pmp test Advanced Practice Exam: Hard Questions 2025

Midway through an agile product release, a powerful stakeholder demands a set of new regulatory features and insists they are "mandatory" and must be delivered in the current release. The team is already at capacity, and current forecasts show only a 60% probability of meeting the release goal. The product owner is worried about losing market timing if the release slips. As the project manager, what is the BEST next action to protect value delivery while addressing compliance urgency?

On a large hybrid program, an external vendor is delivering a critical integration component. The vendor’s sprint reviews repeatedly show partial progress but no working increments, and defects are increasing. The vendor claims the requirements are unstable and asks for a change order. Your internal team insists the interface contract was baselined. What should the project manager do FIRST to diagnose and stabilize delivery?

A construction project is in execution. Earned Value data at month 6 shows: PV = $1,200,000; EV = $1,050,000; AC = $1,400,000. The sponsor asks if the project can still meet the original budget (BAC = $2,400,000) without scope reduction. The project manager also knows several high-risk activities are still ahead. What is the BEST interpretation and action?

A project in a matrix organization is experiencing chronic delays because functional managers repeatedly reassign key specialists to operational emergencies. The project has an approved schedule baseline, but resource calendars are routinely violated. Team morale is declining and the sponsor is frustrated. What is the MOST effective long-term approach for the project manager?

A software project uses a hybrid approach: predictive governance with agile delivery. The steering committee demands a firm date and fixed scope, while the agile teams report high uncertainty and volatile requirements driven by competitive moves. The sponsor wants a plan that is credible and governable without killing adaptability. What should the project manager propose?

A project has multiple dependent teams. One team is consistently delivering late, causing downstream rework and idle time. The late team argues they are overloaded with multitasking across projects and cannot commit. You are asked to "push them harder." What is the BEST action to improve overall flow and reduce systemic delays?

During procurement, your preferred seller is technically strong but refuses to accept key warranty and liability terms required by your organization’s risk policy. The work is mission-critical and time-sensitive. The business wants you to "make it work" without delaying selection. What is the BEST next step?

A program is nearing go-live when a new data privacy regulation is announced that may affect how customer data is processed. The regulation is ambiguous and enforcement guidance is not yet available. The sponsor wants to proceed as planned to avoid revenue loss. What should the project manager do to make the most responsible decision under uncertainty?

A key stakeholder is openly resisting a process change delivered by your project, claiming it will "hurt productivity" and instructing their department to continue using the old process. Your project is technically on track, but adoption risk now threatens benefits realization. What is the BEST action to address this situation?

An organization is funding your project based on an expected business case. Late in execution, market conditions shift and the forecasted benefits drop by 40%. The project is still within cost and schedule baselines, but continuing may no longer meet the portfolio’s value thresholds. What should the project manager do?