- A
Ignore the issue and proceed with the go-live as planned, since the errors affect only legacy data.
Why wrong: Ignoring the issue could lead to system failures and non-compliance, which is unacceptable.
- B
Request additional budget from the management reserve to hire external consultants to fix the issue faster.
Why wrong: Management reserve requires approval; the project manager cannot unilaterally allocate it.
- C
Evaluate the possibility of a partial fix or workaround to meet the go-live date, and escalate to the sponsor if needed.
The project manager should explore alternatives and escalate to the sponsor for a decision if the schedule cannot be met.
- D
Direct the team to fix the issue and delay the go-live, then inform the sponsor.
Why wrong: Delaying without approval may violate regulatory requirements and is not in the project manager's authority.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to evaluate the possibility of a partial fix or workaround to meet the go-live date, and escalate to the sponsor if needed. This is correct because when handling project issues with no schedule buffer and an exhausted contingency reserve, the project manager must first explore feasible alternatives to satisfy the fixed regulatory deadline before escalating. The CAPM exam tests your ability to apply the Perform Integrated Change Control and Manage Stakeholder Engagement processes under severe constraints, where trade-offs between scope, quality, and time are unavoidable. A common trap is choosing to immediately escalate or request more time, but the PM must first demonstrate due diligence by assessing a partial solution. Remember the memory tip: “Fix what you can, flag what you can’t”—always try a workaround first, then escalate only when the path forward requires sponsor authority.
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.
You are managing a software upgrade project for a financial institution. The project involves upgrading the core banking system to a new version. During user acceptance testing (UAT), the testers find that the new system does not handle certain legacy data formats correctly, causing errors. The project schedule has no buffer left, and the go-live date is fixed due to regulatory compliance. The team estimates it will take two weeks to fix the issue, but the go-live is in one week. The project manager has already used the contingency reserve for other issues. What should the project manager do next?
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
Evaluate the possibility of a partial fix or workaround to meet the go-live date, and escalate to the sponsor if needed.
Option C is correct because the project manager must first evaluate feasible alternatives (like a partial fix or workaround) to meet the fixed go-live date, given that the contingency reserve is exhausted and the schedule has no buffer. Escalating to the sponsor is appropriate when the issue impacts regulatory compliance and requires a decision beyond the PM's authority. This aligns with the CAPM principle of managing stakeholder expectations and seeking sponsor guidance when constraints force trade-offs.
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.
- ✗
Ignore the issue and proceed with the go-live as planned, since the errors affect only legacy data.
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring the issue could lead to system failures and non-compliance, which is unacceptable.
- ✗
Request additional budget from the management reserve to hire external consultants to fix the issue faster.
Why it's wrong here
Management reserve requires approval; the project manager cannot unilaterally allocate it.
- ✓
Evaluate the possibility of a partial fix or workaround to meet the go-live date, and escalate to the sponsor if needed.
Why this is correct
The project manager should explore alternatives and escalate to the sponsor for a decision if the schedule cannot be met.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Direct the team to fix the issue and delay the go-live, then inform the sponsor.
Why it's wrong here
Delaying without approval may violate regulatory requirements and is not in the project manager's authority.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the management reserve is always the next step for budget issues, but the PM must first exhaust internal options (like workarounds) and escalate to the sponsor before tapping into reserves, especially when the schedule is fixed and compliance is at stake.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In core banking system upgrades, legacy data format handling often involves EBCDIC-to-ASCII conversion or fixed-length record parsing that may not be fully supported in newer versions. A workaround could involve a middleware translation layer or a temporary batch conversion script that runs during off-peak hours, allowing the go-live to proceed while the full fix is developed post-deployment. This scenario tests the PM's ability to balance technical feasibility with regulatory deadlines, a common challenge in financial IT projects where compliance windows are non-negotiable.
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.
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Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CAPM question test?
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: Evaluate the possibility of a partial fix or workaround to meet the go-live date, and escalate to the sponsor if needed. — Option C is correct because the project manager must first evaluate feasible alternatives (like a partial fix or workaround) to meet the fixed go-live date, given that the contingency reserve is exhausted and the schedule has no buffer. Escalating to the sponsor is appropriate when the issue impacts regulatory compliance and requires a decision beyond the PM's authority. This aligns with the CAPM principle of managing stakeholder expectations and seeking sponsor guidance when constraints force trade-offs.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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