- A
Resource leveling
Why wrong: Resource leveling resolves resource over-allocation, not for determining critical path.
- B
Gantt chart
Why wrong: A Gantt chart shows activities over time but does not mathematically determine the critical path.
- C
Critical Path Method (CPM)
CPM calculates the longest path and identifies critical activities.
- D
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
Why wrong: PERT is used for estimating durations with uncertainty, not for critical path identification.
Question 255 of 892
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
A project manager is developing the project schedule and wants to determine the critical path. The activity network diagram shows multiple paths. Which technique should the project manager use?
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
✓
Critical Path Method (CPM)
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is the correct technique because it is specifically designed to identify the longest path through a project's activity network diagram, which determines the shortest possible project duration. By calculating early start, early finish, late start, and late finish dates for each activity, CPM reveals which activities have zero float and thus constitute the critical path. This directly answers the project manager's goal of determining the critical path from the network diagram.
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 leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling resolves resource over-allocation, not for determining critical path.
- ✗
Gantt chart
Why it's wrong here
A Gantt chart shows activities over time but does not mathematically determine the critical path.
- ✓
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Why this is correct
CPM calculates the longest path and identifies critical activities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
Why it's wrong here
PERT is used for estimating durations with uncertainty, not for critical path identification.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse PERT with CPM because both involve network diagrams, but PERT is for estimating durations under uncertainty while CPM is specifically for identifying the critical path using deterministic durations.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A Gantt chart shows activities over time but does not mathematically determine the critical path.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CPM relies on a deterministic, single-point duration estimate for each activity, unlike PERT which uses probabilistic estimates. The critical path is identified by performing a forward pass to calculate early start and early finish dates, then a backward pass to calculate late start and late finish dates; activities with zero total float (where early start equals late start) lie on the critical path. In real-world projects, multiple critical paths can exist, and any delay on a critical path activity directly extends the project's finish date, making CPM essential for schedule compression and risk 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 practitioner preparing for the PMP 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
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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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Critical Path Method (CPM) — The Critical Path Method (CPM) is the correct technique because it is specifically designed to identify the longest path through a project's activity network diagram, which determines the shortest possible project duration. By calculating early start, early finish, late start, and late finish dates for each activity, CPM reveals which activities have zero float and thus constitute the critical path. This directly answers the project manager's goal of determining the critical path from the network diagram.
What should I do if I get this PMP 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
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