Free CIM Level 6 Societal Impact Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the CIM Level 6 Societal Impact practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A retailer wants its sustainability plan to address responsible consumption and production. Which UN Sustainable Development Goal most directly matches that objective?

   1. A.Goal 8
   2. B.Goal 12Correct answer: B
   3. C.Goal 13
   4. D.Goal 17

   Explanation: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns." Goal 12 directly addresses consumption and production. Goal 8 centres on economic growth and work, Goal 13 on climate action, and Goal 17 on partnerships.

   Reference: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — Goal 12

2. 2Managers see a sustainability programme as optional and feel no reason to act. Under Kotter's approach, what should leadership build to mobilise commitment?

   1. A.A sense of urgency around a compelling opportunityCorrect answer: A
   2. B.A summary of historical results without explaining the need for change
   3. C.A revised reporting structure without a shared reason to act
   4. D.A detailed task schedule without a compelling future opportunity

   Explanation: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change states: "Inspire people to act – with passion and purpose – to achieve a bold, aspirational opportunity." Urgency mobilises commitment. Historical reporting, structural revision and scheduling can support delivery but do not by themselves supply the missing reason to act.

   Reference: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change — Create A Sense of Urgency

3. 3Before choosing activities for a societal-change programme, a team needs to establish the problem and what is already known. What should it do?

   1. A.Choose the most familiar campaign regardless of existing research
   2. B.Gather and assess relevant evidence with analytical supportCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Assume that a successful project elsewhere will transfer unchanged
   4. D.Treat the sponsor's preferred activity as evidence of the problem

   Explanation: Government Analysis Function — Theory of Change toolkit states: "You should work with analysts to gather and assess any existing evidence relevant to the programme to support this process." Evidence synthesis helps establish the problem and context. Familiarity, untested transfer and sponsor preference do not replace assessment.

   Reference: Government Analysis Function — Theory of Change toolkit — Step 2: Collect evidence and establish context

4. 4Which commitment most directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 5?

   1. A.Improving equal opportunities for women across the organisationCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Replacing fossil-fuel energy across the distribution network
   3. C.Reducing discarded materials across the product portfolio
   4. D.Building international partnerships across the supply network

   Explanation: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls." Gender equality is Goal 5's focus. The other commitments address climate, resource use and partnerships rather than the specified gender goal.

   Reference: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — Goal 5

5. 5Which arrangement best reflects a guiding coalition for an internal sustainability transformation?

   1. A.A distribution list of external organisations receiving campaign announcements
   2. B.An individual analyst producing an annual report independently of change teams
   3. C.A committed group coordinating and communicating change activitiesCorrect answer: C
   4. D.A procurement panel evaluating supplier bids without guiding internal change

   Explanation: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change states: "A volunteer network needs a coalition of committed people – born of its own ranks – to guide it, coordinate it, and communicate its activities." A coalition coordinates and communicates the transformation. A distribution list, isolated reporting role and procurement panel without change leadership do not perform that collective function.

   Reference: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change — Build A Guiding Coalition

6. 6In change planning, how do causal links improve an activity list?

   1. A.They show how actions are expected to lead to outputs and outcomesCorrect answer: A
   2. B.They prove that every intended outcome has already occurred
   3. C.They remove the need to consider external factors
   4. D.They require all programme activities to occur simultaneously

   Explanation: The toolkit states: "Looking at how the inputs, activities, and outputs connect to each other and lead to the outcomes you want to achieve is a helpful part of developing a TOC." Causal links express the expected change mechanism. They do not prove results, remove external influences or require simultaneous activity.

   Reference: Government Analysis Function — Theory of Change toolkit — Step 9: Apply causal links

7. 7A supply-chain strategy prioritises productive employment and decent working conditions. Which SDG most directly expresses this priority?

   1. A.Goal 5
   2. B.Goal 12
   3. C.Goal 17
   4. D.Goal 8Correct answer: D

   Explanation: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: "Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all." Goal 8 explicitly includes decent work. Gender equality, responsible consumption and global partnership are different goal emphases.

   Reference: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — Goal 8

8. 8An organisation has many sustainability initiatives but staff cannot explain how they connect to a different future. Which action addresses this problem?

   1. A.Add more disconnected initiatives to increase visible activity
   2. B.Clarify the future state and connect initiatives to a strategic visionCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Measure only the number of meetings held about the initiatives
   4. D.Replace the future-state discussion with last year's sales figures

   Explanation: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change states: "Clarify how the future will be different from the past and get buy-in for how you can make that future a reality through initiatives linked directly to the vision." A strategic vision connects activities to the desired future. Adding unrelated work or counting meetings does not resolve the missing direction.

   Reference: Kotter — The 8 Steps for Leading Change — Form A Strategic Vision

9. 9A plan assumes that residents will have affordable access to a recycling service after seeing a campaign. Where should this necessary condition be made explicit?

   1. A.In the list of benefits already achieved
   2. B.In the record of media coverage already received
   3. C.In the programme's assumptions and supporting evidenceCorrect answer: C
   4. D.In the count of promotional materials already produced

   Explanation: Government Analysis Function — Theory of Change toolkit states: "Assumptions are the underlying conditions that are necessary for intended change to occur." Affordable service access is a condition on the proposed behaviour pathway. It is not an achieved benefit, publicity result or output count.

   Reference: Government Analysis Function — Theory of Change toolkit — Step 7: Clearly state your assumptions

10. 10What organisational initiative most directly reflects the purpose of SDG 17?

    1. A.Replacing single-use packaging with reusable containers
    2. B.Reducing operational emissions through renewable power
    3. C.Forming cross-sector partnerships to advance sustainable developmentCorrect answer: C
    4. D.Improving gender equality through transparent promotion criteria

    Explanation: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: "Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development." Cross-sector implementation partnerships match Goal 17. The other initiatives address material use, climate and gender equality.

    Reference: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — Goal 17