CAPM Certified Associate in Project Management Practice Exam |
Complete QUESTIONs, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
(2026/2027)
QUESTION 1
Which of the following characteristics best distinguishes a project from
ongoing operational work?
• A. Projects are repetitive, continuous, and have no predefined
completion date.
• B. Projects are temporary endeavors undertaken to create a
unique product, service, or result.
• C. Operations focus on delivering temporary business value while
projects focus on routine manufacturing.
• D. Projects rely entirely on standard, unchanging operational
procedures.
Correct Answer: B. Projects are temporary endeavors undertaken to
create a unique product, service, or result.
Detailed Rationale: By definition, a project has a definite beginning and
a distinct end (temporary) and produces a unique deliverable, whereas
operations are ongoing and repetitive.
QUESTION 2
According to the PMBOK Guide (7th Edition), which of the following is
one of the eight Project Performance Domains?
• A. Procurement Process Group
, • B. Stakeholder Performance Domain
• C. Cost-Benefit Matrix Domain
• D. Linear Scheduling Domain
Correct Answer: B. Stakeholder Performance Domain
Detailed Rationale: The PMBOK Guide 7th Edition organizes project
management around eight performance domains, which include
Stakeholders, Team, Development Approach and Life Cycle, Planning,
Project Work, Delivery, Measurement, and Uncertainty.
QUESTION 3
Who formally authorizes a project and gives the project manager the
authority to apply organizational resources to project activities?
• A. The Project Manager
• B. The Lead Technical Developer
• C. The Project Sponsor
• D. The Quality Assurance Auditor
Correct Answer: C. The Project Sponsor
Detailed Rationale: The project sponsor or initiator provides the
financial backing and issues the project charter, which formally
authorizes the project's existence and empowers the project manager.
QUESTION 4
What is the lowest, most granular level of decomposition within a Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
• A. Project Milestone
, • B. Work Package
• C. Control Account
• D. Activity List
Correct Answer: B. Work Package
Detailed Rationale: The WBS decomposes project scope hierarchically.
The lowest level of breakdown for which cost and duration can be
estimated and managed is called a work package.
QUESTION 5
In network diagram analysis, what does "Total Float" (or slack)
represent?
• A. The total budget allocated for unforeseen risk reserves.
• B. The amount of time a schedule activity can be delayed from its
early start date without delaying the project end date.
• C. The total number of resources assigned to a critical task.
• D. The time required to complete administrative closure.
Correct Answer: B. The amount of time a schedule activity can be
delayed from its early start date without delaying the project end date.
Detailed Rationale: Total float measures schedule flexibility. Activities
with zero total float lie on the critical path, meaning any delay directly
pushes out the final project completion date.
QUESTION 6
, If a project has an Earned Value (EV) of $450,000 and an Actual Cost
(AC) of $500,000, what is the Cost Variance (CV) and what does it
indicate?
• A. CV = -$50,000; the project is over budget.
• B. CV = +$50,000; the project is under budget.
• C. CV = -$50,000; the project is ahead of schedule.
• D. CV = $0; the project is perfectly aligned with baseline costs.
Correct Answer: A. CV = -$50,000; the project is over budget.
Detailed Rationale: Cost Variance is calculated as 𝐶𝑉 = 𝐸𝑉 − 𝐴𝐶. Here,
$450,000 − $500,000 = −$50,000. A negative cost variance indicates
that the project has spent more money than the value of the work
completed.
QUESTION 7
A project has an Earned Value (EV) of $200,000 and a Planned Value
(PV) of $250,000. What is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI)?
• A. 1.25
• B. 0.80
• C. 0.50
• D. 1.50
Correct Answer: B. 0.80
Detailed Rationale: Schedule Performance Index is calculated as 𝑆𝑃𝐼 =
𝐸𝑉/𝑃𝑉. Thus, $200,000/$250,000 = 0.80. An SPI less than 1.0
Complete QUESTIONs, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
(2026/2027)
QUESTION 1
Which of the following characteristics best distinguishes a project from
ongoing operational work?
• A. Projects are repetitive, continuous, and have no predefined
completion date.
• B. Projects are temporary endeavors undertaken to create a
unique product, service, or result.
• C. Operations focus on delivering temporary business value while
projects focus on routine manufacturing.
• D. Projects rely entirely on standard, unchanging operational
procedures.
Correct Answer: B. Projects are temporary endeavors undertaken to
create a unique product, service, or result.
Detailed Rationale: By definition, a project has a definite beginning and
a distinct end (temporary) and produces a unique deliverable, whereas
operations are ongoing and repetitive.
QUESTION 2
According to the PMBOK Guide (7th Edition), which of the following is
one of the eight Project Performance Domains?
• A. Procurement Process Group
, • B. Stakeholder Performance Domain
• C. Cost-Benefit Matrix Domain
• D. Linear Scheduling Domain
Correct Answer: B. Stakeholder Performance Domain
Detailed Rationale: The PMBOK Guide 7th Edition organizes project
management around eight performance domains, which include
Stakeholders, Team, Development Approach and Life Cycle, Planning,
Project Work, Delivery, Measurement, and Uncertainty.
QUESTION 3
Who formally authorizes a project and gives the project manager the
authority to apply organizational resources to project activities?
• A. The Project Manager
• B. The Lead Technical Developer
• C. The Project Sponsor
• D. The Quality Assurance Auditor
Correct Answer: C. The Project Sponsor
Detailed Rationale: The project sponsor or initiator provides the
financial backing and issues the project charter, which formally
authorizes the project's existence and empowers the project manager.
QUESTION 4
What is the lowest, most granular level of decomposition within a Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
• A. Project Milestone
, • B. Work Package
• C. Control Account
• D. Activity List
Correct Answer: B. Work Package
Detailed Rationale: The WBS decomposes project scope hierarchically.
The lowest level of breakdown for which cost and duration can be
estimated and managed is called a work package.
QUESTION 5
In network diagram analysis, what does "Total Float" (or slack)
represent?
• A. The total budget allocated for unforeseen risk reserves.
• B. The amount of time a schedule activity can be delayed from its
early start date without delaying the project end date.
• C. The total number of resources assigned to a critical task.
• D. The time required to complete administrative closure.
Correct Answer: B. The amount of time a schedule activity can be
delayed from its early start date without delaying the project end date.
Detailed Rationale: Total float measures schedule flexibility. Activities
with zero total float lie on the critical path, meaning any delay directly
pushes out the final project completion date.
QUESTION 6
, If a project has an Earned Value (EV) of $450,000 and an Actual Cost
(AC) of $500,000, what is the Cost Variance (CV) and what does it
indicate?
• A. CV = -$50,000; the project is over budget.
• B. CV = +$50,000; the project is under budget.
• C. CV = -$50,000; the project is ahead of schedule.
• D. CV = $0; the project is perfectly aligned with baseline costs.
Correct Answer: A. CV = -$50,000; the project is over budget.
Detailed Rationale: Cost Variance is calculated as 𝐶𝑉 = 𝐸𝑉 − 𝐴𝐶. Here,
$450,000 − $500,000 = −$50,000. A negative cost variance indicates
that the project has spent more money than the value of the work
completed.
QUESTION 7
A project has an Earned Value (EV) of $200,000 and a Planned Value
(PV) of $250,000. What is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI)?
• A. 1.25
• B. 0.80
• C. 0.50
• D. 1.50
Correct Answer: B. 0.80
Detailed Rationale: Schedule Performance Index is calculated as 𝑆𝑃𝐼 =
𝐸𝑉/𝑃𝑉. Thus, $200,000/$250,000 = 0.80. An SPI less than 1.0
