2025 PMP Exam Prep Mastery: 65 Comprehensive
Multiple Choice Questions and Expert Rationales
for Chapters 6 to 9 – Schedule, Cost, Quality, and
Resource Management
To control the schedule, a project manager is reanalyzing the project to predict project
duration. She does this by analyzing the sequence of activities with the lease amount of
scheduling flexibility. What technique is she using?
A: Critical path method
B: Flowchart
C: Procedure diagramming
D: Work breakdown structure - - correct ans- -Critical path method
There are only two choices related to scheduling: critical path method and procedure
diagramming. Precedence diagramming, however, is a diagramming technique that
deals with the relationship between activities, not schedule flexibility. The project
manager is analyzing the critical path.
A dependency requiring that design be completed before manufacturing can start is an
example of a(n):
A: Discretionary dependency
B: External dependency
C: Mandatory dependency
D: Scope dependency - - correct ans- -Mandatory dependency
No mention is made that the dependency comes from a source outside the project, so
this is not an external dependency. Scope dependency is not a defined term. The key
word in the question is "requiring". Since the dependency is required, it could not be
,discretionary and therefore must be mandatory. The question defines a mandatory
dependency.
Which of the following are GENERALLY illustrated BETTER by bar charts than network
diagrams?
A: Logical relationships
B: Critical paths
C: Resource trade-offs
D: Progress or status - - correct ans- -Progress or status
The bar chart (or Gantt chart) is designed to show a relationship to time. This is best
used when demonstrating progress or status as a factor of time.
If the optimistic estimate of an activity is 12 days, and the pessimistic estimate is 18
days, what is the standard deviation of this activity?
A: 1
B: 1.3
C: 6
D: 3 - - correct ans- -1
The beta standard deviation is computed by (P-O)/6. Therefore, the answer is (18-
12)/6=6/6=1.
A heuristic is BEST described as a:
A: Control tool
B: Scheduling method
C: Planning tool
D: Generally accepted rule - - correct ans- -Generally accepted rule
,A heuristic is a generally accepted rule. Examples are cost per line of code, cost per
square foot of floor space, etc.
Lag means:
A: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the product finish
date.
B: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of
its successor.
C: Waiting time.
D: The product of a forward and backward pass. - - correct ans- -Waiting time
Total float and free float are the time an activity can be delayed without impacting the
entire project or the next activity. A forward or back ward pass refers to a network
analysis technique, not waiting time. Waiting time is the correct definition of lag.
Which of the following is the BEST project management tool to use to determine the
longest time the project will take?
A: Work breakdown structure
B: Network diagram
C: Bar chart
D: Project charter - - correct ans- -Bar Chart
The bar chart may show an end date, but it is not used to determine dates. The project
charter also may include a required end date, but not a logical determination of how
long the project will take. The network diagram takes the activities from the activity list
and adds dependencies. The dependencies allow us to look at the various paths
through the diagram to determine the longest duration (critical) path. The network
diagram is the best answer.
Which of the following is CORRECT?
A: The critical path helps prove how long the project will take.
, B: There can be only one critical path.
C: The network diagram will change very time the end date changes.
D: A project can never have negative float. - - correct ans- -The critical path helps prove
how long the project will take
This question tests your knowledge about a number of topics. There can often be more
than one critical path. The network diagram may or may not change when the end date
changes, depending on the amount of schedule reserve and the reason for the change
to the schedule. You can have negative float if you are behind schedule. The critical path
helps prove how long the project will take. This is the only correct statement of the
choices given.
What is the duration of a milestone?
A: It is shorter than the duration of the longest activity.
B: It is shorter than the activity it represents.
C: It has no duration.
D: It is the same length as the activity it represents. - - correct ans- -It has no duration
A milestone represents the completion of a series of activities or work packages.
Therefore, it takes no time of its own.
Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between standard deviation and
risk?
A: There is not relationship.
B: Standard deviation tells you if the estimate is accurate.
C: Standard deviation tells you how uncertain the estimate is.
D: Standard deviation tells you if the estimate includes a pad. - - correct ans- -Standard
deviation tells you how uncertain the estimate is
An estimate can have a wide range and still be accurate if the item estimated includes
identified risks. There is no such thing as a pad in proper project management. An
Multiple Choice Questions and Expert Rationales
for Chapters 6 to 9 – Schedule, Cost, Quality, and
Resource Management
To control the schedule, a project manager is reanalyzing the project to predict project
duration. She does this by analyzing the sequence of activities with the lease amount of
scheduling flexibility. What technique is she using?
A: Critical path method
B: Flowchart
C: Procedure diagramming
D: Work breakdown structure - - correct ans- -Critical path method
There are only two choices related to scheduling: critical path method and procedure
diagramming. Precedence diagramming, however, is a diagramming technique that
deals with the relationship between activities, not schedule flexibility. The project
manager is analyzing the critical path.
A dependency requiring that design be completed before manufacturing can start is an
example of a(n):
A: Discretionary dependency
B: External dependency
C: Mandatory dependency
D: Scope dependency - - correct ans- -Mandatory dependency
No mention is made that the dependency comes from a source outside the project, so
this is not an external dependency. Scope dependency is not a defined term. The key
word in the question is "requiring". Since the dependency is required, it could not be
,discretionary and therefore must be mandatory. The question defines a mandatory
dependency.
Which of the following are GENERALLY illustrated BETTER by bar charts than network
diagrams?
A: Logical relationships
B: Critical paths
C: Resource trade-offs
D: Progress or status - - correct ans- -Progress or status
The bar chart (or Gantt chart) is designed to show a relationship to time. This is best
used when demonstrating progress or status as a factor of time.
If the optimistic estimate of an activity is 12 days, and the pessimistic estimate is 18
days, what is the standard deviation of this activity?
A: 1
B: 1.3
C: 6
D: 3 - - correct ans- -1
The beta standard deviation is computed by (P-O)/6. Therefore, the answer is (18-
12)/6=6/6=1.
A heuristic is BEST described as a:
A: Control tool
B: Scheduling method
C: Planning tool
D: Generally accepted rule - - correct ans- -Generally accepted rule
,A heuristic is a generally accepted rule. Examples are cost per line of code, cost per
square foot of floor space, etc.
Lag means:
A: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the product finish
date.
B: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of
its successor.
C: Waiting time.
D: The product of a forward and backward pass. - - correct ans- -Waiting time
Total float and free float are the time an activity can be delayed without impacting the
entire project or the next activity. A forward or back ward pass refers to a network
analysis technique, not waiting time. Waiting time is the correct definition of lag.
Which of the following is the BEST project management tool to use to determine the
longest time the project will take?
A: Work breakdown structure
B: Network diagram
C: Bar chart
D: Project charter - - correct ans- -Bar Chart
The bar chart may show an end date, but it is not used to determine dates. The project
charter also may include a required end date, but not a logical determination of how
long the project will take. The network diagram takes the activities from the activity list
and adds dependencies. The dependencies allow us to look at the various paths
through the diagram to determine the longest duration (critical) path. The network
diagram is the best answer.
Which of the following is CORRECT?
A: The critical path helps prove how long the project will take.
, B: There can be only one critical path.
C: The network diagram will change very time the end date changes.
D: A project can never have negative float. - - correct ans- -The critical path helps prove
how long the project will take
This question tests your knowledge about a number of topics. There can often be more
than one critical path. The network diagram may or may not change when the end date
changes, depending on the amount of schedule reserve and the reason for the change
to the schedule. You can have negative float if you are behind schedule. The critical path
helps prove how long the project will take. This is the only correct statement of the
choices given.
What is the duration of a milestone?
A: It is shorter than the duration of the longest activity.
B: It is shorter than the activity it represents.
C: It has no duration.
D: It is the same length as the activity it represents. - - correct ans- -It has no duration
A milestone represents the completion of a series of activities or work packages.
Therefore, it takes no time of its own.
Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between standard deviation and
risk?
A: There is not relationship.
B: Standard deviation tells you if the estimate is accurate.
C: Standard deviation tells you how uncertain the estimate is.
D: Standard deviation tells you if the estimate includes a pad. - - correct ans- -Standard
deviation tells you how uncertain the estimate is
An estimate can have a wide range and still be accurate if the item estimated includes
identified risks. There is no such thing as a pad in proper project management. An
