CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of project management fundamentals and core concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During project execution, a key stakeholder requests a change that would add a new feature. The project manager assesses the impact and finds that it will increase the project cost by 15% and extend the schedule by three weeks. The sponsor is concerned about the budget but sees the value. What should the project manager do next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) for review and decision.
In project management, once a change is assessed for impact, the project manager must follow the formal change control process. Since the change increases cost by 15% and extends the schedule by three weeks, it exceeds typical contingency thresholds and requires approval from the Change Control Board (CCB), which has the authority to approve or reject changes that affect baselines. Option B is correct because submitting to the CCB ensures proper governance and alignment with the project's change management plan.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Approve the change since the stakeholder is influential and the sponsor sees value.
Why it's wrong here
Only the CCB can approve changes; the project manager does not have that authority.
✓
Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) for review and decision.
Why this is correct
The formal change control process ensures all impacts are considered and approved by the CCB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement the change immediately to avoid delaying the project further.
Why it's wrong here
Implementing without approval violates change control and may lead to scope creep.
✗
Reject the change because it exceeds the budget and schedule constraints.
Why it's wrong here
The project manager should not reject changes unilaterally; the CCB decides based on value and constraints.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the project manager has authority to approve changes based on stakeholder influence or sponsor support, but the CAPM exam emphasizes that any change affecting baselines must go through the formal CCB process, regardless of stakeholder power or perceived value.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The change control process is defined in the Project Management Plan and typically includes a CCB that reviews change requests impacting baselines (scope, schedule, cost). The project manager's role is to assess the impact and then submit the request to the CCB, which uses a formal decision-making process (e.g., voting or approval thresholds) to approve or reject. In real-world scenarios, bypassing the CCB can lead to unauthorized changes that cause budget overruns, schedule delays, and audit findings, especially in regulated industries like healthcare or finance.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CAPM exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — This question tests Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Submit the change request to the change control board (CCB) for review and decision. — In project management, once a change is assessed for impact, the project manager must follow the formal change control process. Since the change increases cost by 15% and extends the schedule by three weeks, it exceeds typical contingency thresholds and requires approval from the Change Control Board (CCB), which has the authority to approve or reject changes that affect baselines. Option B is correct because submitting to the CCB ensures proper governance and alignment with the project's change management plan.
What should I do if I get this CAPM question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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