CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
A project manager is developing the project schedule for a software implementation project. The project manager needs to determine the early start and early finish dates for each activity, taking into account dependencies and resource constraints. Which technique should the project manager use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the precedence diagramming method with the critical path method; PDM is for sequencing, while CPM is for date calculation.
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
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Critical path method (CPM)
The critical path method (CPM) is the schedule network analysis technique that calculates early start, early finish, late start, and late finish dates for all activities. It identifies the critical path, which determines the shortest possible project duration. While resource leveling and what-if analysis are used for optimization and risk assessment, they do not directly provide the early start and finish dates. PDM is used for sequencing, not for date calculation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Precedence diagramming method (PDM)
Why it's wrong here
PDM is a technique used to create a project schedule network diagram by showing activities as nodes and connecting them with dependencies. It is a tool for sequencing activities, but it does not itself calculate early start and early finish dates. The dates are determined through schedule network analysis, such as CPM, which uses the PDM diagram as an input.
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Critical path method (CPM)
Why this is correct
The critical path method is a schedule network analysis technique used to determine the early start and early finish dates, as well as late start and late finish dates, for all activities. It calculates the longest path through the network and identifies the critical path. This technique directly provides the early start and early finish dates required in the scenario.
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Resource leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling is a technique used to adjust the schedule to resolve resource over-allocations or conflicts. It may change the critical path and affect early start and finish dates, but it is not the primary technique for determining those dates. The project manager first needs to calculate the schedule using CPM, then apply resource leveling if needed. The scenario asks for determining early start and finish dates, which is done by CPM.
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What-if scenario analysis
Why it's wrong here
What-if scenario analysis is used to evaluate the impact of various scenarios on the project schedule, such as delays or changes in resources. It helps in risk response planning but does not directly determine early start and early finish dates. The scenario requires a technique to calculate those dates based on dependencies and resource constraints, which is CPM.
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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 PMI exam blueprint
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.