CAPM Project Charter Practice Question
Exhibit
{ "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Deny", "Action": "s3:*", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket", "Condition": { "BoolIfExists": { "aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "false" } } } ] }Refer to the exhibit. A project administrator applies an organizational policy that requires a project charter signed by the sponsor and the functional manager before project work can commence. A project manager has not yet obtained these signatures. What is the effect on the project team's ability to start work?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAPM often tests the misconception that a sponsor's verbal or informal approval is sufficient to start work, when PMBOK requires the charter to be formally signed per organizational policy.
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
✓
The team cannot start work until both signatures are obtained.
The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and the project manager to apply organizational resources to project activities. Per PMBOK, the charter must be approved (signed) by the sponsor and any other required authorities named in the organizational policy before work can begin. Since the policy explicitly requires both the sponsor's and the functional manager's signatures, the team cannot commence work until both signatures are obtained.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The team can start work as long as the sponsor has verbally approved.
Why it's wrong here
The policy demands a signed charter bearing both signatures; verbal sponsor approval does not satisfy a written dual-signature requirement. It is tempting because sponsor authorisation is normally the decisive charter approval, but this organisation's policy adds the functional manager's signature as a formal precondition before work starts.
- ✗
The team can start work because the functional manager's approval is optional.
Why it's wrong here
The policy explicitly names the functional manager as a required signatory alongside the sponsor, so their approval is mandatory, not optional. It is tempting because functional managers sometimes only consult on charters, but here the organisational policy elevates their signature to a precondition for commencing work.
- ✓
The team cannot start work until both signatures are obtained.
Why this is correct
The organisational policy makes the signed charter a mandatory precondition, so the team's authorisation to begin is gated on both signatures. Until the sponsor and functional manager sign, no project work can legitimately commence, regardless of the team's readiness or availability.
- ✗
The team cannot start work regardless of dual approval; other conditions must also be met.
Why it's wrong here
The policy's stated condition is the dual signature itself, so once the sponsor and functional manager both sign, work may commence; inventing extra unmet conditions misreads the stem. It is tempting because charters often require further inputs, but those are not the gating requirement described here.
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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.