Quick Answer
The answer is the scope baseline, schedule baseline, and cost baseline. These three baselines are components of the project management plan because they represent the approved, controlled versions of the project’s scope, schedule, and budget, against which actual performance is measured and managed through integrated change control. On the Certified Associate in Project Management CAPM exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between the formal project management plan components and supporting project documents like the stakeholder register or risk register, which are separate outputs of other processes. A common trap is confusing these registers with the plan itself, but remember that baselines are the only performance measurement benchmarks formally integrated into the plan. To lock this in, use the mnemonic “SSC” for Scope, Schedule, and Cost—the three pillars that form the project’s baseline triangle.
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.
Which THREE are components of the project management plan?
Risk register
Why wrong: A project document, not part of the project management plan.
Cost baseline
Part of the project management plan, defines the budget.
Stakeholder register
Why wrong: A project document, not part of the project management plan.
Scope baseline
Part of the project management plan, defines the scope.
Schedule baseline
Part of the project management plan, defines the schedule.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cost baseline
The scope baseline (A), schedule baseline (D), and cost baseline (E) are part of the project management plan. The stakeholder register (B) and risk register (C) are project documents, not components of the plan.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Risk register
Why it's wrong here
A project document, not part of the project management plan.
Cost baseline
Why this is correct
Part of the project management plan, defines the budget.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Stakeholder register
Why it's wrong here
A project document, not part of the project management plan.
Scope baseline
Why this is correct
Part of the project management plan, defines the scope.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Schedule baseline
Why this is correct
Part of the project management plan, defines the schedule.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which CAPM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — This question tests Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cost baseline — The scope baseline (A), schedule baseline (D), and cost baseline (E) are part of the project management plan. The stakeholder register (B) and risk register (C) are project documents, not components of the plan.
Identify which CAPM exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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