- A
Reducing scope: eliminating non-essential deliverables.
Why wrong: This changes scope and requires a change request.
- B
Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities.
Crashing is a valid compression technique that adds resources to shorten duration.
- C
Resource leveling: adjusting start and finish dates to address resource constraints.
Why wrong: Resource leveling often increases schedule duration.
- D
Adding contingency time to activities.
Why wrong: Adding contingency increases the schedule, not compresses it.
- E
Fast tracking: performing activities in parallel that were originally sequential.
Fast tracking compresses the schedule by overlapping activities.
Question 738 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.
You are managing a project that is behind schedule. The project sponsor has asked you to explore schedule compression techniques. Which TWO options are valid schedule compression techniques that can be applied without changing scope? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities.
Options B and E are the two main schedule compression techniques. Crashing (B) adds resources to critical path activities to shorten duration, and fast tracking (E) performs activities in parallel that were originally sequential. Option A reduces scope, which changes scope. Option C (resource leveling) often lengthens the schedule. Option D (adding contingency) increases time.
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.
- ✗
Reducing scope: eliminating non-essential deliverables.
Why it's wrong here
This changes scope and requires a change request.
- ✓
Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities.
Why this is correct
Crashing is a valid compression technique that adds resources to shorten duration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Resource leveling: adjusting start and finish dates to address resource constraints.
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling often increases schedule duration.
- ✗
Adding contingency time to activities.
Why it's wrong here
Adding contingency increases the schedule, not compresses it.
- ✓
Fast tracking: performing activities in parallel that were originally sequential.
Why this is correct
Fast tracking compresses the schedule by overlapping activities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP 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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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: Crashing: adding resources to critical path activities. — Options B and E are the two main schedule compression techniques. Crashing (B) adds resources to critical path activities to shorten duration, and fast tracking (E) performs activities in parallel that were originally sequential. Option A reduces scope, which changes scope. Option C (resource leveling) often lengthens the schedule. Option D (adding contingency) increases time.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This PMP 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 PMP exam.
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