CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Question
During a predictive project, a team member reports that a critical path activity is behind schedule by two days. To recover the schedule, the project manager should first:
⚠ Common exam trap
CAPM often tests the distinction between analytical techniques and specific actions, so candidates may jump to a concrete solution like fast-tracking or crashing instead of first performing the broader analysis of schedule compression options.
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
✓
Perform schedule compression analysis
The project manager should first perform schedule compression analysis because it is the analytical technique used to evaluate options for recovering a delayed schedule. Schedule compression includes both crashing and fast-tracking, so it allows the PM to compare alternatives and choose the best recovery approach rather than committing prematurely to one method. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide's emphasis on analysis before action in the Control Schedule process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Perform schedule compression analysis
Why this is correct
Schedule compression analysis evaluates crashing and fast-tracking against the critical path, directly addressing the two-day slippage while protecting the project end date. It is the prescribed first response because it quantifies viable recovery options before committing resources, satisfying the stem's requirement to recover the schedule without prematurely altering scope or baseline.
- ✗
Fast-track the project
Why it's wrong here
Fast-tracking overlaps sequential critical-path activities to compress duration, which risks rework and is performed after analysis, not first. It is tempting as a schedule-compression technique, but it would be correct only once the delay's cause is understood and crashing has been ruled out.
- ✗
Add resources to the critical path
Why it's wrong here
Adding resources is crashing, which raises cost and often yields diminishing returns on non-parallelisable tasks; it is a response, not the first step. It is tempting as a recovery technique, but it would be correct only after the project manager has investigated the cause of the two-day slippage.
- ✗
Accept the delay and update the baseline
Why it's wrong here
Accepting the delay and rebaselining changes the approved schedule without analysis, contingency use, or change control, masking the variance. It is tempting when the slip looks minor, but it would be correct only after recovery options are exhausted and the sponsor approves a formal baseline change.
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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.