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 decision-making technique is BEST suited when a group must reach consensus on a complex project controls problem with many variables? → Nominal group technique
2. In a structured problem-solving session, a team uses a cause-and-effect diagram. Which category would 'inadequate training' fall under? → People
3. Which risk response strategy involves shifting the negative impact of a risk to a third party? → Transfer
4. Which of the following metrics is classified as a lagging indicator in project performance measurement? → Actual Cost (AC) spent to date
5. In bottom-up estimating, costs are estimated at the work package level and then aggregated. What primary advantage does this provide over top-down methods? → It produces higher accuracy because detailed scope is used as the basis
6. A PMO implementing a governance framework should prioritize which element to ensure project controls adoption? → Executive sponsorship and visible commitment
7. In multi-project environments, which approach BEST prevents resource conflicts between projects competing for shared resources? → Establish a centralized resource pool managed at the program or portfolio level
8. 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
9. What is the role of mentoring in Project Controls Certification professional development? → Guiding and supporting professional growth through experience sharing
10. Which procurement document provides the most detailed technical and administrative requirements for a project? → Statement of Work (SOW)
11. Which technique is used to systematically identify and prioritize long-range uncertainties that could impact an organization's strategic plan? → Scenario planning
12. A risk response that involves changing the project plan to eliminate a threat entirely is called: → Avoid
13. Which document formally authorizes a contractor to proceed with work beyond the original contract scope? → Change Order
14. Which tool is commonly used for qualitative risk assessment? → Risk matrix
15. In project controls, a procurement baseline is used primarily to: → Track vendor performance against contracted deliverables and costs
16. Which of the following is a leading indicator that scope creep is occurring on a project? → Increasing actual costs with no corresponding approved changes
17. 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
18. What is the purpose of feedback in Project Controls Certification professional development? → To provide constructive guidance for improvement
19. What is the primary purpose of an independent project cost review (ICR) or independent cost estimate (ICE)? → To provide an unbiased check of the project estimate for decision-making
20. Which of the following is NOT a valid method for calculating Estimate at Completion (EAC) in EVM? → EAC = EV / SPI
21. 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
22. During a Monte Carlo simulation for schedule risk analysis, which output is MOST useful for communicating schedule confidence levels to stakeholders? → S-curve showing probability of completion by date
23. Which cost control technique compares actual expenditures against a planned budget without considering the value of work actually completed? → Simple cost variance tracking
24. Which concept describes the informal power a project manager gains through expertise and knowledge? → Expert power
25. Which contract risk mitigation strategy involves the owner retaining a percentage of each payment until the project is substantially complete? → Retainage
26. 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
27. A project report shows EAC = $1,200,000 and BAC = $1,000,000. What is the Variance at Completion (VAC)? → -$200,000
28. Which EVM technique credits earned value when a work package is exactly 50% complete upon start and 100% upon finish? → 50/50 rule
29. A pending change has not yet been approved but is expected to occur. How should it be reflected in the project budget? → Tracked as a pending change in the budget at completion forecast
30. An activity has an Early Start (ES) of Day 5 and a Late Start (LS) of Day 8. What is the total float? → 3 days