CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Question
A project manager is leading a predictive software implementation project. The project sponsor asks for a document that lists all the work that must be completed to deliver the product, organized in a hierarchical decomposition. Which document should the project manager provide?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any document containing scope information, such as the project scope statement, satisfies a request for a hierarchical work decomposition.
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
✓
Work breakdown structure
The work breakdown structure is the correct document because it provides a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work required to achieve the project objectives and create deliverables. It breaks the project down into smaller, more manageable components, typically work packages, which can be estimated, scheduled, and assigned. The other documents serve different purposes and do not present the full scope of work in a hierarchical format.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Work breakdown structure
Why this is correct
The work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. It organizes all work into manageable components, typically down to work packages. This directly matches the sponsor's request for a document that lists all work in a hierarchical decomposition.
- ✗
Project scope statement
Why it's wrong here
The project scope statement describes the project scope, major deliverables, assumptions, and constraints in narrative form. It does not provide a hierarchical decomposition of all work required. While it is an important input to creating the work breakdown structure, it does not itself list the work packages in a structured hierarchy, so it would not meet the sponsor's request for a decomposed view of the work.
- ✗
Resource breakdown structure
Why it's wrong here
The resource breakdown structure is a hierarchical representation of resources by category and type. It is used for resource planning and does not decompose the project scope into deliverables and work packages. It would not provide the comprehensive list of work that the sponsor requested, as it focuses on resources rather than the work itself.
- ✗
Project schedule
Why it's wrong here
The project schedule presents planned dates for performing activities and meeting milestones. It is derived from the WBS and other inputs, but it does not list all the work in a hierarchical decomposition. Instead, it shows the sequence and timing of activities. The sponsor asked for a breakdown of work, not a timeline, so the schedule is not the correct document.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CAPM question from scratch — 451 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 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.