PRINCE2F Practice Question: Overview of PRINCE2 and the project environment
A project manager is explaining the PRINCE2 principles to a new team member. Which TWO of the following are PRINCE2 principles that must be applied to every project? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse commonly used PRINCE2 activities, such as post-project reviews or stage gates, with the seven principles that are mandatory for every project.
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
✓
Manage by exception
The seven PRINCE2 principles are continued business justification, learn from experience, defined roles and responsibilities, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to suit the project environment. Continued business justification and manage by exception are both principles that must be applied to every project. The other options are activities or techniques, not principles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Conduct a post-project review
Why it's wrong here
A post-project review is a PRINCE2 activity that may occur after the project closes, but it is not one of the seven principles. PRINCE2 principles are the guiding obligations that must be applied throughout the project. While reviewing lessons is part of the learn from experience principle, conducting a post-project review is a specific activity, not a principle itself.
- ✗
Appoint a full-time project manager
Why it's wrong here
Appointing a full-time project manager is not a PRINCE2 principle. PRINCE2 allows for part-time project managers depending on the project's size and complexity. The principles are universal and mandatory, but they do not prescribe full-time roles. Therefore, this is not a correct choice for a principle that must be applied to every project.
- ✓
Manage by exception
Why this is correct
Manage by exception is a PRINCE2 principle that requires the project to define tolerances for scope, time, cost, quality, risk, and benefits. The project board delegates authority within these tolerances and is involved only if an exception occurs. This principle is mandatory for every PRINCE2 project, so it is a correct choice.
- ✗
Use a stage gate approval process
Why it's wrong here
Stage gate approval is a technique associated with the manage by stages principle, but it is not a principle in its own right. PRINCE2 principles are broader requirements such as continued business justification and manage by exception. The use of stage gates is a way to implement manage by stages, but it is not one of the seven principles.
- ✓
Continued business justification
Why this is correct
Continued business justification is one of the seven PRINCE2 principles. It requires that a project has a valid Business Case at the start and that the justification remains valid throughout. If it ceases to be valid, the project should be stopped or changed. This principle is mandatory and must be applied to every PRINCE2 project, making it a correct choice.
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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
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.