Which Report Does the Project Manager Send to the Project Board in Controlling a Stage?
In the Controlling a Stage process, which document does the Project Manager send to the Project Board to report progress?
Quick Answer
The answer is the Highlight Report. This is the correct document because, within the PRINCE2 Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager is responsible for providing the Project Board with a periodic summary of progress against the stage plan, including key achievements, risks, and issues. The Highlight Report serves as the formal communication mechanism to keep the Board informed without requiring their constant involvement, enabling them to exercise management by exception. On the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinct outputs from each process; a common trap is confusing the Highlight Report with the Checkpoint Report, which is used for team-level communication, not for the Board. To remember, think of the Highlight Report as the “headline news” for the Board—it highlights the key points from the stage, while a Checkpoint Report is the detailed “local news” for the Project Manager.
⚠ Common exam trap
PRINCE2 often tests the distinction between reports sent to the Project Board (Highlight Report) versus reports used internally by the Project Manager (Checkpoint Report), causing candidates to confuse the audience and purpose of each document.
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
✓
Highlight Report
The Highlight Report is the correct document because it is the formal mechanism by which the Project Manager provides the Project Board with a summary of progress, achievements, and next planned steps at regular intervals during the Controlling a Stage process. It is specifically designed to keep the Board informed without requiring their approval for day-to-day management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Checkpoint Report
Why it's wrong here
Checkpoint Reports go from the Team Manager to the Project Manager, not from the Project Manager to the Project Board. It is tempting because both are progress reports, and a Checkpoint Report would be correct when a Team Manager reports progress within a stage.
- ✗
End Stage Report
Why it's wrong here
The End Stage Report is prepared at the end of a stage for the Managing a Stage Boundary process, so it cannot report progress during a stage. It is tempting as a Project Board-facing document, but its timing and purpose are stage closure, not ongoing Highlight Reporting.
- ✗
Exception Report
Why it's wrong here
An Exception Report is only produced when a stage or project is predicted to exceed the tolerances delegated by the Project Board, so it cannot serve as the routine progress report. It is tempting because it does communicate status, but its trigger is a forecast deviation, not regular reporting.
- ✓
Highlight Report
Why this is correct
The Highlight Report is the progress document the Project Manager sends to the Project Board at agreed intervals during Controlling a Stage, covering status, issues and forecast. Checkpoint Reports go to the Team Manager, and End Stage Reports are produced at stage boundaries.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PRINCE2F
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. During the Controlling a Stage process, which report does the Project Manager send to the Project Board?
medium- A.Exception Report
- B.Checkpoint Report
- C.End Stage Report
- ✓ D.Highlight Report
Why D: In the Controlling a Stage process, the Project Manager sends the Highlight Report to the Project Board at regular intervals to provide a summary of progress against the stage plan, including achievements, next steps, and any issues or risks. This report is the standard communication tool for keeping the board informed during a stage, as defined in PRINCE2.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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