- A
Consult with the team to identify the most critical tests that can be performed within the remaining time
Involving the team leverages their expertise to find a balanced solution.
- B
Escalate the issue to the PMO or steering committee without further discussion
Why wrong: Should first discuss with the sponsor directly.
- C
Agree to skip testing to meet the sponsor's request
Why wrong: Agreeing to skip testing compromises quality and is not professional.
- D
Explain to the sponsor the risks of skipping testing, including potential rework and quality issues
Educating stakeholders on risks is a PM responsibility.
- E
Propose an alternative, such as reducing the scope of testing or using risk-based testing
Offering alternatives demonstrates flexibility while maintaining quality.
Which Three Actions Should You Take When Sponsor Asks to Skip Testing in Hybrid Project?
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of people — leading projects. 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.
Your project is using a hybrid approach. Mid-project, the sponsor asks you to skip the testing phase to save time and meet the deadline. The team is concerned about quality. Which THREE actions should you take?
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
Consult with the team to identify the most critical tests that can be performed within the remaining time
Option A is correct because consulting with the team to identify the most critical tests aligns with the hybrid approach's principle of balancing agility with quality. By focusing on high-risk or high-value test cases, you can reduce testing time while still mitigating key defects, preserving the project's quality standards within the sponsor's deadline constraint.
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.
- ✓
Consult with the team to identify the most critical tests that can be performed within the remaining time
Why this is correct
Involving the team leverages their expertise to find a balanced solution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the PMO or steering committee without further discussion
Why it's wrong here
Should first discuss with the sponsor directly.
- ✗
Agree to skip testing to meet the sponsor's request
Why it's wrong here
Agreeing to skip testing compromises quality and is not professional.
- ✓
Explain to the sponsor the risks of skipping testing, including potential rework and quality issues
Why this is correct
Educating stakeholders on risks is a PM responsibility.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Propose an alternative, such as reducing the scope of testing or using risk-based testing
Why this is correct
Offering alternatives demonstrates flexibility while maintaining quality.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose to escalate immediately (Option B) thinking it's a formal risk response, but the hybrid approach requires first engaging the sponsor and team to find a negotiated solution before escalating.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a hybrid approach, testing is often integrated into iterations (e.g., Scrum sprints) with a definition of done that includes quality gates. Risk-based testing prioritizes test cases based on failure probability and impact, allowing teams to reduce test scope without abandoning verification. This technique is supported by standards like ISO 25010 for software quality, where skipping all testing could lead to undetected critical defects that surface during integration or deployment, causing costly delays.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
People — Leading Projects — This question tests People — Leading Projects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Consult with the team to identify the most critical tests that can be performed within the remaining time — Option A is correct because consulting with the team to identify the most critical tests aligns with the hybrid approach's principle of balancing agility with quality. By focusing on high-risk or high-value test cases, you can reduce testing time while still mitigating key defects, preserving the project's quality standards within the sponsor's deadline constraint.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on PMP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You are managing a construction project using a traditional approach. The sponsor asks you to skip the quality inspection phase to save two weeks and meet an aggressive deadline. What should you do FIRST?
medium- A.Agree to skip the inspections to satisfy the sponsor's request
- B.Refuse outright because quality cannot be compromised
- ✓ C.Explain the risks of skipping quality inspections and discuss alternatives to meet the deadline
- D.Proceed with inspections but report that they were completed
Why C: Option C is correct because, as a project manager, your first responsibility is to address the sponsor's request professionally by communicating the risks of skipping quality inspections—such as potential rework, safety failures, and cost overruns—and then collaboratively exploring alternatives (e.g., parallel testing, reduced sampling) to meet the deadline without compromising quality. This aligns with the PMP's emphasis on stakeholder engagement and proactive risk management, not blind compliance or refusal.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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