The PRINCE2 ® Practitioner Examination

Sample Paper 1 - PT0081

Question Booklet
Multiple Choice
Exam Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Instructions
1. You should attempt all 68 questions. Each question is worth one mark.

2. Mark all answers on the answer sheet provided. Use a pencil (NOT a pen).

3. You have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete this exam.

4. This is an open book exam. You can use the Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 (2017)

for guidance.

5. No other material is allowed.

6. Read the “Football Pitch” project scenario in the Scenario Booklet.

7. You will also need the “Additional Information” in the Scenario Booklet to answer some questions.

This is indicated before the question.

8. Each question is separate. Do not use information from one question to answer another question.

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Principles:
Q1: The Executive (CFO), with support from a financial assistant in the town hall, wishes to create a
return on investment calculation using the standard project evaluation form: “project evaluation.” The
financial assistant prepares this “project evaluation” in the “starting up a project” process and this
document will add to the project brief.
Which principle is being applied, and why?
A. Continued business justification, because the executive can get assistance from project
assurance to help with the creation of the outline business case.
B. Continued business justification, because the justification for starting the project needs to
be recorded in some form of business case. 

C. Defined roles and responsibilities, as each role knows what is expected from them.
D. Defined roles and responsibilities, as business sponsors endorse the objectives and
ensure that the business investment provides value for money.


Q2: The project manager updates the business case document at the end of stage two with the latest
costs information and makes this document available for the project board.
Which principle is being applied, and why?
A. Continued business justification, because the justification should be checked that it
remains valid throughout the life of the project.

B. Continued business justification, because projects driven by legislation should be
supported by a business justification.
C. Manage by stages, as reporting on the status of the project is mandatory.
D. Manage by stages, as the justification for the next stage needs to be considered before
the next stage is allowed to start.

Q3: During the pre-project process, the town hall CFO checks if the project is aligned with
organization strategy and discusses this with the rest of the project board.
Is this an appropriate application of the “continued business justification” principle? 

A. No, because this should have been checked before the project mandate was issued.
B. No, because the project manager should be checking if the project is aligned with the
strategy while preparing the outline business case.
C. Yes, because linking projects to the organizational objectives ensures benefits are
aligned to strategy. 

D. Yes, because this ensures that the justification will remain valid throughout the project.

Q4: One of the members of the senior user role visited another football pitch in the province to view
the dugouts and learned that there were issues with the installation due to bad work done by the
installation company. They provided this information to the project manager as this supplier may be
considered for the project.
Is this an appropriate application of the “learn from experience” principle? 

A. Yes, because lessons should be learned and applied during a project. 

B. Yes, it is the element of uniqueness that makes projects challenging.
C. No, because gathered lessons should be positive for the project. 

D. No, because lessons are gathered by the project manager or team managers.

Q5: During stage 2, the PM collects the suggestions for improving future work from the checkpoint
reports which are created by the team managers, and the PM adds these to the appropriate log file.
Which principle is being applied, and why?
A. Defined roles and responsibilities, as all stakeholders should be reporting lessons.
B. Defined roles and responsibilities, as team managers should be providing regular
checkpoint reports during the stage.
C. Learn from experience, as the project should continue to learn. Lessons should be
included in relevant reports and reviews. 

D. Learn from experience, as all useful lessons are gathered during the delivery stages.

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Q6: During the pre-project process, the executive appoints the procurement manager as the senior
supplier and informs the project manager to go over the role description with them.
Is this an appropriate application of the “defined roles and responsibilities”? 

A. Yes, because all projects have three primary stakeholders.
B. Yes, as the senior supplier should know what is expected from them.
C. No, the PM should first check their availability.
D. No, the executive needs to go over the role description with the executive.

Q7: As this is not a big project, the executive decides to appoint just the senior supplier to the project
board as this person has lots of experience working with contractors.
Is this an appropriate application of the “defined roles and responsibilities”? 

A. Yes, as the project should be tailored to suit the environment.
B. Yes, as the suppliers provide the resources and expertise required by the project.
C. No, as projects must have an explicit project management team.
D. No, as projects must have three primary stakeholders and they should be represented in
the project board.

Q8: The project board decides the length of stages as four weeks as this aligns with the project
management standards from the leading supplier as they provide the resources and expertise
required to level the football pitch.
How well does this apply the “manage by stages” principle? 

A. It applies it well, as the project board must take their suppliers into account.
B. It applies it well, as this is the main supplier for the project.
C. It applies it poorly, as the length of stages should only be defined depending on
significant control points defined by the programme. 

D. It applies it poorly, as the length of stages should not be defined on the supplier’s
organizational policies and standards but their own.

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Business Case:
Here are three statements from the business case for the Football Pitch for Community Project.
Under which heading of the business case (A-F) should the statements be recorded?
Choose only one heading for each statement. A heading can be used more than once.

Q9: Two trees need to be cut to make way for the football pitch A. Reasons
B. Business options
Q10: One suggestion put forward is to create a football pitch for C. Expected benefits
community in the local park
D. Expected dis-benefits
Q11: Local members of the town park and environment organization E. Costs
may object to the football pitch which can kill the project F. Major risks

Q12: During the fifth month of the project, the project manager learns of a new issue. The electricity
prices have increased and this may have a big impact on the evening use of the football pitch, but it
will not affect the cost of the project. The project manager decides not to take any action for now and
waits until the end of the stage to update the business case and send it to the project board.
Is this an appropriate action, and why?
A. Yes, as the project manager needs to update the business case at the end of each stage.
B. Yes, as the cost increase will happen after the project, so the project manager doesn’t need
to change any plan at the moment.
C. No, because the project manager needs to consult with the executive and update the
business case based on his direction.
D. No, because when any new issues arise which have an impact on business case, the project
manager needs to review the impact of the issues and risks on the business case and check
if the expected costs go out of tolerance or not.

Q13: While preparing the business case during the “initiating a project” process, the executive
reminds the project manager that there is no need to include “do nothing” as an option in the business
case as the other options are considered by the project board.
Is this an appropriate action, and why?
A. Yes, because we need to tailor PRINCE2 documents to fit to project needs.
B. Yes, because the project manager has to define the business option based on requirements.
C. No, because business case always should include “do nothing” as the first business option.
D. No, because it is the executive’s responsibility to create the business case.

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Organization:
Use the “Additional Information” in the scenario booklet.

Here are three roles relating to the Football Pitch project. Which individual (A-F) would be most
appropriate? Choose only one individual for each role. An individual can be used only once.
A. Portfolio Support
Q14: Supplier assurance
B. Tender Manager

Q15: Project manager C. Procurement Assistant 

D. Security contractor 

Q16: Project support E. Architect 

F. Town services manager 


Q17: As a result of previous lessons, this recommendation has been made: "If an executive is
appointed who does not have an understanding of PRINCE2, someone with experience of applying
PRINCE2 should undertake business project assurance." The project manager has therefore been
appointed business project assurance during the initiation stage.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, because the executive does not have the necessary skills.
B. Yes, because the project manager has the experience required to deliver the project product.
C. No, because this will be a conflict of interest for the project manager.
D. No, because the project manager can appoint project support to take care of this. 


Q18: To ensure a successful project, the executive decides to lead from the top and advises the
project manager during the initiation stage that the project board will be run like a democracy.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, this is appropriate and important for gathering requirements.
B. Yes, as this is a PRINCE2 requirement and supports the roles and responsibilities principle.
C. No, as the senior user has more authority than the senior supplier as they represent the user
requirements which are a reason for the project.
D. No, as the executive is ultimately accountable for the project’s success.

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Quality:
Here are three items of information that will be included in the project product description for the
“football project.”
Under which heading (A-F) should they be recorded?
A. Purpose
Q19: Lighting must be sufficient to play at night
B. Composition
Q20: The senior user will accept the project product C. Development skills required
D. Project-level quality tolerances
Q21:Provide a playing field for the community E. Acceptance criteria
F. Acceptance responsibilities

Q22: When planning the second stage, the project manager wishes to add the producer, reviewer,
and approver for each product that will be delivered in the next stage so they can follow up on the
quality activities.
Which action should the project manager take?
A. The project manager adds this information to the quality management approach.
B. The project manager adds this information to the quality register.
C. The project manager does not need to do this as this is not a PRINCE2 requirement.
D. The project manager adds this information to the stage plan.

Q23: During the second stage, the senior user and executive have agreed to update the acceptance
responsibilities to involve both of them and not just the senior user.
Which action should the project manager take?
A. Update the responsibilities section in the project plan.
B. There is nothing to do and this can be decided at the end of the project.
C. Add a note about this in the daily log with a reminder during the closing a project process.
D. Update the project product description with this information during the stage boundary
process.

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Plans:
Here are three statements that are considered when planning the Football Pitch project.

Which step in PRINCE2’s recommended approach to planning do they apply to? Choose only one
step for each statement. A step can be used more than once.

Q24: The PM creates a work breakdown structure for A. Designing a plan 


a single product B. Defining and analyzing the products 

C. Identifying activities and dependencies
Q25: The PM creates a diagram to show the sequence
in which products will be developed D. Preparing estimates 

E. Preparing a schedule 

Q26:The PM will consider the planning horizon F. Documenting a plan 


Q27: Toward the end of the initiation stage, the executive advises the project manager that the
programme should be taken into account when planning the project.
Is the executive correct in asking this, and why?
A. Yes, as the number and length of stages will be influenced by the programme plan.
B. Yes, as the executive is responsible for the project.
C. No, as this is up to the project manager on how to plan the project.
D. No, as this has already been decided in the project approach in the SU process.

Q28: When creating the stage plan, the project manager will also add the activities to the work
packages as this is helpful for the team managers and they can better estimate the amount of work
when the project manager hands out the work packages.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as this speeds up the hand over process of the work packages to the team managers.
B. Yes, as this is part of the step: defining and analyzing the products.
C. No, as activities are not added to the work packages.
D. No, the team managers add the activities to the work packages and not the project manager.

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Risk:
The following risk has been recorded in the risk register: "Due to the decision to choose artificial
grass, there is risk that the football pitch will not fit into the city park surroundings, which will result in
protests and having to add a new surface at a cost of €6,500.”
Here are three items of information to be included in the risk register. Under which heading of the risk
register (A-F) should the information be recorded?
A. Probability, impact, and expected
Q29: The risk will most likely happen during the laying of the value
artificial grass in stage 3
B. Proximity
Q30: The project manager has asked the senior user to C. Risk response
manage this risk and meet with the necessary stakeholders D. Risk status
Q31:The estimated value of this risk is about €2000 E. Risk owner
F. Risk actionee

Q32: As each project is unique, the project manager does not align with any centrally defined risk
management policies but does use any centrally defined risk management techniques and adopts
centrally deployed tools to help them with risk management.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, this is appropriate as each project is unique.
B. Yes, as aligning with any centrally defined risk management policies is optional.
C. No, as the project manager must align with any centrally defined risk management policies.
D. No, as according to PRINCE2, the project manager must always follow organizational,
programme, or portfolio policies.

Q33: During the SB process, after the second stage, the executive recommends some changes to the
risk management procedure. The project manager documents these in the risk register.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as this is a change to the risk management procedure and must be documented.
B. Yes, as the executive is permitted to make suggestions to the risk management procedure.
C. No, the project manager should not update the risk register.
D. No, the executive is not allowed to make suggestions to the risk management procedure.

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Change:
The project manager has agreed with the building contractor on a drainage system for the Football
Pitch project. In the middle of the project, the project manager receives a letter from the building
contractor mentioning that the drainage system’s price has increased. So they have to replace the
system with another cheaper system or increase the contract price.
Here are three actions being taken in response to the change. Which role (A-E) should be responsible
for carrying them out?
Choose only one role for each action. A role can be used more than once.

Q34: Decide if the new cheaper drainage system meets the A. Corporate, programme
requirements management, or the customer
B. Executive
Q35: Send the issue to the change authority C. Senior user
D. Project manager
Q36: Maintain the issue register and document this issue
E. Team manager

Q37: The project manager wished for the stage to stay within budget and decided to choose a lower
quality fence than what was specified in the security fence product description but that still met the
quality requirements. As this issue is in his delegation limits, the project manager decided to manage
it informally and record it in the daily log.
Is this an appropriate approach to controlling change, and why?
A. Yes, because the project manager has to record all informal issues in the daily log.
B. Yes, because this is in the delegation limits of the project manager, and they can decide how
to handle the issue.
C. No, because this is a formal issue. This is a small change to one of the requirements in a
baselined product description, and it needs to be recorded in the issue register.
D. No, because lower quality may decrease customer satisfaction, so before any action, the
project manager has to check with the senior user first.

Q38: During the initiation stage, while planning the project, two members of the project support team
argue about how to tailor the change principle and what are the minimum management products. One
of them believes that the project needs issue register, change control procedure as the minimum
management product to comply with PRINCE2.
Is this appropriate for them to believe this, and why?
A. Yes, the issue register and change control approach are the two main change management
products that are produced and maintained in a PRINCE2 project.
B. Yes, PRINCE2 mandates the projects to tailor the methodology based on the project
characteristics. So they decided to have two management products in this project.
C. No, PRINCE2 project needs issue register, issue report, and change control approach at a
minimum.
D. No, the issue report and change control approach are the two main change management
products that are produced and maintained in a PRINCE2 project.

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Progress:
Here are three actions relating to controlling progress on the Football Pitch project. Which role (A-E)
should carry them out?
Choose only one role for each action. A role can be used more than once.

Q39: Ensure that progress toward the outcome remains A. Team manager
consistent from the user perspective B. Senior user
Q40: Confirm management stage and project progress against C. Project assurance
agreed tolerances D. Executive
Q41:Inform project support of completed quality activities E. Project support

Q42: Project assurance complains to the project manager that the frequency and format of the
checkpoint reports is not consistent in the project.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, the project manager must have consistent checkpoint reporting from the teams.
B. Yes, as project assurance checks if the rate of reporting is within the reporting tolerance.
C. No, as project assurance should be complaining to the team manager.
D. No, as this depends on the individual work package and cannot be defined for all work
packages.

Q43: During the third stage, the project manager sees that they are going to be 3% above the 20%
tolerance and they escalate to the project board. The project board reviews the exception report and
decides to widen this current stage time tolerance to 25%.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as this is possible for time and costs tolerances but not benefits, scope, risk, or quality.
B. Yes, the project board can decide to widen the tolerances during a stage.
C. No, this is not an option in PRINCE2, the project board must ask for an exception plan.
D. No, the project board cannot raise tolerances during a stage.

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Starting up a project:
Here are three actions which occur during the pre-project process for the Football Pitch project.
In which activity (A-F) should the action occur? Choose only one activity for each action.
A. Appoint the executive and the project
Q44: The project manager considers any security manager
constraints that apply to the project or the operation of its B. Capture previous lessons
products C. Design and appoint the project
management team
Q45: The project manager creates the daily log D. Prepare the outline business
case
Q46: The project manager reviews the lessons log for E. Select the project approach and
lessons related to the project management team structure assemble the project brief
F. Plan the initiation stage


Q47: During the activity “prepare the outline business case,” the project manager decides to take the
first action in the second planning step which is “define and analyze the products.”
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as the first draft of the project plan is created during this activity.
B. Yes, as the project manager uses the product based planning technique here.
C. No, this activity is focused on the outline business case.
D. No, planning the project starts in the initiation stage and in this process.


Directing a project:
Here are three actions from the “directing a project” process for the Football Pitch project.
In which activity (A-E) should the action occur? Choose only one activity for each action.

Q48: The project board reviews and approves a new product

description created for the “advertising board” before the third A. Authorize initiation
delivery stage B. Authorize the project
C. Authorize a stage or
Q49: The project board responds to an exception report by exception plan
increasing the stage tolerances
D. Give ad hoc direction
Q50: The project board confirms the project approach recommended E. Authorize project closure
by the project manager

Q51: During the second delivery stage, the project board (acting as change authority) grants a
concession to an off-specification regarding the “two dugouts.”
Is it appropriate for the project board to do this, and why?
A. Yes, as they have the change authority role and this is a typical response.
B. Yes, as grant a concession or ask for an exception plan are the only available responses.
C. No, as grant a concession is a change request response and not an off-specification.
D. No, the change authority is not allowed to decide on off-specifications.

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Initiating a project:
Here are three actions that take place during the “initiating a project” process. Which theme (A-F) is
being applied?
Choose only one theme for each action. A theme can be used more than once.

Q52: The project manager seeks lessons related to communication A. Business case
management from similar previous projects B. Organization
Q53: The project manager documents the project tolerances, the number of C. Risk
stages, and the frequency and format of communication D. Progress
Q54:A workshop is facilitated to create a product breakdown structure with E. Plans
Town Services Manager, other users, and two team managers F. Quality

Q55: During the activity “refine the business case,” the project manager adds the following information
to the business case: 1) the costs and timescale (from the project plan), 2) the benefits to be gained,
and 3) how the realization of each benefit is to be measured.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, all this information is added to the business case.
B. Yes, this is added by the project manager with support from the executive.
C. No, how the realization of each benefit is to be measured is not added to the business case.
D. No, only the costs and timescale (from the project plan) are added to the business case.

Controlling a stage:
Here are three actions that are carried out during the “controlling a stage” process. During which
activity (A-F) should each action be carried out?
Choose only one activity for each action. An activity can be used only once.

Q56: The project manager defines the tolerances for the work A. Authorize a work package
package that contains the two dugouts and pitch markings B. Review work package status
Q57: Due to a privacy issue with security cameras, the project C. Review the management
manager prepares a new work package that defines how the stage status
cameras are to be configured to solve the security issue D. Report highlights
Q58: The project board is provided with regular summary E. Escalate issues and risks
information about the status of the management stage and project F. Take corrective action

Q59: During stage three, the project manager is reviewing work package status and notices that the
two football shelters have failed the quality review as they have no side protection. The project
manager instructs the quality review person to accept them as this is not such a big deal.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as this is a way to keep the stage on track.
B. Yes, as the project manager is taking corrective action and within tolerance.
C. No, as the quality review person is independent of the project manager.
D. No, as only the team manager can give instructions to the quality reviewer.

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Managing product delivery processes:
Q60: The building contractor team manager was provided with a copy of the work package and was
asked to create a team plan. The project manager received a team plan which just showed a number
of workers assigned to construct the goal posts.
Is this an appropriate application of PRINCE2 for this project?
A. No, because the team plan should show that the product(s) can be completed within the
given constraints.
B. No, because creation of the team plan is the responsibility of the project manager.
C. Yes, because the team manager should capture and record the effort expended when
developing the product(s) within the work package.
D. Yes, because the team manager should use alternative resources if the skills specified are
not available.

Q61: During stage 3, when executing a fixed-price artificial surface work package of € 9,000, the
contractor team manager recorded an actual spend to date of € 9,000, with a further spend of € 2,000
required to complete this work. The team manager reported this information to the project manager
three days later in the weekly checkpoint report.
Was this an appropriate application of PRINCE2 for this project?
A. No, because the project manager is to be notified immediately of any issues.
B. No, because the team manager should notify the project manager immediately in the form of
an exception report.
C. Yes, because the team manager should inform the project manager with product status in the
checkpoint report.
D. Yes, because the project manager requires this information to update the team plan with
actuals.

Q62: Which one of the following is NOT the building contractor’s PRINCE2 responsibility while
executing “level surface” work package?
A. Check the level surface and record completed quality management activities.
B. Advise the project manager of the status of issues and risks associated with the product.
C. Review the “level surface” work package and obtain any referenced documentation.
D. Review and approve the work package and report to the project manager.

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Managing a stage boundary process:
Q63: The Football Pitch project is approaching the end of stage two and the project seems to be on
track and well within tolerances specified by the project board.
Which action is optional for the project manager to do?
A. Prepare an end stage report
B. Revise the business case
C. Prepare lessons report
D. Revise the project plan

Q64: The project manager notices that the quality information in the product description for the
artificial grass is not adequate and they decide to facilitate a workshop with users, team manager, and
quality assurance to update the product description.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, and the project manager may also invite project support.
B. Yes, but the project manager should get an independent person to facilitate the workshop.
C. No, as the quality assurance role is not required.
D. No, as this should have been documented in the initiation stage.
Q65: After completing the next stage plan, the project manager decides not to update the quality
register as this should not be done until the products have been reviewed and approved.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as the products need to be reviewed and approved before they are accepted.
B. Yes, as the quality register should not be updated during the stage boundary process.
C. No, as the reviewer and approver already need to plan the actual dates in their own planning
documents and synch with the quality register and stage plan.
D. No, as the project manager should add the following target information for each product to the
quality register: 1) production date, 2) reviewer date, and 3) approver date.

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Closing a project process:
Q66: The project manager is working to prepare the Football Pitch project for closure and is in contact
with the town facilities department which will take over maintenance of the football pitch.
In which “closing a project” activity should the project manager confirm acceptance by the
maintenance department?
A. Prepare planned closure
B. Hand over products
C. Evaluate the project
D. Recommend project closure

Q67: While creating the end project report, the project manager includes an assessment of the results
of the project against the expected benefits in the business case. The expected benefits were to book
20% of the football pitch capacity before the opening date.
Is this appropriate, and why?
A. Yes, as some benefits always have to be realized during a project.
B. Yes, as assessing the benefits can be done during” creating the end project report” activity.
C. No, as assessing the benefits is not done in the “closing a project” process.
D. No, as the football pitch must be fully available before bookings can take place.

Q68: At the very end of the project, the project manager refers to the project product description to
identify who needs to be made aware the project is closing.
Is this appropriate for the project manager, and why?
A. Yes, as the project description was created during the “starting up a project” process.
B. Yes, as the project manager must notify the necessary stakeholders.
C. No, they need to review the project plan for this information.
D. No, they need to review the communication management approach for this information.

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Answers: Sample Paper 1
01=B, 02=A, 03=C, 04=A, 05=C, 06=B, 07=D, 08=D, 09=D, 10=B,
11=F, 12=D, 13=C, 14=C, 15=E, 16=A, 17=C, 18=D, 19=E, 20=F,
21=A, 22=B, 23=D, 24=C, 25=B, 26=A, 27=A, 28=C, 29=B, 30=E
31=A, 32=B, 33=C, 34=C, 35=D, 36=D, 37=C, 38=A, 39=B, 40=C,
41=A, 42=D, 43=B, 44=E, 45=A, 46=C, 47=B, 48=C, 49=D, 50=A
51=A, 53=B, 53=D, 54=E, 55=C, 56=A, 57=F, 58=D, 59=C, 60=A
61=A, 62=C, 63=C, 64=C, 65=D, 66=B, 67=B, 68=D

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