APM Introductory Certificate (APM IC) Sample Questions

Sample Multi-Choice Questions 
1) Which of the following is not a characteristic of a project? 
a) Has a defined life span 
b) Uses a pre-defined set of techniques 
c) Produces defined and measurable business benefits 
d) Has an “element of uniqueness”. 

2) Which of the following best defines a project management methodology? 
a) The projects background, purpose and benefits 
b) A documented process for managing a project 
c) A statement of the sponsor’s business objectives 
d) A software package to record progress 

3) Programme Management is used: 
a) To support strategic change 
b) When a project is running over budget 
c) During crisis management 
d) To co-ordinate line management areas 

4) The Project Manager is responsible for: 
a) The number of change requests accepted 
b) The viability of the business case 
c) Owning all project risks 
d) Managing completion of the defined deliverables 

5) What is a Programme? 
a) A group of unrelated projects controlled by one person 
b) A complex project requiring special tools and techniques 
c) A project run using a series of complex tools 
d) A grouping of projects with a common strategic business purpose 

6) What is a Portfolio? 
a) A grouping of an organisation’s projects and programmes including related business-as-usual activities 
b) A complex project requiring special tools and techniques 
c) An archiving arrangement for project documentation 
d) A grouping of related projects 

7) Typically, which PM team member(s) has most communication links / channels? 
a) Project Manager 
b) Product users 
c) Technical Development Team 
d) Project Sponsor 

The key decision making points which occur during the project life cycle are called all of the following except: 
a) Phase Ends 
b) Kill Points 
c) Design Reviews 
d) Stage Gates 

9) Differences between the various project stakeholder’s requirements are resolved by: 
a) The Project Manager 
b) The organisation’s Project Management Office 
c) The Project Sponsor 
d) The most senior manager in the organisation 

10) The key end result(s) from the implementation phase of a project is/are: 
a) Business Case 
b) Project Management Plan 
c) Need Statement 
d) Deliverables 

11) Project success and failure criteria are first determined: 
a) During the definition phase 
b) When the deliverables are demonstrated 
c) When the business case is defined 
d) When the contracts are let 

12) Consideration of environmental project constraints is an issue for: 
a) Construction projects only 
b) Petrochemical/Nuclear projects only 
c) All projects except I.T. applications 
d) All projects 

13) The Business Case determines: 
a) The project deliverables 
b) The logic of the project plan 
c) How the project will be managed 
d) The feasibility of the project 

14) Which option should always be considered when justifying a new project? 
a) The minimum quality option 
b) The minimum performance option 
c) The earliest delivery option 
d) The do nothing option 

15) The Project Strategy should include: 
a) Detailed cash flow plans 
b) Constraints on how the project should be carried out 
c) Risk analysis plan 
d) Technical specification 

Answers 
1 b 
2 b 
3 a 
4 d 
5 d 
6 a 
7 a 
8 c 
9 c 
10 d 
11 c 
12 d 
13 d 
14 d 
15 b