The answer is the updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones. This provides the best evidence of project schedule progress because it directly compares the baseline plan against real-world performance, showing exact completion dates and variance analysis, which allows an IS auditor to objectively assess whether the system development project is on schedule. On the CISA exam, this question tests your understanding of project management controls and the distinction between subjective status reports and objective, verifiable artifacts—a common trap is choosing a status meeting or a Gantt chart without actual dates, which only shows intent, not evidence. Remember the memory tip: “Actual dates beat stated fates”—only documented completion dates prove true progress against the planned timeline.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An IS auditor is reviewing a system development project to assess whether it is on schedule. Which of the following would provide the BEST evidence of project progress against the planned timeline?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones
The updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones (Option D) provides direct, objective evidence of progress against the planned timeline. It shows the baseline plan, the actual dates work was completed, and the variance, allowing the IS auditor to quantitatively assess schedule adherence. This is the primary artifact for schedule tracking in system development projects.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Minutes from status review meetings
Why it's wrong here
Minutes are subjective and may not reflect actual timeline performance.
✗
Approved requirements document
Why it's wrong here
Approved requirements are a baseline, not progress.
✗
Successful unit test results
Why it's wrong here
Unit tests show technical completion, not schedule adherence.
✓
Updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones
Why this is correct
The project schedule directly compares planned vs actual milestones.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse evidence of technical progress (like passing unit tests) with evidence of schedule progress, failing to recognize that technical success does not equate to on-time delivery.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Unit tests show technical completion, not schedule adherence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In project management, the project schedule is a dynamic artifact that is baselined at the start and then updated with actual start/finish dates and remaining durations. The IS auditor compares the baseline against the actuals to compute schedule variance (SV) using earned value management (EVM) metrics like SPI = EV/PV. A schedule with actual dates enables the auditor to identify critical path delays, float consumption, and trend analysis, which are essential for assessing the true health of the project timeline.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones — The updated project schedule with actual completion dates for milestones (Option D) provides direct, objective evidence of progress against the planned timeline. It shows the baseline plan, the actual dates work was completed, and the variance, allowing the IS auditor to quantitatively assess schedule adherence. This is the primary artifact for schedule tracking in system development projects.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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