PMI-SP Progress Tracking 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which progress reporting element provides a narrative explanation of deviations from the baseline schedule?
- S-curve
- Variance analysis report (Correct answer)
- Resource histogram
- Gantt chart update
Correct answer: Variance analysis report
A variance analysis report explains the causes of deviations and includes corrective actions, going beyond just the numerical variances.
Question 2: A project has EV = $300K, PV = $350K, and AC = $280K. What is the cost variance (CV)?
- -$50K
- +$20K (Correct answer)
- -$70K
- +$50K
Correct answer: +$20K
CV = EV - AC = $300K - $280K = +$20K, indicating the project is under budget by $20K.
Question 3: When a project uses a 'rolling wave' planning approach, how does progress tracking adapt?
- Only near-term work is tracked; far-future work is excluded (Correct answer)
- All future activities are baselined simultaneously
- Tracking focuses only on completed milestones
- The WBS is frozen at project initiation
Correct answer: Only near-term work is tracked; far-future work is excluded
Rolling wave planning progressively elaborates detail, so tracking is applied rigorously to near-term planned activities while future work remains at summary level.
Question 4: Which document formally captures the approved changes to the project schedule baseline for progress comparison purposes?
- Project charter
- Updated project schedule
- Change log
- Schedule baseline (revised) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Schedule baseline (revised)
An approved and revised schedule baseline replaces the previous baseline and becomes the new reference for measuring progress and variance.
Question 5: A scheduler uses an S-curve to show cumulative planned versus actual progress. What does a gap between the two curves indicate?
- A resource conflict
- A schedule or cost variance (Correct answer)
- A change in project scope
- A risk that has materialized
Correct answer: A schedule or cost variance
A gap between planned and actual S-curves visually represents variance—either the project is ahead or behind in terms of work accomplished or money spent.
Question 6: In progress tracking, what is the purpose of a 'look-ahead schedule'?
- To document lessons learned for future projects
- To identify and plan work expected to start in the near-term window (Correct answer)
- To replace the master schedule baseline
- To report completed milestones to stakeholders
Correct answer: To identify and plan work expected to start in the near-term window
A look-ahead schedule (typically 2–6 weeks out) focuses on upcoming activities so teams can resolve constraints, assign resources, and prepare for near-term work.
Question 7: Which metric is most useful for forecasting the total cost at completion when current cost performance is expected to continue?
- TCPI
- EAC = BAC / CPI (Correct answer)
- EAC = AC + BAC - EV
- EAC = AC + ETC
Correct answer: EAC = BAC / CPI
EAC = BAC / CPI assumes that future work will be performed at the same cost efficiency as past work, making it the best forecast when that assumption holds.
PMI-SP Progress Tracking 3
Which progress reporting element provides a narrative explanation of deviations from the baseline schedule?