- A
Report the overrun in the next Highlight Report
Why wrong: Highlight Reports are routine; an Exception Report is needed for immediate escalation.
- B
Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board
Correct action: escalate immediately via Exception Report.
- C
Close the project as the Business Case is no longer viable
Why wrong: Only the Project Board can decide to close the project based on the Exception Report.
- D
Increase the stage budget and continue
Why wrong: The Project Manager cannot change tolerances; only the Project Board can authorize changes.
PRINCE2F People: organizations, teams, and leadership Practice Question
This PRINCE2F practice question tests your understanding of people: organizations, teams, and leadership. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A project is forecast to exceed its stage cost tolerance. What should the Project Manager do?
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
Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board
In PRINCE2, when a project manager forecasts that a stage will exceed its cost tolerance, they must escalate the issue to the Project Board by raising an Exception Report. This is because tolerances are delegated limits, and exceeding them requires board-level decision-making, not just reporting or self-authorization. The Exception Report triggers an Exception Plan to recover or adjust the project.
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.
- ✗
Report the overrun in the next Highlight Report
Why it's wrong here
Highlight Reports are routine; an Exception Report is needed for immediate escalation.
- ✓
Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board
Why this is correct
Correct action: escalate immediately via Exception Report.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Close the project as the Business Case is no longer viable
Why it's wrong here
Only the Project Board can decide to close the project based on the Exception Report.
- ✗
Increase the stage budget and continue
Why it's wrong here
The Project Manager cannot change tolerances; only the Project Board can authorize changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PeopleCert often tests the distinction between reporting (Highlight Report) and escalation (Exception Report), trapping candidates who think a simple status update suffices when tolerances are breached.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under PRINCE2, cost tolerance is a delegated authority from the Project Board to the Project Manager for a specific stage. If the forecast exceeds this tolerance, the Project Manager must raise an Exception Report, which includes the cause, impact, options, and a recommended Exception Plan. The Project Board then decides whether to approve the Exception Plan, which may involve adjusting tolerances, changing scope, or even premature closure. This mechanism ensures control remains with the board and prevents unauthorized budget overruns.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PRINCE2F question test?
People: organizations, teams, and leadership — This question tests People: organizations, teams, and leadership — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Raise an Exception Report to the Project Board — In PRINCE2, when a project manager forecasts that a stage will exceed its cost tolerance, they must escalate the issue to the Project Board by raising an Exception Report. This is because tolerances are delegated limits, and exceeding them requires board-level decision-making, not just reporting or self-authorization. The Exception Report triggers an Exception Plan to recover or adjust the project.
What should I do if I get this PRINCE2F question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PRINCE2F practice question is part of Courseiva's free PeopleCert certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PRINCE2F exam.
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