PMI-SP PMI Scheduling Professional Practice Questions
Prepare for PMI-SP with more than an answer.
- Level
- Professional
- Valid for
- 3 years
Domains covered on the exam 5
- Schedule Strategy14%
- Schedule Planning and Development31%
- Schedule Monitoring and Controlling35%
- Schedule Closeout6%
- Stakeholder Communications Management14%
- 1
A project manager is using Parametric Estimating to determine the duration of a cable-laying activity. The team knows from past projects that they can lay 100 meters of cable per hour. The total length required is 5,000 meters. What is the estimated duration in hours?
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Correct answer: B
Parametric estimating uses a statistical relationship between historical data and other variables. 5,000 meters / 100 meters per hour = 50 hours.
- 2
Which of the following is NOT a valid dependency type in the Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)?
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Correct answer: C
The four valid PDM relationships are Finish-to-Start (FS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), Start-to-Start (SS), and Start-to-Finish (SF). 'Start-to-End' is not standard terminology in PDM.
- 3
You are identifying milestones for a software development schedule. Which of the following is the defining characteristic of a milestone?
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Correct answer: B
A milestone is a significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio. It has zero duration and consumes no resources.
- 4
When creating a schedule, you identify that 'Pouring Concrete' must happen before 'Framing', but this is based on best practices rather than physical necessity or contract. What type of dependency is this?
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Correct answer: C
Discretionary (or soft logic) dependencies are established based on knowledge of best practices or some unusual aspect of the project where a specific sequence is desired, even though there may be other acceptable sequences.
- 5
A project schedule indicates a 'Start-to-Start' relationship between 'Write Documentation' and 'Edit Documentation' with a 3-day lag. What does this mean?
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Correct answer: B
Start-to-Start (SS) means the successor can start after the predecessor starts. The 3-day lag imposes a delay, meaning 'Edit' must wait 3 days after 'Write' begins.
- 6
You are performing a Backward Pass on a network diagram. Activity X has two successors: Activity Y (Late Start = 20) and Activity Z (Late Start = 15). Activity X has a duration of 5 days. What is the Late Finish (LF) and Late Start (LS) of Activity X?
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Correct answer: B
In a Backward Pass, the Late Finish (LF) of a predecessor is the MINIMUM Late Start (LS) of its successors. Min(20, 15) = 15.
LS = LF - Duration = 15 - 5 = 10. - 7
Which of the following activities should logically be completed BEFORE the Schedule Baseline is approved?
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Correct answer: A, B
Resource leveling is a technique applied to a schedule model before the baseline is finalized to ensure the resource demand does not exceed availability.
If the initial calculated schedule exceeds the target date, compression techniques (Crashing/Fast Tracking) must be applied before the baseline is approved.
- 8
A Scheduling Professional is establishing the scheduling approach for a complex infrastructure project with high regulatory compliance requirements. The project charter dictates strict adherence to a fixed deadline due to government funding. Which scheduling methodology should be selected to best manage the critical path while ensuring all regulatory activities are documented and tracked?
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Correct answer: B
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is the optimal choice for projects with strict deadlines and regulatory requirements where specific activity sequences and the longest path (critical path) must be strictly managed to ensure on-time completion. CPM provides the necessary granularity for regulatory documentation.
- 9
During the development of the Schedule Management Plan, the team is defining how schedule contingencies will be handled. Which component of the plan should explicitly detail the procedures for accessing management reserves versus contingency reserves?
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Correct answer: B
The Schedule Change Control Procedures within the Schedule Management Plan define how changes to the schedule baseline are managed, including the specific governance required to access management reserves (for unforeseen risks) versus contingency reserves (for identified risks).
- 10
True or False: In Rolling Wave Planning, work to be performed in the near term is planned in detail, while work in the future is planned at a higher level of the WBS.
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Correct answer: A
This is the definition of Rolling Wave Planning, an iterative planning technique where the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while the work in the future is planned at a higher level.
