APM
APM PMQ FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2025/2026)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
1. Benefits of portfolio management - ANS ✓Maintaining a balances and
aligned portfolio
Holistic overview of risks, dependencies, and scheduling
Cost reduction
Efficient utilisation of resources
Better coordination and control
2. Organisational structure levels - ANS ✓External
Sponsorship
Management
Delivery
(Administrative support and assurance sit alongside)
3. Benefits of matrix organisation structure - ANS ✓Increased share
learning
Global resources pool available
Facilitates resources sharing
Consistent methodology in organisation
Flexible for different projects.
Good for organisations with lots of projects and routine operations
Good for staff welfare as they have dedicated resource
Project requirements fit business needs
Better allocation of resources fit to skills - efficient
Improved project management expertise
4. Disadvantages of matrix organisation structure - ANS ✓Resource and
loyalty conflict between projects and functions.
May overload team with work.
Duplication of reports
Less functional training
Clash between functional and project managers
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Lack of alignment to organisation priorities (BAU vs project)
Unclear escalation route for staff
5. Organisational roles, key project roles - ANS ✓Project steering group
Project sponsor
Project manager
Team Members
Users
Project Office
6. Sponsor role and responsibilities - ANS ✓Represent the host or client
Owns the Business case-ownership
Governance link to the business
Champion of the project
Provides or secure funding
Approve the PMP
Stakeholder arbitration
Approves through review gates. Stage-gate approval
Receive escalated risks, issues and change requests
Accept deliverables
Review benefits
Maybe the programme manager and chair project board.
7. Process used to examine internal and external environment - ANS
✓Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
8. Process used to examine external environment - ANS ✓Political
Economic
Sociological
Technological
Legislative
Environmental
9. Areas of law to consider - ANS ✓Health and Safety
Employment
Contract
Data protection
Freedom of information
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10. Four components of governance - ANS ✓Portfolio direction
Sponsorship
Project management
Disclosure and reporting
11. Principles of good governance - ANS ✓Policies and regulations
Defined roles: Sponsor, senior management...
Change control process
Structured gated project life cycle
Gate reviews. Go or no go.
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities
Independent scrutiny
Stakeholder engagement
Recording and communicating key decisions
12. Benefits of governance - ANS ✓Clear reporting and escalation
criteria
Independent audits and reviews
Empowerment to make appropriate decisions
Culture of improvement and disclosure
Engaged and more trusting stakeholders
Assures stakeholders
Achieve return on investment. Optimisation of investment.
Resource usage justified.
No unacceptable risks.
Avoidance of common failures
Better communication
Delivery credibility
Minimising risk
Regulatory compliance
13. Phases of project life cycle - ANS ✓Concept
Definition
Development
Handover and closure
14. Project reviews - ANS ✓Stage review
Gate review
Project evaluation review
Post-project review
Benefits review
Audit
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15. Benefits of a project lifecycle - ANS ✓Consistency
High Level Planning.More effective planning
Go/no go decisions.Improved decision-making
Phase end reviews.Improved governance
Manage funding
Lesson Learned. Improved communication
Management focus on the early phases
16. Stakeholder management process - ANS ✓IAPE
Identify
Assess
Plan communications
Engage and influence
17. Benefits of stakeholder management - ANS ✓Increase support
for the project
Increase likelihood of acquiring resource
Minimising resistance allows you to focus on project
Better chance of deliverable acceptance
Enhanced decision making and communication
18. Content of the business case - ANS ✓BOBCRT
Background
Options
Benefits
Costs
(A)
Risk
Timescales
19. Success factors - ANS ✓Success factors are management practices
that when implemented, will increase the likelihood of success of a project,
programme or portfolio. The degree to which these practices are
established and embedded within an organisation indicates its level of
maturity.
Senior management commitment
Clear project goals and objectives
Focus on Business Value
APM PMQ