LATEST PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PROFESSIONAL (PMP) CERTIFICATION EXAM
OFFERED BY PROJECT MANAGEMENT
INSTITUTE (PMI) | Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. A project manager is leading a hybrid project
where the team uses short iterations for
development but a predictive approach for
hardware procurement. During a daily stand‑up, a
developer mentions a critical integration issue that
will block the next iteration. What is the project
manager’s best action?
A) Escalate the issue to the steering committee
immediately
B) Ask the developer to document the issue in the
risk register and move on
C) Facilitate a solution by bringing together the
impacted team members and adjusting the iteration
backlog if needed
D) Stop all work until the integration issue is
resolved
Correct answer: C
,Rationale: In an agile or hybrid environment, the
project manager acts as a servant leader, removing
impediments. The correct action is to facilitate
collaboration and adapt the backlog to address the
blocker.
2. A project is in the planning phase. The team has
identified several risks, but the sponsor asks for a
single, aggregated measure of overall project risk
exposure. What technique should the project
manager use?
A) Monte Carlo simulation
B) Risk probability and impact matrix
C) Reserve analysis
D) Root cause analysis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Monte Carlo simulation models the
combined effect of individual risks and other
sources of uncertainty to quantify overall project
risk exposure.
3. A stakeholder consistently challenges the project
manager’s decisions during status meetings,
,causing team tension. The stakeholder has high
authority but low interest in the project. According
to the power/interest grid, how should the project
manager engage this stakeholder?
A) Monitor with minimal effort
B) Keep satisfied by addressing concerns regularly
C) Manage closely with frequent communication
D) Keep informed with routine updates
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The power/interest grid suggests that
stakeholders with high power but low interest
should be kept satisfied. Their concerns should be
addressed without overwhelming them with
excessive detail.
4. A construction project is 60% complete according
to the schedule. The earned value (EV) is $120,000,
and the actual cost (AC) is $150,000. What is the
cost performance index (CPI)?
A) 0.80
B) 1.25
C) 0.75
, D) 1.00
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CPI = EV / AC = $120,000 / $150,000 =
0.80. A CPI below 1.0 indicates the project is over
budget.
5. An agile team consistently fails to meet its velocity
commitment each sprint. The team is new and the
product owner keeps adding high-priority items
after the sprint has started. What is the project
manager’s best first step?
A) Lengthen the sprint duration to allow more
flexibility
B) Ask the team to work overtime to catch up
C) Coach the product owner on the importance of a
stable sprint backlog and enforce the change
control process
D) Replace the product owner
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In agile, the sprint backlog should be
stable once the sprint begins. The product owner
needs coaching to understand the impact of adding
PROFESSIONAL (PMP) CERTIFICATION EXAM
OFFERED BY PROJECT MANAGEMENT
INSTITUTE (PMI) | Q&A WITH RATIONALES
1. A project manager is leading a hybrid project
where the team uses short iterations for
development but a predictive approach for
hardware procurement. During a daily stand‑up, a
developer mentions a critical integration issue that
will block the next iteration. What is the project
manager’s best action?
A) Escalate the issue to the steering committee
immediately
B) Ask the developer to document the issue in the
risk register and move on
C) Facilitate a solution by bringing together the
impacted team members and adjusting the iteration
backlog if needed
D) Stop all work until the integration issue is
resolved
Correct answer: C
,Rationale: In an agile or hybrid environment, the
project manager acts as a servant leader, removing
impediments. The correct action is to facilitate
collaboration and adapt the backlog to address the
blocker.
2. A project is in the planning phase. The team has
identified several risks, but the sponsor asks for a
single, aggregated measure of overall project risk
exposure. What technique should the project
manager use?
A) Monte Carlo simulation
B) Risk probability and impact matrix
C) Reserve analysis
D) Root cause analysis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Monte Carlo simulation models the
combined effect of individual risks and other
sources of uncertainty to quantify overall project
risk exposure.
3. A stakeholder consistently challenges the project
manager’s decisions during status meetings,
,causing team tension. The stakeholder has high
authority but low interest in the project. According
to the power/interest grid, how should the project
manager engage this stakeholder?
A) Monitor with minimal effort
B) Keep satisfied by addressing concerns regularly
C) Manage closely with frequent communication
D) Keep informed with routine updates
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The power/interest grid suggests that
stakeholders with high power but low interest
should be kept satisfied. Their concerns should be
addressed without overwhelming them with
excessive detail.
4. A construction project is 60% complete according
to the schedule. The earned value (EV) is $120,000,
and the actual cost (AC) is $150,000. What is the
cost performance index (CPI)?
A) 0.80
B) 1.25
C) 0.75
, D) 1.00
Correct answer: A
Rationale: CPI = EV / AC = $120,000 / $150,000 =
0.80. A CPI below 1.0 indicates the project is over
budget.
5. An agile team consistently fails to meet its velocity
commitment each sprint. The team is new and the
product owner keeps adding high-priority items
after the sprint has started. What is the project
manager’s best first step?
A) Lengthen the sprint duration to allow more
flexibility
B) Ask the team to work overtime to catch up
C) Coach the product owner on the importance of a
stable sprint backlog and enforce the change
control process
D) Replace the product owner
Correct answer: C
Rationale: In agile, the sprint backlog should be
stable once the sprint begins. The product owner
needs coaching to understand the impact of adding
