Free PMI-PBA examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the PMI-PBA examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A clinic team writes its problem statement as: We need a new scheduling application. Before comparing solutions, what should the business analyst ask the team to clarify?

   1. A. Which application has the shortest installation period
   2. B. Which scheduling outcome is deficient and who is affected
   3. C. Which vendor has the largest number of existing customers
   4. D. Which application offers the largest catalog of features

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CMS cautions: "Beware of defining the problem in terms of a solution". The statement prescribes an application before defining the actual scheduling problem. Clarifying the deficient outcome and affected people establishes the need against which alternatives can be evaluated.

   Reference: How to Use the Fishbone Tool for Root Cause Analysis — Page 1, Directions, first bullet

2. 2At the start of business analysis planning, which document gives the analyst the structured justification used to support selecting the initiative?

   1. A. A detailed interface control document
   2. B. A business case
   3. C. A component verification procedure
   4. D. A configuration status report

   Answer: B

   Explanation: HHS describes a business case as a "structured proposal for business improvement that is prepared to facilitate a selection decision". Reviewing it establishes the initiative’s justification before planning detailed analysis work.

   Reference: HHS EPLC Practices Guide — Business Case — Background, printed page 1

3. 3An analyst wants to uncover needs that workers may not mention in an interview by observing their normal work and asking clarifying questions. Which method fits?

   1. A. Configuration auditing
   2. B. Contextual inquiry
   3. C. Weighted option scoring
   4. D. Release-baseline comparison

   Answer: B

   Explanation: 18F describes contextual inquiry as observing participants at work, then asking questions, to discover needs that "might not emerge in an interview". It investigates actual work rather than evaluating a baseline or scoring alternatives.

   Reference: Contextual inquiry — 18F Methods — What and Why

4. 4Traceability review finds a requirement with no parent, no source expectation, and no accepted self-derived justification. What concern does NASA’s guidance identify?

   1. A. It is a normal top-level requirement with no need for an origin
   2. B. It may be unjustified gold plating or indicate a flawed trace
   3. C. It is an accepted self-derived requirement without concurrence
   4. D. It is an unallocated parent requirement with a justified business origin

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The source states: "the requirement is “gold plating” and should be eliminated." NASA warns that absent justified origin can indicate gold plating or a flawed trace. Top-level status does not eliminate the need for a source, derivation does not imply accepted concurrence, and an unallocated parent with a justified origin is a different condition.

   Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook — Section 6.2.1.2.3, printed page 132

5. 5A solution’s test report contains measurements but no comparison with the expected results. What is needed to determine whether the validation objectives were met?

   1. A. Compare actual results with expected results
   2. B. Treat completion of test execution as automatic acceptance
   3. C. Infer success from the number of measurements collected
   4. D. Choose a passing threshold after observing the measurements

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NASA states: "It is important to compare the actual validation results to the expected results." Collected measurements alone do not establish conformance, and post hoc thresholds do not preserve the planned evaluation.

   Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook — Section 5.4.1.2.3, printed page 103

6. 6Which technique investigates a business problem by repeatedly asking what caused the previous explanation?

   1. A. Weighted scoring
   2. B. Stakeholder mapping
   3. C. Five Whys
   4. D. Requirements tracing

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CMS states: "The Five Whys is a simple problem-solving technique that helps to get to the root of a problem quickly." The method pursues underlying causes through successive causal questions. Weighted scoring compares alternatives, stakeholder mapping analyzes parties, and requirements tracing records relationships rather than repeatedly investigating causes.

   Reference: Five Whys Tool for Root Cause Analysis — Page 1, Overview

7. 7An analyst needs to understand why the organization chose a proposed solution instead of continuing its existing process. Which business-case content directly answers this question?

   1. A. Reasons for carrying forward or rejecting the considered alternatives
   2. B. The preferred solution’s feature scope without comparison
   3. C. The delivery forecast for the recommended option alone
   4. D. The stakeholder ownership of the selected business capability

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HHS includes "an analysis of proposed alternative solutions (with reasons for rejecting or carrying forward each option)". That comparative rationale explains selection over the status quo. Scope, schedule or ownership information about the chosen option alone does not explain why other options were rejected.

   Reference: HHS EPLC Practices Guide — Business Case — Background, printed page 1

8. 8In a semi-structured stakeholder interview, a participant raises a relevant need absent from the prepared questions. What approach follows 18F guidance?

   1. A. Explore it while using the guide to cover necessary topics
   2. B. Stop the participant and read only the prepared questions
   3. C. Treat the comment as an approved requirement immediately
   4. D. Exclude the comment because it prevents strict standardization

   Answer: A

   Explanation: 18F says: "Follow the conversation where the participant takes it." It also advises using the guide to cover necessary topics. Semi-structured inquiry permits relevant exploration without equating a comment with approval.

   Reference: Stakeholder and user interviews — 18F Methods — How to do it, conducting the conversation

9. 9A parent requirement includes two capabilities. Its linked child requirements address only one. What traceability correction is needed?

   1. A. Remove the parent’s second capability without approval
   2. B. Declare the parent fulfilled because at least one child exists
   3. C. Duplicate the existing child without changing its content
   4. D. Identify and link requirements that complete fulfillment of the parent

   Answer: D

   Explanation: NASA says "some other requirement(s) should complete fulfillment of the parent requirement and be included in the traceability matrix." The existence of a link does not prove full parent coverage.

   Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook — Section 6.2.1.2.3, printed page 132

10. 10A test report shows acceptable values, but the measurement instrument’s calibration was invalid during testing. What should the analyst conclude about that evidence?

    1. A. A favorable number proves the requirement was satisfied
    2. B. Calibration matters only for failed tests, not passed tests
    3. C. The evidence’s validity needs reassessment before relying on it
    4. D. The requirement should be weakened to match the recorded values

    Answer: C

    Explanation: NASA says verification instrumentation should be "calibrated correctly". Invalid calibration undermines confidence in the recorded result even when the number appears favorable; it does not justify changing acceptance requirements.

    Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook — Section 5.3.1.2.2, printed page 95