PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Processes Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are activities performed during the Controlling a Stage process?
⚠ Common exam trap
PRINCE2 often tests the boundary between Controlling a Stage and Managing a Stage Boundary, luring candidates into selecting End Stage Report production as a Controlling a Stage activity.
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
✓
Review progress against the Stage Plan
In PRINCE2, the Controlling a Stage process is where the Project Manager monitors and controls the work of the current stage, so reviewing progress against the Stage Plan (option A) is a core activity that compares actuals to the baseline and triggers corrective action. Authorizing Work Packages (option D) is also performed here, as the Project Manager formally delegates work to the Team Manager(s) with agreed tolerances. Managing issues and risks (option E) belongs to this process too, since the Project Manager captures, assesses, and escalates issues and risks and takes corrective action within stage tolerances. Producing the Project Plan (option B) is part of Initiating a Project, and producing the End Stage Report (option C) is part of Managing a Stage Boundary, so neither belongs to Controlling a Stage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Review progress against the Stage Plan
Why this is correct
Reviewing progress against the Stage Plan is a core Controlling a Stage activity, comparing actual against planned cost, time and scope. It feeds the Work Package and stage status assessments, enabling the Project Manager to decide whether corrective action is needed.
- ✗
Produce the Project Plan
Why it's wrong here
The Project Plan is produced during Initiating a Project, before delivery begins. It is tempting because Controlling a Stage references the plan constantly, and would be correct when defining the project's scope, products and tolerances at the outset.
- ✗
Produce the End Stage Report
Why it's wrong here
The End Stage Report is produced during Managing a Stage Boundary, not Controlling a Stage. It is tempting because stage progress is reviewed while controlling, and would be correct when closing a stage and preparing for the next.
- ✓
Authorize Work Packages
Why this is correct
Authorising Work Packages sits within Controlling a Stage, where the Project Manager agrees each package with the Team Manager and confirms its tolerances. This allocates work and establishes the control baseline against which progress is later reviewed.
- ✓
Manage issues and risks
Why this is correct
Managing issues and risks is performed continuously during Controlling a Stage, assessing, escalating and resolving them within delegated tolerances. This keeps the Stage Plan viable and ensures matters exceeding the Project Manager's authority reach the Project Board.
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Same concept, more angles
6 more ways 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. Which TWO of the following are activities performed during the Controlling a Stage process?
medium- A.Produce the Project Initiation Documentation
- ✓ B.Review the Business Case
- C.Produce the End Project Report
- D.Appoint the Executive
- ✓ E.Authorize Work Packages
Why B: In PRINCE2, the Controlling a Stage process is where the Project Manager manages and controls each stage of the project, and two of its core activities are reviewing the Business Case (option B) and authorizing Work Packages (option E). Reviewing the Business Case is correct because the Project Manager must assess at each stage whether the project remains viable and aligned with the business justification, and this review is a defined activity within Controlling a Stage. Authorizing Work Packages is correct because the Project Manager authorizes each Work Package to the Team Manager as part of directing and monitoring the work within the stage. The other options do not belong: producing the Project Initiation Documentation (A) occurs in Initiating a Project, producing the End Project Report (C) occurs in Closing a Project, and appointing the Executive (D) occurs in Starting Up a Project.
Variation 2. Which THREE of the following are activities performed during the Controlling a Stage process?
medium- ✓ A.Authorise Work Packages
- B.Produce the End Stage Report
- C.Produce the Project Plan
- ✓ D.Report on progress to the Project Board via Highlight Reports
- ✓ E.Take corrective action to keep the stage within tolerance
Why A: CS includes authorising Work Packages, reviewing progress, reporting highlights, and managing issues and risks.
Variation 3. Which THREE of the following are activities performed during the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- A.Authorize the project
- B.Plan the next stage
- ✓ C.Review the stage status
- ✓ D.Authorize a Work Package
- ✓ E.Escalate issues to the Project Board
Why C: In PRINCE2, the Controlling a Stage process covers the day-to-day management of a stage by the Project Manager, and it explicitly includes reviewing stage status (option C) through regular Highlight Reports and checkpoint/quality reviews to monitor progress against the Stage Plan. It also includes authorizing a Work Package (option D), which is the mechanism by which the Project Manager delegates work to the Team Manager using a Work Package and receives a Work Package status in return. Escalating issues to the Project Board (option E) is likewise part of Controlling a Stage, since the Project Manager raises an Exception Report or Issue to the Board when tolerances are threatened or exceeded. Option A, Authorize the project, belongs to the Directing a Project process, where the Project Board gives project authorization, and option B, Plan the next stage, is performed in the Managing a Stage Boundary process, not in Controlling a Stage.
Variation 4. Which THREE of the following are activities performed in the Controlling a Stage process?
medium- ✓ A.Report highlights to the Project Board
- B.Produce End Stage Report
- C.Deliver work packages
- ✓ D.Authorize Work Packages
- ✓ E.Review progress and update the stage plan
Why A: Option A (Report highlights to the Project Board) is correct because Controlling a Stage includes the activity 'Report Highlights', where the Project Manager produces Highlight Reports to keep the Project Board informed of progress, issues, and risks during the stage. Option D (Authorize Work Packages) is correct because 'Authorize a Work Package' is a core activity of Controlling a Stage, where the Project Manager agrees and authorizes work packages with the Team Manager. Option E (Review progress and update the stage plan) is correct because 'Review the Stage Status' and 'Take Corrective Action' involve reviewing progress against the stage plan and updating it as needed. Option B (Produce End Stage Report) is not correct because producing the End Stage Report is part of the Managing a Stage Boundary process, not Controlling a Stage. Option C (Deliver work packages) is not correct because delivering work packages is performed by the Team Manager in the Managing Product Delivery process, not by the Project Manager in Controlling a Stage.
Variation 5. Which THREE of the following are activities performed in the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- A.Create the Project Plan
- ✓ B.Review progress against the Stage Plan
- ✓ C.Authorize Work Packages
- D.Close the project
- ✓ E.Escalate issues and risks to the Project Board
Why B: In PRINCE2, the Controlling a Stage process is where the Project Manager manages the day-to-day work of the current stage, so option B (Review progress against the Stage Plan) is correct because the Project Manager regularly reviews actual progress versus the Stage Plan to assess performance and take corrective action. Option C (Authorize Work Packages) is correct because authorizing, monitoring, and reviewing Work Packages is a core activity of Controlling a Stage, ensuring work is only released when agreed and controlled. Option E (Escalate issues and risks to the Project Board) is correct because when issues or risks exceed the Project Manager's tolerances, they must be escalated to the Project Board via an Exception Report or Issue Report. Option A (Create the Project Plan) is not part of Controlling a Stage; the Project Plan is created in Initiating a Project. Option D (Close the project) is not part of Controlling a Stage; project closure is performed in the Closing a Project process.
Variation 6. Which THREE activities are part of the Controlling a Stage process?
hard- ✓ A.Authorize Work Packages
- B.Produce the Project Initiation Documentation (PID)
- ✓ C.Review progress and update stage status
- D.Approve the next Stage Plan
- ✓ E.Escalate issues and risks that exceed stage tolerances
Why A: In PRINCE2, the Controlling a Stage process covers the day-to-day management of a stage by the Project Manager, and it includes authorizing work packages (option A) so that agreed work is formally delegated to Team Managers with the required tolerances and interfaces. It also includes reviewing progress and updating stage status (option C), which is done through regular checkpoint and highlight reports, comparing actuals against the Stage Plan and Work Package tolerances. Escalating issues and risks that exceed stage tolerances (option E) is also part of Controlling a Stage, since the Project Manager must raise an Exception Report to the Project Board when stage-level tolerances are forecast to be breached. Producing the Project Initiation Documentation (option B) belongs to Initiating a Project, and approving the next Stage Plan (option D) is a Project Board activity in Managing a Stage Boundary, so neither is part of Controlling a Stage.
JA
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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