PCC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PCC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which risk response strategy involves shifting the negative impact of a risk to a third party? → Transfer
2. During strategic planning, a PMO identifies that two approved projects compete for the same critical resource. The BEST initial action is to: → Perform resource leveling and present trade-off options to leadership
3. What is the role of mentoring in Project Controls Certification professional development? → Guiding and supporting professional growth through experience sharing
4. Which procurement document provides the most detailed technical and administrative requirements for a project? → Statement of Work (SOW)
5. Which technique is used to systematically identify and prioritize long-range uncertainties that could impact an organization's strategic plan? → Scenario planning
6. A risk response that involves changing the project plan to eliminate a threat entirely is called: → Avoid
7. Which tool is commonly used for qualitative risk assessment? → Risk matrix
8. In project controls, a procurement baseline is used primarily to: → Track vendor performance against contracted deliverables and costs
9. A project controller identifies that a subcontractor's actual costs have exceeded the contract value by 15%. The FIRST action should be to: → Review the contract terms and determine if a formal change order is warranted
10. What is the purpose of feedback in Project Controls Certification professional development? → To provide constructive guidance for improvement
11. Which project selection method assigns scores to projects based on how well they satisfy multiple strategic criteria and then ranks them by total score? → Weighted scoring model
12. Which contract risk mitigation strategy involves the owner retaining a percentage of each payment until the project is substantially complete? → Retainage
13. A project controller reviewing contract terms notices the contract includes a liquidated damages clause. This clause is intended to: → Compensate the owner for losses if the contractor misses key milestones
14. Which SWOT element examines conditions inside the organization that may hinder achievement of strategic objectives? → Weaknesses
15. Which conflict resolution approach is most effective in Project Controls Certification practice? → Collaborative problem-solving with all parties
16. Which budgeting technique assigns costs based on project deliverables? → Activity-based budgeting
17. What is the primary purpose of resource leveling in project controls? → To eliminate resource over-allocations by adjusting activity start and finish dates
18. What is a key benefit of using a Gantt chart in project scheduling? → To visually track progress and task dependencies
19. Which documentation practice is essential in Project Controls Certification communication? → Recording all relevant interactions accurately and timely
20. Which formula represents the most common method of calculating Estimate at Completion (EAC) when current cost performance is expected to continue? → EAC = BAC / CPI
21. Which document establishes the rules, responsibilities, and procedures governing how a contract will be administered throughout its lifecycle? → Contract management plan
22. A project is classified as 'strategic must-do' during portfolio review. This designation means the project: → Must proceed regardless of financial return due to regulatory or mission-critical reasons
23. What is the primary goal of performance monitoring in project management? → To track progress and ensure objectives are met
24. In Project Controls Certification, what is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)? → A measurable value that demonstrates effectiveness
25. In Project Controls Certification, what does contingency planning involve? → Preparing backup plans for potential problems or changes
26. A performance bond in a construction contract protects the project owner by: → Ensuring the contractor completes the work if it defaults
27. What is the purpose of a feasibility study in Project Controls Certification project planning? → To determine if a project is viable and worth pursuing
28. A CPI of 1.10 on a US government project under ANSI/EIA-748 guidelines would most likely prompt the contractor to: → Report favorable cost performance and maintain the current approach
29. In a tornado diagram, what does the length of each bar represent? → The range of impact a variable has on the project outcome
30. Which tool is commonly used for tracking project performance? → KPI dashboard