Free AACE Certified Scheduling Technician (CST) Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the AACE Certified Scheduling Technician (CST) Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which information should a scheduler review to understand the work that a project schedule must represent?

   1. A. The scope of work and project objectives
   2. B. The activity status and actual finish dates
   3. C. The current critical path and total float
   4. D. The schedule update and variance report

   Answer: A

   Explanation: AACE identifies planning input as "Reviewing the scope of work, client requirements, division of responsibility, project objectives and constraints". These establish what the project intends to deliver before schedule activities are developed.

   Reference: AACE RP 14R-90: Required Skills and Knowledge of Planning and Scheduling — Project Planning Phase, p. 4

2. 2Why are activity relationships added to a schedule network?

   1. A. To record the cost paid for completed work
   2. B. To set the percentage complete for each task
   3. C. To choose the audience for a progress report
   4. D. To model the order in which activities occur

   Answer: D

   Explanation: GAO states, "The purpose of a logical relationship, or dependency, is to depict the sequence in which activities occur." Links establish work order.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 2, Predecessor and Successor Logic, p. 28

3. 3What is the central purpose of statusing a project schedule?

   1. A. Replace the approved scope with a new project
   2. B. Assign an identical finish date to every activity
   3. C. Remove links from completed activities
   4. D. Enter actual progress and update remaining-work forecasts

   Answer: D

   Explanation: GAO defines statusing as "updating a plan with actual dates, logic, and progress and adjusting forecasts of the remaining effort." It keeps the schedule current.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 9, p. 121

4. 4What is the major deliverable at the end of schedule development before maintenance begins?

   1. A. A final variance trend report
   2. B. A record of actual finish dates
   3. C. An accepted project baseline schedule
   4. D. A completed as-built schedule

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AACE states, "The major output/deliverable from the schedule development phase is the project baseline schedule as documented in the schedule basis document." The baseline follows development and review.

   Reference: AACE RP 14R-90: Required Skills and Knowledge of Planning and Scheduling — Schedule Development, p. 5

5. 5What does a work breakdown structure primarily define for schedule planning?

   1. A. The progress recorded at the data date
   2. B. The work needed to meet the project objectives
   3. C. The dates calculated by the forward pass
   4. D. The resources available in each calendar

   Answer: B

   Explanation: GAO states that the WBS "defines in detail the work necessary to accomplish a program’s objectives". The schedule then reflects activities based on that defined work.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 1: Capturing All Activities, p. 11

6. 6A successor may begin only after its predecessor has finished. Which relationship models that condition?

   1. A. Finish-to-start
   2. B. Start-to-start
   3. C. Finish-to-finish
   4. D. Start-to-finish

   Answer: A

   Explanation: GAO describes finish-to-start as the link in which "a successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity finishes". The other relationships control different endpoints.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 2, Predecessor and Successor Logic, p. 28

7. 7In a project schedule update, what does the status date separate?

   1. A. Actual completed work from remaining forecast work
   2. B. Labor resources from equipment resources
   3. C. Direct cost from indirect cost
   4. D. Summary activities from milestone activities

   Answer: A

   Explanation: GAO says a status date "defines the demarcation between actual work performed and remaining work." Actuals belong before it; future work is forecast after it.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 9, Statusing Progress, p. 122

8. 8What is the purpose of a schedule basis document submitted with a project schedule?

   1. A. Record actual progress for each reporting period
   2. B. Decompose deliverables into a work hierarchy
   3. C. List risk events and their probabilities
   4. D. Document the assumptions used to develop the schedule

   Answer: D

   Explanation: AACE says the schedule basis "defines the basis for the development of the project schedule." The other options describe progress records, a WBS, and a risk register.

   Reference: AACE RP 38R-06: Documenting the Schedule Basis — 1.1 Scope, p. 2

9. 9A program schedule includes contractor activities but omits required owner review. What input is missing?

   1. A. A shorter reporting interval
   2. B. A different critical path method
   3. C. Work performed by the owner
   4. D. A second activity calendar

   Answer: C

   Explanation: GAO says the schedule includes work "including activities both the owner and contractors are to perform." Required owner review is part of the work to capture.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 1: Capturing All Activities, p. 11

10. 10A successor may start once its predecessor has started, but it need not start at the same instant. Which link fits?

    1. A. Successor finish depends on predecessor start
    2. B. Successor start depends on predecessor start
    3. C. Successor start depends on predecessor finish
    4. D. Successor finish depends on predecessor finish

    Answer: B

    Explanation: GAO says a start-to-start link means "a successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity starts." The four choices pair different endpoints; only the start-to-start pairing matches.

    Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 2, Predecessor and Successor Logic, p. 28