Free Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which feature makes a project vision shared among its stakeholders?

   1. A. It is a common image of the completed project held by the group.
   2. B. It is the sponsor's private image of the completed project.
   3. C. It is a schedule agreed to by the project management team.
   4. D. It is a list of individual goals compiled without discussion.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The article defines a shared vision as "an image that a group of people—for example, a project team—hold in common". A private vision, schedule, or collection of separate goals lacks that shared image.

   Reference: Creating a Shared Vision with a Project Team — What is Shared Vision?

2. 2A project is small in budget but strategically critical. How should the management approach be chosen?

   1. A. Use minimum controls solely because the budget is small.
   2. B. Assess its strategic impact and other project characteristics.
   3. C. Copy the approach of the last small project unchanged.
   4. D. Select a life cycle solely from the team size.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The article notes that a small project "can be a strategically high-value project" and may need more management practices. Budget alone is insufficient for tailoring.

   Reference: One Size Does Not Fit All: Choosing the Right Project Approach — Project Categorization System

3. 3A project is defining who can approve scope and budget deviations. Which governance element must be made explicit?

   1. A. The cadence for reporting project status.
   2. B. The tolerance used for escalating risks.
   3. C. The criteria used for accepting deliverables.
   4. D. Decision roles and accountabilities.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: PMI states that governance "defines and clearly articulates structured roles, responsibilities and accountabilities within the project". Clear authority supports approval decisions.

   Reference: Project governance: #1 critical success factor — Why project governance is critical

4. 4Who should help develop a project vision statement to support a common vision?

   1. A. Only the project manager and sponsor.
   2. B. Team members and key stakeholders together.
   3. C. Only the team members assigned to execution.
   4. D. Only external customers after delivery.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The PMI published article says the statement "should be developed collaboratively with team members and key stakeholders". The other options omit one or both participating groups or delay development until after delivery.

   Reference: Compelling Vision — START WITH QUESTIONS

5. 5A project has stable requirements and needs high certainty about the final deliverable. Which life cycle is a plausible fit?

   1. A. An adaptive life cycle because scope is undefined.
   2. B. A hybrid life cycle solely because the budget is fixed.
   3. C. A predictive life cycle with scope defined early.
   4. D. A change-driven life cycle to discover all requirements later.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The PMI paper says a predictive life cycle works best where "there is the need to have a high level of certainty regarding what the project is expected to deliver." This matches stable requirements.

   Reference: One Size Does Not Fit All: Choosing the Right Project Approach — Project life cycle

6. 6A project has many stakeholders and high risk. How should its governance model be sized?

   1. A. Use the identical controls used by every small project
   2. B. Tailor rigor to project complexity, risk, and importance
   3. C. Remove all decision gates to speed delivery
   4. D. Base rigor only on the project manager's preference

   Answer: B

   Explanation: PMI recommends a governance baseline based on "the project's scope, timeline, complexity, risk, stakeholders and importance to the organization."

   Reference: Project governance: #1 critical success factor — Eight Governance Components, Governance Models

7. 7Which question directly identifies why a project is undertaken when developing its vision?

   1. A. What deliverable will the project create?
   2. B. How will the project work be sequenced?
   3. C. Who will approve the finished deliverable?
   4. D. Why is the project being implemented?

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The article identifies "Understanding the reason for implementing the project" as the first step in crafting a vision. The other questions concern schedule, reporting, or costs rather than the reason for the project.

   Reference: Compelling Vision — START WITH QUESTIONS

8. 8A project faces rapidly changing requirements and can deliver value in small increments. Which approach is generally suitable?

   1. A. Predictive with the full scope fixed before work begins.
   2. B. A single fixed plan that prevents stakeholder feedback.
   3. C. A life cycle selected solely because it was used before.
   4. D. Adaptive with short iterations and continuing feedback.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The article says adaptive methods are preferred "when dealing with a rapidly changing environment" and when small improvements can deliver value. The scenario supplies those conditions.

   Reference: One Size Does Not Fit All: Choosing the Right Project Approach — Project life cycle

9. 9A team is defining project governance using its organization's existing policies and procedures. What type of organizational resource does the ECO identify for this work?

   1. A. Organizational process assets
   2. B. Enterprise environmental factors
   3. C. The current schedule baseline
   4. D. The procurement agreement

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The ECO directs candidates to establish governance elements "through the use of organizational process assets (OPAs)."

   Reference: PMI PMP Examination Content Outline — p. 11, Business Environment Task 1

10. 10Which description best fits an effective project vision statement?

    1. A. A detailed register of every work package and deadline.
    2. B. A clear, concise, actionable statement of the desired outcome.
    3. C. A general slogan that leaves the desired outcome undefined.
    4. D. A fixed list of individual performance targets.

    Answer: B

    Explanation: The article states, "A vision statement needs to be clear, concise and actionable." A work register, vague slogan, or individual target list does not express the vision in that form.

    Reference: Compelling Vision — START WITH QUESTIONS