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pmp certification ambiguous questions in the prep courses especially with AI

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Tod ODonoghue Blaine, MN, United States

I have been encountering at least 5 per prep test and am hoping the actual PMP test overcomes the questions which have multiple answers depending on which style you are using. I come from a construction and design background so I am most used to predictive and waterfall but understand the usefulness of agile. Here is an example: Scenario: During a project review, you discover that the project scope has changed significantly due to stakeholder requests. What should you do next?

  • Your answer: C. Inform the project team
  • Correct answer: B. Conduct a scope change assessment

Clarification:

  • In Predictive Methodologies:
    • The correct approach is to conduct a scope change assessment first. This involves analyzing the impact of the change on the project’s timeline, budget, and resources before communicating with the team or stakeholders.
  • In Agile Methodologies:
    • The team typically reviews changes collaboratively during sprint planning or
    • backlog refinement sessions, allowing for more flexibility and immediate adjustments.

Your understanding of the methodologies is crucial, and I appreciate your insights!

  1. Example 2: After completing a project, you want to gather feedback from the team to improve future projects. What type of meeting should you conduct for this purpose?
    • Your answer: D. Lessons learned meeting
    • Correct answer: B. Retrospective meeting
    • Explanation: While a lessons learned meeting can be part of a retrospective, the retrospective meeting specifically focuses on reflecting on the project and discussing what went well and what could be improved.

I questioned this with: retrospective meetings are only conducted in agile environments after a sprint. where lessons learned are conducted at the end of all project types.

Coach You're right to question that! In the context of the original question about gathering feedback after completing a project, the correct answer should indeed focus on the broader concept of lessons learned rather than a retrospective meeting, which is specific to Agile practices.

Clarification:

h4/h4
  • Question 6: After completing a project, you want to gather feedback from the team to improve future projects. What type of meeting should you conduct for this purpose?
    • Correct Answer: Lessons learned meeting (not retrospective).

Key Takeaway:

  • Lessons Learned Meeting: Suitable for all project types and focuses on documenting insights for future projects.
  • Retrospective Meeting: Specific to Agile and focuses on continuous improvement after each sprint.

Thank you for pointing that out! If you have more questions or need further clarification on any topic, feel free to ask!
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Tod, here are my 2 cents:

For example 1, I don’t see this as an Agile vs. Predictive issue but more about sequence. “Inform the team” would be premature because you haven’t analyzed the impact yet. Regardless of your approach (agile or predictive), the next logical step is to assess the scope change first, then communicate based on that analysis. If the option had said “review the change with the team,” that would be different, but simply informing them skips proper evaluation. You need to be mindful of the wording in the questions.

Regarding example 2, I understand why retrospective was chosen, but since the question says “after completing a project,” lessons learned feels more aligned. Retrospectives are typically Agile iteration ceremonies, while lessons learned meetings apply to all project types at closure. While retrospectives include lessons learned and improvements, in my opinion, the broader and more approach-neutral answer here would be lessons learned. That said, it's also a tricky question.
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Abolfazl Yousefi Darestani Manager, Quality and Continuous Improvement| Hörmann-TNR Industrial Doors Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
I agree with Rami for example 2.
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Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz RYLAI Access Control Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
The trick to answering these types of questions is to select the "best" option. In many cases, more than one option sounds correct, but when you analyze each possible response, you'll find that one is more adequate, according to the circumstances and context.

*For example, in Question 1, the option "conduct a scope change assessment" is more adequate since changes should be analyzed before executing them. Informing the team would be a hurried action.

*In Question 2, retrospective is the best answer, since a retrospective is a collaborative meeting that occurs after completing a project, a sprint, or a phase, in which performance is evaluated. A retrospective can include capturing lessons learned.
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Tod ODonoghue Blaine, MN, United States
As an experienced PM from the construction industry and a very old school company with 1990's technology, all of these choices seem great. I'm looking foreword to using analytics from my background and my own lessons learned.

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