root causes of low velocity. Options B, C, and D are correct: facilitating a retrospective, removing impediments, and ensuring sustainable pace are key agile practices to improve team performance.

Answer

Replace underperforming team members with new resources

Answer

Reduce the sprint backlog to match current velocity without analysis