NSC ACTUAL EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
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1. A project team is in the process of defining the scope of a new software development initiative. The sponsor
has requested a detailed breakdown of all deliverables, activities, and the associated work required. What is the
most effective tool for the project manager to use to ensure all work is captured and the team understands the
full scope?
A. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Dictionary
B. Scope Management Plan
C. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
D. Requirements Traceability Matrix
Correct Answer: C. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Rationale: The WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to
accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. While the WBS Dictionary provides detailed
descriptions, the WBS itself provides the visual structure and ensures all deliverables are identified. The Scope
Management Plan dictates how scope will be defined, but the WBS is the tool that captures the work.
2. During which project management process group is the project charter formally approved and the project
manager assigned authority to apply organizational resources?
A. Planning
B. Executing
,C. Monitoring and Controlling
D. Initiating
Correct Answer: D. Initiating
Rationale: The Initiating process group includes the development of the project charter, which formally authorizes the
project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply resources. The charter is approved by the sponsor,
marking the official start of the project.
3. A project manager is leading a large-scale infrastructure project. A key stakeholder who has high power and
high interest in the project's outcome has been vocal in their support. According to the power/interest grid, what
is the recommended management strategy for this stakeholder?
A. Keep satisfied
B. Manage closely
C. Keep informed
D. Monitor
Correct Answer: B. Manage closely
Rationale: Stakeholders with high power and high interest fall into the "Manage Closely" quadrant. This requires
proactive and frequent engagement to ensure their expectations are managed and to leverage their influence for
project success. "Keep Satisfied" is for high power, low interest stakeholders, and "Keep Informed" is for low power, high
interest stakeholders.
,4. A project's budget at completion (BAC) is $500,000. The actual cost (AC) of work performed to date is
$350,000, and the earned value (EV) is $300,000. What is the Cost Performance Index (CPI) and what does it
indicate?
A. CPI = 0.86; the project is over budget.
B. CPI = 1.17; the project is under budget.
C. CPI = 0.86; the project is under budget.
D. CPI = 1.17; the project is over budget.
Correct Answer: A. CPI = 0.86; the project is over budget.
Rationale: CPI is calculated as EV / AC. In this case, 300,,000 = 0.857, which is approximately 0.86. A CPI of
less than 1.0 indicates that the project is earning less value than it is spending, meaning it is over budget. A CPI over
1.0 indicates efficiency and being under budget.
5. What is the primary purpose of creating a Risk Register in the project planning phase?
A. To document identified risks, their potential impact, and planned responses.
B. To assign a risk owner for every project activity.
C. To eliminate all possible risks before the project begins.
D. To create a list of all known and unknown risks for senior management review.
Correct Answer: A. To document identified risks, their potential impact, and planned responses.
Rationale: The Risk Register is a living document that contains the outcomes of risk analysis and risk response
, planning. It includes identified risks, their causes, probability, impact, risk scores, and the response strategies. It does not
eliminate risks, nor is it simply a list for management review.
6. A project manager is managing a project where the scope, schedule, and cost are all critical constraints. A
major deliverable is at risk of being delayed due to a supplier issue. Which of the following is the BEST first step
for the project manager to take?
A. Immediately crash the schedule by adding more resources to the critical path.
B. Assess the impact of the delay on the project's triple constraints and communicate it to stakeholders.
C. Issue a change request to increase the project budget to expedite shipping from the supplier.
D. Remove the deliverable from the scope to maintain the schedule.
Correct Answer: B. Assess the impact of the delay on the project's triple constraints and communicate it to
stakeholders.
Rationale: The first step in any issue management process is to assess the impact. Before taking any corrective action,
the PM must understand how the delay will affect scope, schedule, and cost. Once the impact is assessed, the PM can
then communicate with stakeholders to decide on a course of action, such as a change request, schedule compression,
or other mitigation.
7. In a functional organizational structure, what is the primary source of authority for a project manager?
A. Direct authority over the project team members.
B. Budgetary control over project resources.
C. Very little formal authority, relying on influence and negotiation skills.
DOWNLOAD AND PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
1. A project team is in the process of defining the scope of a new software development initiative. The sponsor
has requested a detailed breakdown of all deliverables, activities, and the associated work required. What is the
most effective tool for the project manager to use to ensure all work is captured and the team understands the
full scope?
A. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Dictionary
B. Scope Management Plan
C. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
D. Requirements Traceability Matrix
Correct Answer: C. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Rationale: The WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to
accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables. While the WBS Dictionary provides detailed
descriptions, the WBS itself provides the visual structure and ensures all deliverables are identified. The Scope
Management Plan dictates how scope will be defined, but the WBS is the tool that captures the work.
2. During which project management process group is the project charter formally approved and the project
manager assigned authority to apply organizational resources?
A. Planning
B. Executing
,C. Monitoring and Controlling
D. Initiating
Correct Answer: D. Initiating
Rationale: The Initiating process group includes the development of the project charter, which formally authorizes the
project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply resources. The charter is approved by the sponsor,
marking the official start of the project.
3. A project manager is leading a large-scale infrastructure project. A key stakeholder who has high power and
high interest in the project's outcome has been vocal in their support. According to the power/interest grid, what
is the recommended management strategy for this stakeholder?
A. Keep satisfied
B. Manage closely
C. Keep informed
D. Monitor
Correct Answer: B. Manage closely
Rationale: Stakeholders with high power and high interest fall into the "Manage Closely" quadrant. This requires
proactive and frequent engagement to ensure their expectations are managed and to leverage their influence for
project success. "Keep Satisfied" is for high power, low interest stakeholders, and "Keep Informed" is for low power, high
interest stakeholders.
,4. A project's budget at completion (BAC) is $500,000. The actual cost (AC) of work performed to date is
$350,000, and the earned value (EV) is $300,000. What is the Cost Performance Index (CPI) and what does it
indicate?
A. CPI = 0.86; the project is over budget.
B. CPI = 1.17; the project is under budget.
C. CPI = 0.86; the project is under budget.
D. CPI = 1.17; the project is over budget.
Correct Answer: A. CPI = 0.86; the project is over budget.
Rationale: CPI is calculated as EV / AC. In this case, 300,,000 = 0.857, which is approximately 0.86. A CPI of
less than 1.0 indicates that the project is earning less value than it is spending, meaning it is over budget. A CPI over
1.0 indicates efficiency and being under budget.
5. What is the primary purpose of creating a Risk Register in the project planning phase?
A. To document identified risks, their potential impact, and planned responses.
B. To assign a risk owner for every project activity.
C. To eliminate all possible risks before the project begins.
D. To create a list of all known and unknown risks for senior management review.
Correct Answer: A. To document identified risks, their potential impact, and planned responses.
Rationale: The Risk Register is a living document that contains the outcomes of risk analysis and risk response
, planning. It includes identified risks, their causes, probability, impact, risk scores, and the response strategies. It does not
eliminate risks, nor is it simply a list for management review.
6. A project manager is managing a project where the scope, schedule, and cost are all critical constraints. A
major deliverable is at risk of being delayed due to a supplier issue. Which of the following is the BEST first step
for the project manager to take?
A. Immediately crash the schedule by adding more resources to the critical path.
B. Assess the impact of the delay on the project's triple constraints and communicate it to stakeholders.
C. Issue a change request to increase the project budget to expedite shipping from the supplier.
D. Remove the deliverable from the scope to maintain the schedule.
Correct Answer: B. Assess the impact of the delay on the project's triple constraints and communicate it to
stakeholders.
Rationale: The first step in any issue management process is to assess the impact. Before taking any corrective action,
the PM must understand how the delay will affect scope, schedule, and cost. Once the impact is assessed, the PM can
then communicate with stakeholders to decide on a course of action, such as a change request, schedule compression,
or other mitigation.
7. In a functional organizational structure, what is the primary source of authority for a project manager?
A. Direct authority over the project team members.
B. Budgetary control over project resources.
C. Very little formal authority, relying on influence and negotiation skills.
