Examples of questions

There are generally two main types of questions that you will face in the exams: factual questions, such as definitions; and situational questions. It is also important to note that many questions will have superfluous information and others will be on topics you will have never seen before. Try the following 25 questions to get a feel for the language. For exam conditions, give yourself no more than 30 minutes in which to complete the questions.

1	In which project management process group is the project charter created? Initiating Planning Executing Closing
2	Which is not an input to the direct and manage project execution process group? Project management plan Validated defect repair Approved change requests Resource availability
3	Qualitative risk analysis is ... The process of numerically analyzing the effect on overall project objectives of identified risks. The process of identifying which quality standards are relevant to the project and determining how to satisfy them. The process of prioritizing risks by assessing and combining the probability of their occurrence and impact. The degree to which the set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.
4	Who has the most power in a matrix organization? Project manager Sponsor Function manager Team
5	When should scope verification be done? During planning Throughout the project At the beginning of the project At the end of each phase of the project
6	Who bears the risk in a fixed price contract? Seller Buyer Sponsor The team
7	Which of the following is not normally part of the contract documents? Scope of work Proposal Negotiation process Terms and conditions
8	Who is responsible for quality management throughout the project? Team members are responsible for the quality of their work Quality manager Project sponsor Project manager
9	Decomposition of the project deliverables would take place during which of the major project processes? Project time management Project scope management Project risk management Project integration management
10	Which of the following defines a project stakeholder? Individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the project or whose interests may be affected as a result of project execution or project completion. People who used to be part of the project team and still care about the outcome. Individuals or organizations that could stop the project if they aren't happy with progress. b and c
11	If Earned Value (EV) = 460, Actual Cost (AC) = 380 and Planned Value (PV) = 500, what is the Cost Variance (CV)? 40 120 80 20
12	A Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 1.3 means: We are over budget We are behind schedule We are progressing at 130% of the rate originally planned We are making 1.30 for every 1 we put into the project
13	As a project manager you are required to have both management and leadership. You need to describe to your sponsor what this means. Which of the following phrases are not correct? Leadership is concerned with providing direction, motivation and inspiration to the project team. Managing a project is done in order to deliver the results required by stakeholders. The project manager is the project's leader. Technical leadership is of primary importance in project management.
14	A company has to make a choice between four projects. Which project is the best one to choose? Project A will take four years to complete and has a NPV of 50,000. Project B will take seven years to complete and has a NPV of 45,000. Project C will take six years to complete and has a NPV of 25,000. Project D will take five years to complete and has a NPV of 32,000.
15	You have been asked to prepare a report on the progress of a new jam pot filling process. You have obtained the last 15 jars from the current production run. Knowing that the control limits for filling the jars are 298.5 cm3 and 301.5 cm3, what do the following data tell you? 300.1 cm3, 299.9 cm3, 301.4 cm3, 298.7 cm3, 299.5 cm3, 299.9 cm3, 301.2 cm3, 299.3 cm3, 300.2 cm3, 301.1 cm3, 300.5 cm3, 301.5 cm3, 301.2 cm3, 300.1 cm3, 301.1 cm3 The process is under control. It should not be adjusted. The process should be adjusted. The control limits should be adjusted. The measuring equipment should be recalibrated.
16	As a project manager, you are responsible for encouraging team building. What are the four stages that best describe team development? Norming, Performing, Forming, Storming Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing Performing, Forming, Storming, Norming Storming, Norming, Performing, Forming
17	Your sponsor has asked for a five-minute briefing on the progress of your project. You have just completed an Earned Value Analysis with the following results: EV: 104600; PV: 124600; AC: 128600. You tell the sponsor that the project is ... Under budget and under schedule On time and on budget Over budget and behind schedule On time and under budget
18	The main function of a statistical control chart is to help: Monitor process variation over time Assess conformance Set project scope Identify stakeholder requirements
19	Your sponsor has asked you to review the manufacturing line at Jam PLC. While performing your review you found poor quality control, poorly stocked jam vats and antiquated machinery. How and why would you prepare your results? Use a Pareto diagram because it will show how many results were generated, by type or category of identified cause. Use an activity-on-arrow diagram because it shows the dependencies as dummies. Use a bar chart because the schedule is very important. Use a fishbone diagram to outline the causes of future problems.
20	You are the project manager on a very complex and lengthy project. Your team is spread across various locations and time zones. A dispute has arisen between two senior members of your team, both subject matter experts in different fields. Senior management have made it clear that your job rides on the successful delivery of this project. Which is the best opening statement you can make when trying to deal with this dispute? My job depends on this project working, so you are going to get on with it and do as I say. Let's all take a step back and calm down and focus on the job. I am far too busy to deal with this now. When I see you both next week I expect you to have resolved your difference. I am sure that we can come up with a solution that we are all happy with to this problem.
21	The process re-engineering project you undertook at Jam PLC was so successful that production has tripled over the past three months. You have been asked, as an external project management consultant, to project manage the construction of a new distribution centre. You buy in specialist shelf-building expertise on a time and material contract. Halfway through the project you discover that two of your team members assigned to the shelf-building task have charged time without performing any work. Jam PLC is unaware of this. What should you do? Do nothing, but come up with a backup plan should the customer realize what has happened. Ask finance why they billed for work not done. Take the two people off the team immediately and refund the excess charges to the customer. Try to find another billable task for the two team members and not charge for the work until it equals that already billed for.
22	During your project the scope of product purchased on a cost reimbursable contract has increased. In the contract the supplier's indirect costs are calculated as 35% of the direct costs. What does this mean? The supplier's indirect costs will increase but the cost of the contract will not. Neither the indirect costs nor the cost of the contract will increase. The supplier's indirect costs will not increase but the overall cost of the contract will. The supplier's indirect costs will increase and the overall cost of the contract will too.
23	As a successful project manager at Jam PLC you have been asked to perform a project management audit throughout the company. Whilst undertaking this task you find that most of the project plans are neither consistent nor up-to-date. Which of the following statements is true? Historical information is of no use to the company, as technology and methods change so rapidly. The project plan is secondary because it is only the results that matter. The project plan is the result of the initiation phase and once agreed will not change. Poor planning is one of the major reasons for cost and time overruns.
24	Creating contingency reserves in money and time is an example of ... Risk response planning Risk identification Risk management planning Risk monitoring and control
25	Project costs are under budget when CPI < 1 CPI > 1 CPI < 0 SPI = 1

Answers

1	a
2	d
3	c
4	a
5	d
6	a
7	c
8	d
9	b
10	a
11	c
12	c
13	d
14	a
15	b
16	b
17	c
18	a
19	a
20	d
21	c
22	c
23	d
24	a
25	b

Key Idea

Revision tips

Set aside dedicated time slots in your diary to revise.

Create a revision timetable.

Start revising with the areas you least understand.

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