PMP Practice Test 39 — 15 Questions

Question 1

Match each tool or technique to its application in project management.

Accepted Answer

Work Breakdown Structure: Decomposes project scope into manageable components. The correct matches are A, C, and E. Common confusions include mixing up WBS with EVM or CPM definitions.

Answer

Work Breakdown Structure: Measures project performance against baseline

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Critical Path Method: Decomposes project scope into manageable components

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Earned Value Management: Identifies the longest sequence of dependent activities

Question 2

You are transitioning a traditional project team to an agile framework. Some team members are resistant to the change. Which THREE strategies should you employ to facilitate the transition?

Accepted Answer

Hold one-on-one meetings to understand individual concerns and address them. Options A, B, and C are correct strategies for facilitating an agile transition: holding one-on-one meetings to understand concerns (A), involving the team in designing new processes (B), and providing training on agile principles and practices (C) all promote buy-in and address resistance. Option D is incorrect because mandating immediate adoption without discussion typically increases resistance. Option E is incorrect as replacing resistant members undermines servant leadership and team development.

Answer

Mandate immediate adoption of agile practices without discussion

Answer

Replace resistant team members with agile-experienced staff

Question 3

Your IT infrastructure project is being audited for compliance. The auditor finds that several change requests were approved verbally but not documented. The project is in the execution phase. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Update the change control process to require written approval before implementation. Documented approval is required for compliance; updating the change control process to require written approval prevents future documentation gaps. Option C is correct because retroactively documenting the verbally approved changes and obtaining signatures formalizes them and rectifies the compliance issue. Option B is wrong because reversing changes that were properly approved (albeit verbally) would cause unnecessary rework and delays; the issue is documentation, not validity. Option D is wrong because redoing work is not required since the changes were approved; the issue is documentation, not quality. Option E is wrong because stopping all work is excessive; the audit is about documentation and can be resolved without halting the project.

Answer

Reverse the undocumented changes and revert to the original baseline

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Request the team to redo the work to ensure it meets requirements

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Stop all project work until the audit is resolved

Question 4

You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the product owner requests a new feature that was not in the backlog. The team estimates it will require 5 additional days. The project is currently on schedule and within budget. Which TWO actions should you take NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request and evaluate the impact on the project constraints. Options B and D are the correct next steps. Option B is correct because any change to scope outside the current iteration must go through a formal change control process to assess impact on constraints such as time, cost, and quality. Option D is correct because the product owner is responsible for prioritizing the backlog; the new feature should be evaluated against existing items for the next sprint to ensure value delivery. Option A is wrong because adding work to the current sprint without approval violates the change control process and disrupts the sprint commitment. Option C is wrong because using free time for unplanned work undermines transparency and may lead to scope creep without proper assessment. Option E is wrong because completely rejecting a potentially valuable feature without analysis is not agile; the product owner should decide based on priority and value.

Answer

Add the feature to the current sprint backlog immediately to not delay the release

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Tell the team to implement the feature during any free time

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Reject the request because it is outside the original scope

Question 5

You are managing a project that is experiencing scope creep. Several stakeholders have been requesting additional features informally. You want to bring the project under control. Which TWO actions should you take?

Accepted Answer

Remind stakeholders that all changes must go through the formal change control process. To control scope creep, the PM should reinforce the change control process and ensure all requests are documented as change requests. Communicating with stakeholders about the impacts also helps.

Answer

Ignore minor requests to avoid conflict

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Add the requests to the project backlog without approval

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Update the project management plan to reflect all informal requests

Question 6

A project is running over budget due to underestimation of effort. The project manager wants to bring costs under control. Which THREE actions are MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to reduce scope.. Submitting a change request to reduce scope is a formal control action that directly lowers costs. Option C is correct because implementing a continuous improvement program to reduce waste cuts costs without affecting scope or schedule. Option D is correct because re-estimating remaining work using bottom-up estimating provides a more accurate cost baseline, enabling better control. Options B and E are incorrect: working overtime without pay is unethical and unsustainable, and fast-tracking increases risk and typically does not reduce costs.

Answer

Ask the team to work overtime without additional pay.

Answer

Fast-track remaining activities to finish earlier.

Question 7

A project manager discovers that a key vendor will be unable to deliver a critical component on time, which will delay the project. The contract includes penalties for late delivery. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Assess the impact on the project schedule and explore alternative solutions.. The first step in this situation is to assess the impact of the late delivery on the project schedule and explore alternative solutions. This aligns with the risk management process and procurement best practices. By understanding the impact and identifying possible mitigation options, the project manager can make informed decisions and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Taking immediate punitive actions (C) or terminating the contract (D) without analysis could damage the vendor relationship and escalate the problem unnecessarily. Informing the sponsor (B) is important, but the project manager should first complete the impact analysis to provide a comprehensive update.

Answer

Inform the sponsor and wait for instructions.

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Immediately invoke the penalty clause to incentivize the vendor.

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Terminate the contract and find a new vendor.

Question 8

A project manager is working on a portfolio of projects. One project has a business case that is no longer aligned with the organization's strategic goals due to a shift in market conditions. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Recommend to the portfolio governance board that the project should be terminated.. The correct action is to recommend termination of the project to the portfolio governance board, as it no longer provides strategic value. This aligns with portfolio management and business case evaluation. Option A is reactive. Option B bypasses governance. Option D violates the principle of project selection based on strategic alignment.

Answer

Continue the project as planned but monitor for further strategic changes.

Answer

Update the business case to align with the new strategy without formal approval.

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Seek additional funding to make the project more profitable.

Question 9

During a project, a risk event occurs that was not identified in the risk register. The project manager needs to respond. Which THREE actions should the project manager take?

Accepted Answer

Add the risk to the risk register and document the response taken. Options A, D, and E are correct. When an unidentified risk occurs, the project manager should first assess its impact (E), then conduct a brainstorming session to identify potential responses (D), and finally add the risk to the risk register along with the implemented response (A). Option B is incorrect because implementing a mitigation response without proper analysis and planning is not recommended. Option C is incorrect because simply accepting the risk without assessment and response planning is not appropriate.

Answer

Immediately implement a response to mitigate the risk

Answer

Accept the risk because it was not identified

Question 10

During a project's execution phase, the sponsor asks the project manager to skip the user acceptance testing (UAT) phase to save time and meet a tight deadline. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Explain the risks of skipping UAT and recommend following the project management plan.. Skipping UAT can lead to unmet requirements, poor quality, and stakeholder dissatisfaction. The project manager should communicate the risks and recommend adhering to the project management plan. Option A is wrong because ignoring the sponsor's request without discussion is not professional. Option B is reactive and escalates prematurely. Option C is wrong because complying without analysis bypasses the project manager's responsibility to protect the project's success.

Answer

Ignore the request and proceed with UAT as planned.

Answer

Escalate the issue to the PMO without discussing with the sponsor.

Answer

Comply with the sponsor's request to maintain a good relationship.

Question 11

You are the project manager for a hybrid software development project. During sprint review, the product owner demonstrates a feature that meets the acceptance criteria but the key stakeholder expresses disappointment, saying it does not meet their expectations. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a meeting with the stakeholder to clarify their expectations and document any new requirements for future sprints.. To first understand the stakeholder's expectations and document them. This aligns with stakeholder engagement and scope management. Option A is incorrect because implementing changes without change control constitutes gold-plating and bypasses the change control process. Option C is incorrect because it dismisses the stakeholder's concerns, which could lead to dissatisfaction and reduce trust. Option D is incorrect because it bypasses the product owner's role and the proper change process; modifying the feature immediately without analysis is not appropriate. Therefore, scheduling a meeting to clarify expectations and document new requirements for future sprints is the best first step.

Answer

Approve the change yourself and add it to the current sprint backlog.

Answer

Explain that the feature meets the agreed acceptance criteria and close the discussion.

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Ask the development team to modify the feature immediately to satisfy the stakeholder.

Question 12

Your project is using a hybrid approach. The development team has completed the deliverables, but the testing team is overwhelmed and behind schedule. The project manager needs to address this resource constraint. Which THREE actions are most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Negotiate with the functional manager to prioritize testing resources. Options A, D, and E are correct. A: Negotiating with the functional manager helps prioritize testing resources, addressing the constraint directly. D: Training developers in testing cross-trains the team, increasing testing capacity. E: Temporarily reassigning developers to assist with testing provides immediate relief. B is incorrect because asking for uncompensated overtime is unethical and may violate labor policies. C is incorrect because escalating to the sponsor is premature; the project manager should first explore internal solutions like negotiation and cross-training.

Answer

Ask the testing team to work overtime without additional compensation

Answer

Escalate the issue to the project sponsor immediately

Question 13

A project manager is developing the schedule for a new product development project. Which TWO techniques can be used to compress the schedule?

Accepted Answer

Fast tracking. Fast tracking and crashing are schedule compression techniques. Resource leveling adjusts resources but does not compress the schedule. Monte Carlo analysis is a simulation technique. Critical chain method adds buffers.

Answer

Monte Carlo analysis

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Critical chain method

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Resource leveling

Question 14

A project is falling behind schedule, and the project manager wants to get it back on track. Which TWO schedule compression techniques are most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Crashing. Fast tracking and crashing are the standard schedule compression techniques. Resource smoothing does not compress the schedule; critical chain adds buffers; Monte Carlo is simulation.

Answer

Resource smoothing

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Critical chain method

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Monte Carlo simulation

Question 15

Match each knowledge area to its primary focus.

Accepted Answer

Scope: The processes required to ensure the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully.. The correct matches are: Scope focuses on work inclusion, Time on schedule, and Cost on budget. Common confusions arise from overlapping language.

Answer

Scope: The processes concerning the timely completion of the project.

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Time: The processes involved in estimating, budgeting, and controlling costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget.

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Cost: The processes required to ensure that the project satisfies the needs for which it was undertaken.