PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
What is the difference between a Request for Change and an Off-specification?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the documentation location (Issue Register vs. Quality Register) or assume that only certain roles can raise these issues, whereas PRINCE2 allows any stakeholder to raise any type of issue, and the key differentiator is the baseline relationship—proposal to change vs. deviation from baseline.
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
✓
A Request for Change is a proposal to change an agreed baseline, while an Off-specification is a deviation from a baseline
A Request for Change (RFC) is a formal proposal to modify an approved baseline (e.g., a product description, plan, or scope), while an Off-specification (Off-spec) is a deviation from a baseline that has been identified—meaning something that should be there is missing or something that should not be there is present. In PRINCE2, both are types of issues recorded in the Issue Register, but they serve distinct purposes: RFCs seek authorized changes, whereas Off-specs report non-compliance with agreed baselines.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A Request for Change is documented in the Issue Register, while an Off-specification is documented in the Quality Register
Why it's wrong here
Both are recorded in the Issue Register.
- ✗
A Request for Change is raised by the Project Board, while an Off-specification is raised by the Project Manager
Why it's wrong here
Both can be raised by anyone, not restricted to specific roles.
- ✗
There is no difference; they are the same thing
Why it's wrong here
They are distinct types of issues.
- ✓
A Request for Change is a proposal to change an agreed baseline, while an Off-specification is a deviation from a baseline
Why this is correct
RFC proposes a change; Off-spec identifies a deviation that already exists.
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