If you are self studying for the APM PMQ exam here are some questions and topics to consider:
Updated 17th April 2024
Some Typical APM PMQ Exam Questions
Understand risk management and issue management
Question: List and describe five benefits to an organisation of adopting a formal risk management process.
Understand project quality management
Question:
- Part (a) Explain the difference between continual improvement and project quality planning.
- Part (b) List and describe four aspects of project quality assurance.
Understand project procurement
Question: List and describe five typical stages in the process for selection of a supplier via competitive tender.
Understanding the more difficult parts of the syllabus
Question: Describe in five paragraphs using an appropriate model situational leadership?
Tip: This refers to Harsey and Blanchard
Question: Describe five principles of project governance?
Tip: Remember to use SADBET to structure the answer to this question.
Question: Describe in five paragraphs a model for team development?
Tip: This refers to Tuckman
Question: Describe the five steps in the stakeholder management process?
Tip: Remember this is a core project management process
If you answer(ed) like this in the exam you should do very well. We have a growing number of people who have purchased the book and distance learning course, so far we have shipped about 3000 books in 18 months
When you are faced with a ‘through the lifecycle’ type question you can think along the lines you have. So for example…
At the begining, used to define the criteria against which the project wil be judged, to gain consensus across stakeholders, documented, etc.
During the project KPI’s usd to monitor project against achievement of success criteria
KPI’s used as a focus for project reviews and to ensure that the project has not impacted on business as usual activities.
At the end to make sure that it is possible to check that the project has achieved measureable deliverables against requirements
After the end have the success criteria been met (four trains per hour etc)a measure of benefits etc.
You are right to be worried if this question comes up though as it is a very thin answer.
Hi
I have to say I have never seen this question asked in an exam probably because no-one has been able to think of an answer to it.
There certainly are difficulties particular to programme management they probably revolve around
1) The role of the programme manager is split between the business and the projects thet they oversee. They are therefore part time in both (very much like a project sponsor) which of course a programme manager can be. This can lead to difficulties in recruiting to the role, as do you need a ‘super project manager’ or a business leader?
2) The programme needs to be able to understnad the nature of risk across the itself. It will need standards and procedures that allow it to determine which of the risks from various projects actually merit attention over and above the risk in others. What is high risk to one is a low risk to another.
3) The programme will not have visibilty its later projects in very much detail as it tends to evolve. The programme has overall responsibility for the delviery of the strategic benefits, but if the organisation is unable to see later projects and their resourcing requirements then there can be difficulties.
4) Each project will have a series of benefits associated with them. It is a fundamental role of the programme to understand what these are and as in the case of risks it will be difficult to ascribe relative values to each, to understand how important or valuable they may be.
5) The programme has a significantly higher number of stakeholders than a project. Managing these can be very difficult as they will have differing priorities, one project to the next and their relative power can become obscured.
I have answered this questin with reference to a number of other project disciplines not completely related to programme management but you can use these as a cue to help flesh out the answer. For example, above, I have made reference to Roles, Risks, Benefits, Stakeholders. You can use this technique in an number of areas to help trigger your thoughts. I could have used other headings like
communications, change, configuration management, issues, planning and others.
Hope this helps
John
Hi,
Differentiate between a group and a team make five points in your answer…..
“A group is a collection of individuals. Unlike a team they lack some of those attributes that we would normally associate with a Team.
1) A team have complimentary skill sets. For example if I wanted to build a house I would need a bricklayer, pumer, roofer, etc. It would not be any good having just five plumbers.
2) A team have a clearly defined objective. They are all pulling in teh same direction and conntibuting individually to the success of the team in achieving those objectives. If we want to finsh the house on time, all teh individuals must have a clear perspective of what is required to be done when”.
etc etc.
These are two coherent points (you would need five) sometimes using examples but by inference we are differntiating between an unco-ordinated group and a team.
Do the spilling mistakes matter. If they change the meaning then perhaps but you will not need elegant prose nor fautless spelling but it will help. Your handwriting will be a bigger issue. If you cannot read it you cannot mark it.
Hi Judith,
Most of what you need is within the study guide. By extra reading I take it you mean from the BoK. Realistically, you do not need to do a huge amount unless you want to. Some of the references are quite obscure and others expensive to buy. We have done that for you by and large within the guide, but any other sources you can find will help enormously. If you have a particular area that you are not that familiar with try googling it to get a different perspective. Investment appraisal or earned value for example.
If the question asks for an explanaition and an example helps to get over your understanding then examples are a good idea. If you do not have work based ones then you can simply use hypothetical ones. Only use examples where they help you explain your point but if you can do it without then fine.
If you wanted to spend time I would recommend now having a go at some fo teh exam questions in teh back of the book. When you come along to teh event next week I will be able to give you example answers so you can compare.
Answer questions as if you are trying to describe or explain something to a reasonably intelligent person that knows nothing about project management.
You will be aiming for between 12 and 15 sentences and about 1.5 pages of writing for each question.