Try 9 Real Questions From PMP - 1459 Questions & Answers, Updated July 2026
These are unedited questions from the full 1459-question set, pulled from across every exam domain. Click a question to reveal the answer and the full rationale for every option, exactly as it appears in the PDF.
The Riverbend data-center build-out is a predictive project now at month 9 of a planned 14-month schedule. At the current status date: Planned Value (PV) = $4,200,000, Earned Value (EV) = $3,780,000, Actual Cost (AC) = $4,410,000, Budget at Completion (BAC) = $6,500,000. Based on these values, what is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI), and what does it indicate about the project?
Show answer & full rationale
A (Correct): SPI = EV / PV = $3,780,000 / $4,200,000 = 0.90. An SPI below 1.0 means the project is behind schedule.
B: This computes CPI (a cost measure), not SPI, and mislabels it as a schedule finding.
C: This inverts CPI and mislabels it as SPI.
D: This inverts the ratio and misreads the resulting direction.
Using the same Riverbend figures (PV $4,200,000, EV $3,780,000, AC $4,410,000, BAC $6,500,000), what is the Cost Performance Index (CPI) for the project?
Show answer & full rationale
A: This inverts SPI and mislabels it as CPI.
B: This inverts the ratio, producing an incorrect result and interpretation.
C (Correct): CPI = EV / AC = $3,780,000 / $4,410,000 = 0.86. A CPI below 1.0 means the project is over budget.
D: This is the SPI value mislabeled as CPI, and misreads the interpretation as schedule rather than cost.
Assuming the current cost-performance trend on Riverbend continues (BAC $6,500,000, CPI 0.86), what is the forecast Estimate at Completion (EAC)?
Show answer & full rationale
A (Correct): EAC = BAC / CPI = $6,500,000 / 0.86 ≈ $7,558,140, assuming the current cost trend continues.
B: This simply restates BAC, ignoring the unfavorable cost trend entirely.
C: This computes BAC minus AC, which is a remaining-budget figure, not a completion forecast.
D: This restates AC to date, which is not a forecast of total cost at completion.
During contract negotiation, a vendor pushes back on the proposed inspection milestones. What should the project manager's negotiation strategy prioritize?
Show answer & full rationale
A: Ending negotiations abruptly skips reasonable attempts to reach agreement.
B (Correct): A sound negotiation strategy protects the core objective (quality assurance via inspection) while remaining open to reasonable adjustments in form.
C: Accepting terms fully without any negotiation misses the chance to protect the project's interests.
D: Dropping inspections entirely removes a key risk-mitigation control.
On a data-center build-out, the project manager assigns a complex data-migration script to a new team member who is enthusiastic but has never performed this type of task before. According to situational leadership, which leadership style is MOST appropriate?
Show answer & full rationale
A (Correct): Directing matches this team member's development level — low competence, high commitment — by giving clear, specific, step-by-step instructions and closely supervising the work. Situational leadership adapts the PM's style to the individual's competence and commitment, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
B: Delegating fully does not match this team member's actual competence and commitment level for a task they've never performed.
C: Coaching through open-ended questions assumes more baseline competence than a first attempt at this task warrants.
D: Supporting through encouragement alone does not give a true novice the specific direction they need.
A project manager is asked to reduce costs quickly. Someone proposes removing automated testing to save time and tooling expense, but defects are trending upward. What should the project manager do NEXT?
Show answer & full rationale
A: Less stakeholder engagement increases misalignment and rework.
B: Short-term savings from cutting testing often become long-term overruns once defects reach production.
C: Hiding defects by reducing tracking increases operational risk and doesn't reduce the true cost of quality.
D (Correct): Removing automated testing increases rework and schedule risk; the project manager should pursue savings that don't degrade quality and explain that trade-off to the stakeholder who proposed it.
On a hospital wing expansion, the schedule network has two parallel paths from start to finish: Path 1 (Start - Draft - Review - End) totals 56 days, and Path 2 (Review - Approve - Publish - End) totals 43 days. What is the duration of the critical path?
Show answer & full rationale
A: This adds both paths together, which is not a meaningful schedule calculation since the paths run in parallel.
B: Averaging the two path durations has no basis in critical path method (CPM) logic.
C (Correct): The critical path is the longest path through the network with zero float; here that is 56 days (Path 1).
D: This selects the shorter, non-critical path — the critical path is always the longest path, not the shortest.
A supplier proposes substituting a component that meets functional specs but has weaker audit logging. The product is in a regulated environment, and audit evidence is required at release. What should the project manager do NEXT?
Show answer & full rationale
A: Rejection without assessment may miss feasible compliant options.
B (Correct): Audit logging is a compliance constraint; the project manager must assess the change and govern the decision, or enforce corrective action, before release.
C: Functional equivalence doesn't satisfy compliance requirements in a regulated environment.
D: Adding logging "later" may block release and increases regulatory risk in the meantime.
A predictive project is late, and the sponsor says the team should stop risk reviews because “they waste time.” Late surprises have increased. What should the project manager do NEXT?
Show answer & full rationale
A: Arbitrary deletion of low-probability risks hides exposure and reduces preparedness.
B: Eliminating proactive risk management increases firefighting and cost — exactly the pattern of late surprises described.
C (Correct): Focused, action-oriented reviews reduce surprises while minimizing the overhead the sponsor is objecting to.
D: Hiding the risk register reduces transparency and accountability without solving the underlying time complaint.
PMP - 1459 Questions & Answers, Updated July 2026 — $49.99, instant PDF download with full rationale on every answer.
View the practice questions →