PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question
A PRINCE2 project is nearing the end of a stage. The Project Manager has confirmed that all products are complete and approved, and the next Stage Plan is ready for approval. Which action should the Project Manager take to close the current stage and move to the next?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse routine progress reporting (Highlight Reports) with the formal stage-boundary decision process that requires an End Stage Report and End Stage Assessment.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Produce an End Stage Report and request a decision from the Project Board at an End Stage Assessment
Closing a stage and moving to the next is governed by the Managing a Stage Boundary process. The Project Manager prepares an End Stage Report and the next Stage Plan, then requests an End Stage Assessment from the Project Board. The Board reviews performance, confirms continued business justification, and authorises the next stage. This maintains the formal control point required at every stage boundary.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Produce an End Stage Report and request a decision from the Project Board at an End Stage Assessment
Why this is correct
The Managing a Stage Boundary process requires the Project Manager to produce an End Stage Report and a next Stage Plan, then request an End Stage Assessment from the Project Board. This is the formal checkpoint where the Board reviews performance and authorises the next stage. Without this authorisation, the project cannot legitimately proceed to the next stage.
- ✗
Update the Project Initiation Documentation and begin the next stage immediately
Why it's wrong here
The Project Initiation Documentation is updated at stage boundaries, but only after the Project Board has authorised the next stage at an End Stage Assessment. Starting the next stage before authorisation violates the PRINCE2 principle of defined roles and responsibilities and removes the Board's control point at the stage boundary.
- ✗
Raise an Exception Report to explain that the stage is complete
Why it's wrong here
An Exception Report is used when a stage is forecast to exceed its tolerances, not when it completes successfully. Raising one for a completed stage misuses the escalation mechanism and would confuse the Project Board. Stage completion is communicated through the End Stage Report and End Stage Assessment instead.
- ✗
Issue a Highlight Report to the Project Board summarising stage progress
Why it's wrong here
A Highlight Report is a regular progress report issued during a stage, not the trigger for closing a stage. It informs the Board of status but does not seek a decision to authorise the next stage. Using it in place of an End Stage Report and End Stage Assessment would bypass the formal boundary controls PRINCE2 requires.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PeopleCert exam blueprint
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