Free PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A scheduling policy distinguishes the approved baseline from the current schedule. Which statement correctly assigns their roles?

   1. A.The baseline records actual progress; the current schedule preserves original commitments.
   2. B.The baseline preserves agreed commitments; the current schedule reflects progress and forecasts.Correct answer: B
   3. C.The baseline contains remaining work; the current schedule contains only completed work.
   4. D.The baseline replaces network logic; the current schedule replaces resource assignments.

   Explanation: GAO states, "The baseline schedule represents the program’s commitments to all stakeholders, while the current schedule represents the actual plan to date." The baseline is the reference commitment, whereas the current model changes with performance and remaining forecasts. A reverses them; C incorrectly partitions the work; D misstates the contents of both models.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 10, printed p. 135, Baseline and Current Schedules

2. 2Several schedule activities are assigned to WBS elements whose scope has never been defined. What should be developed to clarify the boundaries of these elements?

   1. A.A milestone trend chart
   2. B.A WBS dictionaryCorrect answer: B
   3. C.A resource availability histogram
   4. D.A resource breakdown structure

   Explanation: The source states, "the WBS must have an associated WBS dictionary that clearly defines the scope of each individual WBS element and, therefore, the scope of related schedule activities." A dictionary defines element scope and boundaries. Trend charts show dates, histograms show resource demand, and resource hierarchies do not define WBS scope.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 1, printed p. 21, WBS

3. 3A schedule was saved today, but its progress data were collected through last Friday. What should define the boundary between actual and remaining work?

   1. A.Today's file save date
   2. B.The next reporting deadline
   3. C.The explicit status date for last Friday's updateCorrect answer: C
   4. D.The date on which a reader opens the file

   Explanation: GAO states, "Neither the date on which someone is viewing the schedule nor the latest save date should be used as a substitute for a valid status date" The data date identifies the update's actual cutoff. Save, viewing, and reporting dates do not establish that cutoff.

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

4. 4With whom should the scheduler work to obtain final acceptance of contractual schedule components?

   1. A.The scheduling review team
   2. B.The sponsor and/or customerCorrect answer: B
   3. C.The activity estimators
   4. D.The project document controller

   Explanation: The source states, "Obtain final acceptance of the contractual schedule components, by working with sponsor and/or customer" Sponsor/customer is the identified final-acceptance counterpart. Modeling, estimating, or document-control responsibilities alone do not establish that acceptance authority.

   Reference: PMI Scheduling Professional Examination Content Outline — Domain 4, Task 1, printed p. 8

5. 5Which tool is specifically defined by comparing stakeholders' current engagement levels with desired engagement levels?

   1. A.A stakeholder register
   2. B.A responsibility assignment matrix
   3. C.A resource breakdown structure
   4. D.A stakeholder engagement assessment matrixCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The source states, "stakeholder engagement assessment matrix. A matrix that compares current and desired stakeholder engagement levels." That comparison defines the engagement assessment matrix. A register classifies stakeholders, an assignment matrix maps responsibilities, and an RBS classifies resources.

   Reference: PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms — Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix definition, printed p. 29

6. 6Which information should a baseline-control policy preserve in addition to the original activity start and finish dates?

   1. A.Only the latest actual dates, remaining durations, and revised completion forecasts.
   2. B.Only the current resource shortages, approved invoices, and open contract claims.
   3. C.Only milestone titles, reporting audiences, and the current distribution list.
   4. D.Original work estimates, resource assignments, critical paths, and total float.Correct answer: D

   Explanation: GAO states, "The baseline schedule includes not only original forecasts for activity start and finish dates but also the original estimates for work, resource assignments, critical paths, and total float." These original model attributes support meaningful comparison with subsequent performance. A replaces baseline information with current status; B lists current issues and financial records; C omits the baselined scheduling parameters.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 10, printed p. 135, Baseline and Current Schedules

7. 7What is a work package in a WBS?

   1. A.An organizational unit responsible for multiple projects
   2. B.A resource category grouping similar labor skills
   3. C.A milestone representing a zero-duration event
   4. D.Lowest-level work whose cost, effort, duration, and resources are managedCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The source states, "work package. The work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost, effort, duration, and resources are estimated and managed." A work package is manageable lowest-level work. An organizational unit, resource category, and zero-duration milestone are different objects.

   Reference: PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms — Work package definition, printed p. 33

8. 8Who should supply activity progress data for a periodic schedule update?

   1. A.The people directly managing or performing the workCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Only the executive who receives the final dashboard
   3. C.Only the administrator who maintains software licenses
   4. D.Any reviewer who can see the original baseline dates

   Explanation: GAO states, "Individuals directly managing or performing the work should report progress." They can report observed performance. Audience, licensing, or baseline access alone does not provide firsthand activity status.

   Reference: GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules — Best Practice 9, printed p. 126

9. 9Physical work is complete, but the customer has not accepted a required contractual schedule component. What remains necessary for schedule closeout?

   1. A.Treat physical completion as automatic acceptance of every contract record.
   2. B.Replace the component with an informal progress email.
   3. C.Obtain the required final acceptance of that component.Correct answer: C
   4. D.Delete the component from the closeout record without approval.

   Explanation: The source states, "Obtain final acceptance of the contractual schedule components" Physical completion does not by itself establish acceptance of the specified contractual component. Substitution or deletion does not satisfy that requirement.

   Reference: PMI Scheduling Professional Examination Content Outline — Domain 4, Task 1, printed p. 8

10. 10A stakeholder's explanation of a schedule concern is ambiguous. Which response demonstrates active listening?

    1. A.Agree immediately so the conversation ends without clarification.
    2. B.Restate the understood concern and ask a clarifying question.Correct answer: B
    3. C.Send the original report again without discussing the concern.
    4. D.Interrupt with a solution before the stakeholder finishes explaining.

    Explanation: The paper includes "questions, prompts for clarity" in active listening. Restating and clarifying checks understanding; immediate agreement, repeated transmission, and interruption do not resolve the ambiguity.

    Reference: Art of communication in project management — Examining Communication Factors, Active listening