The answer is discretionary dependencies, along with mandatory and external dependencies, as the three types of dependencies in project management recognized by the CAPM exam. Mandatory dependencies, often called hard logic, are legally or contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work—for example, you must complete the foundation before erecting walls in construction, and these cannot be changed without altering scope. Discretionary dependencies, by contrast, are based on best practices or preferred sequences, while external dependencies involve factors outside the project team’s control, such as a supplier delivery. On the Certified Associate in Project Management exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between dependency types, with a common trap being to confuse discretionary with mandatory logic. A useful memory tip is to think of mandatory as “must-do” (hard logic), discretionary as “should-do” (soft logic), and external as “out-of-your-hands” logic.
CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
This CAPM practice question tests your understanding of project management fundamentals and core concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Which THREE of the following are types of dependencies that can exist between project activities?
Why wrong: Resource dependency is not a standard PMI dependency type.
B
Mandatory dependencies
Mandatory dependencies are legally or contractually required.
C
Internal dependencies
Why wrong: Internal dependencies are within the project, but the question asks for THREE; internal is a valid type but not listed as correct here because the correct set is A, B, D.
D
External dependencies
External dependencies involve a non-project activity.
E
Discretionary dependencies
Discretionary dependencies are based on best practices.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Mandatory dependencies
Mandatory dependencies are legally or contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work. For example, in a construction project, you must complete the foundation before erecting the walls. These are often referred to as 'hard logic' and cannot be changed without altering the project scope or approach.
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.
✗
Resource dependencies
Why it's wrong here
Resource dependency is not a standard PMI dependency type.
✓
Mandatory dependencies
Why this is correct
Mandatory dependencies are legally or contractually required.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Internal dependencies
Why it's wrong here
Internal dependencies are within the project, but the question asks for THREE; internal is a valid type but not listed as correct here because the correct set is A, B, D.
✓
External dependencies
Why this is correct
External dependencies involve a non-project activity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Discretionary dependencies
Why this is correct
Discretionary dependencies are based on best practices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the distinction between dependency types by including 'resource dependencies' as a distractor, which is not a PMBOK-recognized dependency type but a common misconception from resource-leveling discussions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In the PMBOK Guide, dependencies are classified into four types: mandatory (hard logic), discretionary (preferred logic), external (outside the project), and internal (within the project). Mandatory dependencies are often based on physical or legal constraints, such as 'pour concrete after rebar inspection' in construction. Discretionary dependencies are defined by the project team based on best practices or historical data, like 'complete testing before user training' even if not strictly required. External dependencies involve parties outside the project, such as a government permit before excavation. Understanding these distinctions is critical for accurate schedule network diagram development and critical path analysis.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Mandatory dependencies — Mandatory dependencies are legally or contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work. For example, in a construction project, you must complete the foundation before erecting the walls. These are often referred to as 'hard logic' and cannot be changed without altering the project scope or approach.
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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