PMP Practice Exam 52 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A project manager is developing the project schedule and needs to account for a resource that is only available 50% of the time. Which technique should be used to adjust the schedule?

Accepted Answer

Resource leveling. Resource leveling is the correct technique because it adjusts the schedule to account for resource constraints, such as a resource being available only 50% of the time. This technique modifies start and finish dates based on resource availability, ensuring the resource is not over-allocated. In this scenario, leveling would spread the resource's work across the schedule to match the 50% availability, potentially extending the project duration.

Answer

Crashing

Answer

Fast tracking

Answer

Critical path method

Question 2

A project manager notices that the project's cost performance index (CPI) is 0.8 and the schedule performance index (SPI) is 1.1. What is the MOST likely cause of this situation?

Accepted Answer

The project is ahead of schedule but over budget, possibly due to crashing.. A CPI of 0.8 indicates the project is over budget (earning only $0.80 for every $1.00 spent), while an SPI of 1.1 indicates it is ahead of schedule (completing 110% of planned work). Crashing is a schedule compression technique that adds resources to critical path activities, increasing cost to gain schedule performance, which directly explains this combination of metrics.

Answer

The project is ahead of schedule and under budget.

Answer

The project is behind schedule and over budget.

Answer

The project is behind schedule and under budget.

Question 3

You are managing a project that is currently in the execution phase. The project has a cost baseline of $500,000. At the end of month 3, the planned value (PV) is $150,000, the actual cost is $150,000 and the earned value is $120,000. The project manager calculates the cost variance (CV) and schedule variance (SV). What do the results indicate?

Accepted Answer

The project is over budget and behind schedule.. CV = EV - AC = $120,000 - $150,000 = -$30,000. A negative CV indicates the project is over budget. SV = EV - PV = $120,000 - $150,000 = -$30,000. A negative SV indicates the project is behind schedule. Therefore, the project is over budget and behind schedule, making option D correct.

Answer

The project is over budget and ahead of schedule.

Answer

The project is under budget and ahead of schedule.

Answer

The project is under budget and behind schedule.

Question 4

A project manager is leading a team with diverse cultural backgrounds. Some members are reluctant to speak up in meetings. What is the best strategy to promote inclusive participation?

Accepted Answer

Use anonymous polling tools to gather opinions before decisions.. Anonymous polling tools create a psychologically safe environment where team members from diverse cultural backgrounds can contribute without fear of judgment or loss of face. This aligns with the PMI Talent Triangle's emphasis on emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership, as it removes power dynamics and cultural barriers that inhibit verbal participation in meetings.

Answer

Schedule one-on-one meetings with only the quiet members.

Answer

Ask the most senior team member to represent others.

Answer

Implement a round-robin where everyone must speak.

Question 5

Your organization is adopting SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) to improve alignment across multiple agile teams. As a project manager, you are responsible for ensuring that the transformation is successful. Which THREE actions should you take to support the agile transformation?

Accepted Answer

Ensure that value streams are identified and aligned with the organization's strategic goals. Options A, C, and E are correct. A: Identifying and aligning value streams with strategic goals ensures that the transformation delivers business value. C: Training on agile and SAFe principles equips all team members and stakeholders with the necessary knowledge to adopt the new framework effectively. E: Establishing Communities of Practice fosters cross-team learning and best practice sharing, which is critical for scaling agile. Option B is incorrect because command-and-control management contradicts agile principles of empowerment and self-organization. Option D is incorrect because reducing communication hampers collaboration and transparency, which are essential for agile teams.

Answer

Implement a command-and-control management style to enforce consistency

Answer

Reduce communication between teams to minimize distractions

Question 6

You are a project manager overseeing a 12-month ERP implementation. During sprint 6 of 20, the product owner informs you that a key stakeholder wants to add a new reporting module that was not in the original scope. The team estimates this would add 3 weeks to the schedule. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request through the Integrated Change Control process and assess the impact on scope, schedule, and cost. Any change to scope must follow the formal Integrated Change Control process. Before submitting a change request, the project manager should first assess the impact on scope, schedule, cost, and other constraints. Option B is wrong because adding to the backlog without formal approval circumvents change control and can lead to scope creep. Option C is wrong because changes can be made if properly evaluated and approved; not considering changes is inflexible and may harm stakeholder relationships. Option D is wrong because beginning work without authorization violates the change control process and could result in unauthorized work.

Answer

Add the requirement to the product backlog and let the team address it in a future sprint without formal approval

Answer

Inform the stakeholder that no changes can be made once the project has started

Answer

Ask the team to begin work on the module immediately to accommodate the stakeholder

Question 7

Your project uses a hybrid approach with a fixed-price contract. Midway through, the client requests a significant scope change that would increase project duration by two months. The project manager has assessed the impact and believes the change is beneficial. However, the sponsor is reluctant because of the schedule extension. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Prepare a change request with impact analysis and submit it to the CCB for approval.. In a hybrid project with a fixed-price contract, any scope change must follow the formal change control process. The project manager has assessed the change as beneficial, but the sponsor's reluctance requires a documented impact analysis to enable an informed decision by the Change Control Board (CCB). Submitting a formal change request ensures contractual compliance, protects against scope creep, and provides a clear audit trail, which is critical when the schedule extension affects fixed-price terms.

Answer

Negotiate with the client to drop another requirement to keep the schedule.

Answer

Accept the change informally and adjust the schedule to accommodate it.

Answer

Reject the request because it will delay the project and risk penalties.

Question 8

A junior team member consistently misses deadlines, affecting the project schedule. You have spoken to them twice about the issue, but performance has not improved. What should you do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Meet with the team member privately to explore any obstacles or personal challenges.. The PM should first seek to understand the root cause of the performance issue through a private, supportive conversation. This aligns with the PMP's 'People' domain, emphasizing servant leadership and emotional intelligence. Exploring obstacles or personal challenges addresses potential underlying factors (e.g., unclear requirements, resource constraints, or personal stress) before escalating or reassigning work.

Answer

Reassign the tasks to another team member.

Answer

Escalate the matter to the team member's functional manager.

Answer

Ignore the issue to avoid conflict.

Question 9

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 take 5 additional days. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request to the change control board and assess impact on schedule, cost, and resources. According to PMI, any scope change must go through the change control process. The most appropriate first step is to document and assess the impact of the change.

Answer

Add the feature to the product backlog and prioritize it in the next sprint planning

Answer

Inform the product owner that no changes can be made once the sprint has started

Answer

Ask the team to start working on the feature immediately to satisfy the stakeholder

Question 10

In an agile transformation initiative, the project manager notices that the team's velocity has dropped significantly over the last three sprints. The team cites unclear requirements and frequent interruptions from stakeholders. The project manager also notes that the product owner has been absent from sprint planning and review meetings. What should the project manager do first?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a meeting with the product owner and the project sponsor to discuss the importance of the product owner's role and its impact on velocity.. The correct first step is to address the root cause: the product owner's absence, which leads to unclear requirements and stakeholder interruptions. Option A directly involves the product owner and sponsor to reinforce the product owner's critical role in agile. Option B (stricter definition of done) does not address the absence or requirement issues. Option C (adding buffer) is reactive and does not solve the underlying problem. Option D (escalating to replace) is premature without first discussing the issue with the product owner and sponsor.

Answer

Implement a stricter definition of 'done' and enforce it during sprint reviews.

Answer

Add more buffer time to future sprint backlogs to compensate for the low velocity.

Answer

Escalate to the PMO to replace the product owner.

Question 11

A project is in execution phase, and a team member consistently misses deadlines, impacting the critical path. The project manager has had informal conversations, but the behavior continues. What should the project manager do next?

Accepted Answer

Initiate the formal performance management process as per organizational policy. Once informal coaching has failed to correct a performance issue that impacts the critical path, the project manager must escalate to the formal performance management process as defined in the organizational policy. This ensures due process, documentation, and alignment with HR and legal requirements, protecting both the project and the organization.

Answer

Reassign the team member to a less critical task

Answer

Ignore the issue and hope it resolves on its own

Answer

Replace the team member with a new resource

Question 12

A project manager discovers that a team member has been working overtime for weeks to meet a deadline. The team member appears stressed and burnt out. The project manager is concerned about the team member's well-being and the sustainability of the project. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a private meeting to discuss the workload, express concern, and explore options for support or reprioritization. It aligns with the PMP's focus on servant leadership and proactive stakeholder management. By scheduling a private meeting, the project manager demonstrates empathy, addresses the root cause of burnout, and collaboratively explores solutions like reprioritization or resource reallocation, which sustains both team well-being and project delivery.

Answer

Increase the project budget to hire additional help immediately

Answer

Warn the team member that overtime is not sustainable and require them to stop

Answer

Ignore the situation as long as deadlines are met

Question 13

During a project, a new regulation is enacted that requires additional compliance testing. The project is in the execution phase. Which THREE actions should the project manager take?

Accepted Answer

Update the risk register with the new regulatory requirement as a threat.. The new regulation introduces an unplanned threat to the project (additional compliance testing), which must be captured in the risk register as a risk event. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's risk management process, where any new threat or opportunity is documented and assessed for probability and impact.

Answer

Ignore the regulation because it was not in the original project plan.

Answer

Instruct the team to start compliance testing immediately without formal approval.

Question 14

During a project retrospective, the team identifies that many tasks were delayed because team members were unsure of their responsibilities. What is the most effective way for the project manager to prevent this in future projects?

Accepted Answer

Develop a responsibility assignment matrix (RACI) at the start of the project.. A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RACI) formally defines roles and responsibilities for each task or deliverable at the start of the project, eliminating ambiguity. This proactive approach ensures every team member knows who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed, directly preventing the confusion that caused delays in the retrospective.

Answer

Conduct daily stand-up meetings to clarify tasks.

Answer

Require team members to create their own task lists and share them.

Answer

Assign tasks based on seniority and expertise.

Question 15

You manage a global project team with members in three different time zones. Several team members have expressed feeling isolated and disconnected from the project. Communication has become sporadic. What is the BEST way to address this?

Accepted Answer

Schedule regular video conferences and virtual team-building activities. It directly addresses the root cause of isolation and sporadic communication by fostering synchronous interaction and team cohesion. Regular video conferences enable real-time collaboration and non-verbal cues, while virtual team-building activities strengthen interpersonal relationships, which are critical for distributed teams. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on using communication methods that promote engagement and trust in virtual environments.

Answer

Send a weekly email newsletter with project updates

Answer

Assign a local team lead in each time zone

Answer

Require all team members to work the same hours

Question 16

A project manager is assigned to a troubled project. The team is divided into two factions: one supports a technical solution A, the other solution B. The conflict is causing delays. The project manager wants to resolve this using a collaborative approach. Which THREE actions should the project manager take?

Accepted Answer

Bring in a neutral external expert to evaluate both options. Bringing in a neutral external expert aligns with the collaborative approach the project manager wants to use. The expert can objectively evaluate both technical solutions A and B based on data and evidence, helping to de-escalate the conflict without taking sides. This fosters a collaborative environment by focusing on facts rather than personal biases, which is essential for resolving the delay-causing faction dispute.

Answer

Make the final decision based on your own expertise to save time

Answer

Implement both solutions in parallel to satisfy both sides

Question 17

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. The correct first step is to submit a change request with impact analysis to the change control board (CCB). This follows the formal change control process, which is required when a new regulation introduces scope, schedule, or cost changes. The sponsor's anxiety should be addressed after the impact is formally assessed and approved.

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 18

You are managing a software development project using a hybrid approach. During a sprint review, the customer is delighted with the progress but requests a new feature that would require significant rework of the current sprint's deliverable. The feature is not in the backlog. What should you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Submit a change request, assess the impact on schedule and cost, and seek approval from the change control board. In a hybrid project management approach, changes that impact the current sprint's deliverable must be formally controlled. Submitting a change request allows you to assess the impact on schedule and cost before seeking approval from the change control board (CCB), ensuring that the change is evaluated against project constraints and stakeholder expectations. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's integrated change control process, which is critical when a requested feature requires significant rework of an already-approved sprint deliverable.

Answer

Add the feature to the product backlog and prioritize it for the next sprint

Answer

Inform the customer that no changes can be made at this stage

Answer

Work with the team to incorporate the feature immediately to maintain customer satisfaction

Question 19

A project manager is defining the benefits management plan for a new product launch. The company's strategy includes expanding into emerging markets. Which TWO elements must be included in the benefits management plan to align with the company's strategy?

Accepted Answer

Timeline for realizing benefits. The benefits management plan must include a timeline for realizing benefits (Option B) to ensure that the expected value from the product launch in emerging markets is achieved within a defined period, aligning with the company's strategic expansion. Target benefits such as market share increase (Option C) are also required to quantify the specific outcomes that support the strategy, providing measurable criteria for success.

Answer

The business case justifying the project

Answer

The project's strategic objectives

Answer

The project scope statement

Question 20

During a project status meeting, a stakeholder requests a change that would improve the product but significantly impact the critical path. The project manager has not yet evaluated the change. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Document the change request, assess the impact, and submit it to the change control board for approval. The PMBOK Guide mandates that all change requests must be formally documented and assessed for impact on constraints like the critical path before any decision is made. Submitting the evaluated change to the Change Control Board (CCB) ensures proper governance and prevents unauthorized scope creep, even if the stakeholder is influential.

Answer

Accept the change to satisfy the stakeholder and update the project plan immediately

Answer

Reject the change because it impacts the critical path and would delay the project

Answer

Inform the stakeholder that the change will be considered after the current phase is complete