PRINCE2 Practitioner practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21In an airport security upgrade project, the team begins installing new scanning equipment before confirming the acceptance criteria with the relevant authorities. The project assurance team raises a concern. Which principle are they protecting?
✓ Correct answer: A. Focus on products
PRINCE2’s 'focus on products' principle requires agreement on acceptance criteria before work begins to ensure quality and compliance. Why the other options are incorrect: • Manage by exception: Manage by exception is about tolerances, not acceptance criteria definition. • Ensure continued business justification: Business justification is important but not the main point here. • Manage by stages: Stage management is about phased control, not defining acceptance criteria. • Learn from experience: Learning from experience is about using lessons, not product definition timing.
Q22A national charity is delivering a new CRM system in three planned stages: design, build, and rollout. At each stage boundary, the business case is updated and risks are reassessed before the next stage is authorised. Which statement explains why this supports effective risk management?
✓ Correct answer: A. It limits risk exposure to one stage at a time
Managing by stages limits risk exposure and allows the board to reassess and address risks before committing further resources. Why the other options are incorrect: • It transfers all risks to the supplier: Risks are managed jointly, not simply transferred. • It removes risk from the business case: Risks remain part of the business case for the whole project. • It ensures all risks are reviewed post-project: Risks are reviewed throughout, not just after the project. • It eliminates the need for a risk register: A risk register is still required for tracking.
Q23A project to upgrade office systems is running within time and cost tolerances, but product quality is consistently below specification. The project manager continues without escalation. Why is this incorrect under PRINCE2?
✓ Correct answer: A. Because tolerances apply to quality as well as time and cost
Manage by exception applies tolerances to all six performance targets, including quality. Why the other options are incorrect: • Because the senior supplier must be informed monthly: Escalation is based on tolerance breaches, not fixed reporting periods. • Because all quality issues must be reported daily: Daily reporting is not a PRINCE2 requirement. • Because product descriptions must be rewritten: Product descriptions may need review, but escalation is the priority. • Because project assurance must replan the stage: Project assurance monitors compliance but does not replan stages.
Q24The project board rejects a change request that would reduce benefits below the acceptable threshold. Which principle is this an example of?
✓ Correct answer: A. Ensure continued business justification
Protecting the viability of the business case demonstrates continued business justification. Why the other options are incorrect: • Focus on products: Product focus is about deliverable definitions, not benefit thresholds. • Manage by exception: Manage by exception is about tolerances, not viability protection. • Tailor to suit the project: Tailoring is about process adaptation, not justification. • Learn from experience: Learning from experience is about applying lessons, not rejecting changes.
Q25The senior user decides to approve a change request without consulting the change authority. Is this aligned with PRINCE2, and why?
✓ Correct answer: C. No, because all changes must follow the agreed change control process
All changes must be reviewed through the agreed change control process to maintain governance integrity. Why the other options are incorrect: • Yes, because user needs take priority over governance: User needs are important but do not override governance. • Yes, because the senior user owns benefits: Owning benefits does not grant unilateral change approval. • No, because only the senior supplier can approve changes: The senior supplier is not the sole approver of changes. • No, because the project manager must approve all changes: The project manager implements change control, not approves all changes personally.
Q26During the planning stage of an office fit-out, the project manager notices that one product description lacks clear quality methods. What is the correct action according to PRINCE2?
✓ Correct answer: A. Update the product description before planning related work
PRINCE2 requires complete product descriptions before related work is planned to ensure clarity and quality control. Why the other options are incorrect: • Proceed with planning and update later: Starting planning without agreed quality methods risks rework. • Remove the product from the plan: Removing the product may compromise scope and is not the solution. • Assign quality methods to the senior supplier: The senior supplier may help define methods, but agreement is required first. • Request the project board to define methods: The board may be consulted, but product definition is a planning responsibility.
Q27A hospital IT project replaces the end stage report with a structured presentation that covers the same required content. Which PRINCE2 principle does this support?
✓ Correct answer: A. Tailor to suit the project
Tailoring permits changing the format of products as long as their purpose is fulfilled. Why the other options are incorrect: • Focus on products: Focus on products is about deliverable definition, not format changes. • Manage by exception: Manage by exception concerns delegating authority. • Learn from experience: Learning from experience is not the primary principle here. • Ensure continued business justification: Business justification is unrelated to report formats.
Q28The senior supplier delegates quality review attendance to a junior engineer without informing the project manager. Is this appropriate, and why?
✓ Correct answer: C. No, because review attendees must be agreed in the quality plan
Quality plan agreements ensure the right people attend reviews; changes should be communicated and agreed. Why the other options are incorrect: • Yes, because supplier staff can attend reviews without approval: Review attendance should be agreed, not assumed. • Yes, because the supplier controls all review participation: The supplier does not have sole control over review participation. • No, because only the project board can change review attendees: The project board does not decide individual review attendees. • No, because engineers cannot attend reviews: Engineers can attend if agreed in the plan.
Q29The sponsor rejects a supplier's proposal because it lowers forecasted benefits below the acceptable threshold. Which principle is demonstrated?
✓ Correct answer: A. Ensure continued business justification
Protecting the viability of the business case by rejecting detrimental changes demonstrates continued business justification. Why the other options are incorrect: • Manage by exception: Exception management controls deviations, but this is about viability. • Focus on products: Product focus relates to deliverables, not benefits thresholds. • Learn from experience: Learning from experience is about lessons, not rejecting changes. • Tailor to suit the project: Tailoring is about method adaptation, not viability protection.
Q30A marketing campaign project has a benefits tolerance of ±5% ROI for the final stage. The projected ROI drops by 7% due to competitor activity. What must the project manager do according to PRINCE2?
✓ Correct answer: A. Escalate to the project board with options for recovery
Exceeding the agreed tolerance for any performance target requires escalation to the project board. Why the other options are incorrect: • Continue work without informing the board: Continuing without escalation breaches the manage by exception principle. • Wait until the end of the stage to report: Reporting must happen when a breach is forecast, not after. • Inform only the senior user: The senior user is involved but escalation is to the board. • Increase campaign spending without approval: Spending changes require approval if they affect tolerances.
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