CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of a project?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is selecting 'Repetitive' or 'Ongoing' as characteristics, which actually describe operations, not projects. Candidates must remember that projects are temporary and unique.
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
✓
Progressive elaboration
Option A (Progressive elaboration) is correct because a project's scope, requirements, and plans are refined and detailed incrementally as more information and better estimates become available throughout the project life cycle. Option C (Temporary) is correct because a project has a defined beginning and end, and it concludes when its objectives are achieved, terminated, or no longer viable. Option D (Unique) is correct because a project produces a distinct product, service, or result with characteristics that differentiate it from other deliverables, even when similar work has been done before. Options B (Repetitive) and E (Ongoing) do not belong because repetitive, continuous work with no defined end date describes operations or business-as-usual processes, not a project, which is by definition temporary and unique.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Progressive elaboration
Why this is correct
Progressive elaboration means project details are developed and refined iteratively as understanding grows, rather than fully defined at initiation. This distinguishes projects from routine operations, which follow stable, repeatable processes, and satisfies the characteristic of incremental planning under uncertainty.
- ✗
Repetitive
Why it's wrong here
Projects deliver a unique product, service, or result, so repetitive work indicates operations rather than a project. It is tempting because similar projects recur, but each is distinct in scope, schedule, or outcome, whereas repetition is the defining trait of ongoing operational processes.
- ✓
Temporary
Why this is correct
Projects are temporary endeavours, having a defined start and finish, which distinguishes them from ongoing operational work. This finite duration satisfies the stem's requirement for a defining project characteristic, since temporary does not mean short, merely that the effort concludes once its objectives are met.
- ✓
Unique
Why this is correct
A project is unique because it produces a distinct product, service, or result with no identical prior instance. This satisfies the stem's characteristic requirement, distinguishing projects from repetitive operational work, which is ongoing and produces consistent outputs.
- ✗
Ongoing
Why it's wrong here
Projects are temporary, with a defined start and finish, so ongoing work describes operations or product lifecycles instead. It is tempting because long projects can feel continuous, but permanence is precisely the criterion that distinguishes operational work from a project.
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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.