PSP AACE International Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

 The Critical Path comprises the sequence of activities that directly impact the project’s completion time.

 If only the last half of Activity B delays the subsequent activities, then this portion lies on the critical path.

 References: PSP Study Guide, Section 2.4.3 – Schedule Analysis, emphasizes identifying segments of activities that are critical due to dependencies and float values.

 Key to Duration Accuracy:

A specialized industry handbook offers standardized and validated task durations tailored to the specific context of petrochemical plants.

 Analysis of Options:

Option A: General industry publications may lack specificity.

Option B: Past project schedules provide insight but may not reflect the specific context or updated methodologies.

Option C: The handbook is most relevant as it is tailored to the specific project type.

Option D: Cost estimates are useful for budget alignment but not as precise for duration calculation.

 PSP Study Guide References:

The guide advises leveraging validated industry resources for project-specific accuracy in duration estimation​.

 Conclusion: The correct answer is C, as a specialized industry handbook provides the most reliable and context-specific data for duration estimation.

Best Practices for Change Management Plans:

Effective plans are developed in the planning phase, ensuring all stakeholders understand how changes will be managed.

Evaluation of Options:

Option A: Incorrect. Stakeholders are involved during development, not just after.

Option C: Incorrect. A change management plan focuses on significant changes, not minor decisions.

Option D: Incorrect. It involves all stakeholders, not just the project controls team.

Option B: Correct. Change management plans are part of project planning.

 Activity Duration in Crashed Schedule:

For Activity 2002, the crashed duration is 28 days (refer to the table).

 Start Date:

The start date is August 12, 2001.

 Adding the Duration:

Starting from August 12, add 28 days. Ensure to account for weekends or holidays if the calendar used excludes them.

 Finish Date Calculation:

Starting on August 12 and counting 28 days gives the finish date as September 8, 2001.

 Resource Leveling:

Resource leveling adjusts start and finish dates of activities to resolve resource conflicts or constraints, balancing availability and demand.

In construction projects, breaks in continuity of work for subcontractors can result in increased costs due to remobilization and demobilization.

 PSP Study Guide References:

The PSP guide explains that resource leveling must be carefully analyzed to avoid disruptions in work continuity​.

 Conclusion: The correct answer is A, as the scheduler must account for potential cost implications of resource leveling on subcontractors.

Activity Overview and Dependencies:

From the provided schedule data, Activity 3001 (Excavation, Dam Site) starts with multiple logical relationships:

Successor activities include SS (Start-to-Start) and FS (Finish-to-Start) dependencies with other tasks.

Specifically, these relationships link 3001 to 4001 (Excavation, Spillway) and 5001 (Drill and Grout, Dam Site).

Normal Schedule Context:

Excluding Activity 1000, we focus on Activity 3001's logical relationships to determine which activities are concurrent.

In the "Normal Schedule", Activity 3001 has a duration of 152 days and overlaps with Activities 4001 (152 days) and 5001 (102 days). Both activities share similar dependencies and durations with Activity 3001, making them concurrent.

Schedule Dependency Analysis:

Concurrent activities are identified by overlapping durations and logical relationships that align their schedules.

Activity 4001 is linked via SS and FF dependencies, ensuring simultaneous start and finish points.

Activity 5001 starts as 3001 progresses (SS and FS dependencies).

Final Answer Validation:

Other listed activities, such as 2003 and 7001 (Answer A) or 2004 (Answer B), are not logically or temporally concurrent based on their dependencies and durations.

Only 4001 and 5001 have concurrent schedules aligning with Activity 3001.

Study Guide Reference:

Planning and Scheduling Professional Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2 – Scheduling, sections on "Dependencies and Constraints" (p. 157) and "Sequencing Activities" (p. 151).

For further insights into identifying concurrency using logical relationships, refer to AACE's Recommended Practice 10S-90: Cost Engineering Terminology.

This structured approach ensures alignment with PSP standards and principles in evaluating concurrent activities in complex schedules.

 Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM):

PDM allows for Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Finish (SF), and Finish-to-Finish (FF) relationships between activities.

This flexibility makes PDM distinct from Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM), which uses arrows to depict dependencies.

 Evaluation of Options:

Option A: Incorrect. This describes ADM, not PDM.

Option B: Incorrect. Both PDM and ADM can represent multiple critical paths.

Option C: Incorrect. Late start and finish calculations apply to both methods.

Option D: Correct. PDM uniquely allows multiple relationship types.

 Requirement to Expedite:

To release the product 20 days earlier, critical path activities must be expedited.

Critical path activities: A (Testing), D (Manufacturing), G (Packaging).

 Excluded Activities:

Activities like drafting (Activity C) or proofing (Activity F) are not critical and do not impact the total project duration.

 Verification with PSP Guidelines:

PSP guidelines emphasize expediting critical path tasks for schedule acceleration (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2B: Schedule Compression Techniques).

 Impact of Scope Definition on Cost Overruns:

Poor scope definition leads to unrealistic budgets and unforeseen changes, which significantly contribute to cost overruns.

Other factors like change management and WBS definitions are secondary contributors compared to scope inadequacy.

 PSP Study Guide References:

The guide emphasizes scope definition as a critical factor for accurate budgeting and planning​.

 Conclusion: The correct answer is D, as scope definition at the estimate stage has the most frequent and significant impact on cost overruns.

The use of a winter/wet weather seasonal calendar is essential in planning and scheduling to account for climatic conditions that can impact project timelines. The PSP Study Guide emphasizes identifying project variables, such as environmental conditions, and incorporating them into the project plan to manage risks and constraints effectively. Seasonal calendars help planners predict periods of reduced productivity, increased costs, and potential delays due to adverse weather conditions (PSP Study Guide, Subchapter 1.2.4, "Project Variables").

These calendars are particularly useful for:

Forecasting potential schedule impacts during specific periods.

Enhancing the accuracy of risk management plans (PSP Study Guide, Section 1.3.13, "Risk and Recovery Plan").

Aiding in decision-making regarding resource allocation during slow periods.

 Understanding the Problem Context:

Activity C is currently set to complete on Day 40.

Activity A has a 5-day delay in starting, so adjustments are needed to maintain the Day 40 completion date for Activity C.

The key is to identify which adjustment will fail to maintain the timeline.

 Option-by-Option Analysis:

A. Reduce the duration of 'A' from 20 days to 10 days and replace the relationship from 'B' to 'C' with FSO (Finish-to-Start with Offset):

Reducing Activity A’s duration from 20 to 10 days might mitigate part of the delay, but replacing the relationship between B and C with FSO introduces an offset.

FSO relationships typically delay the start of successor activities (Activity C in this case).

This would likely push Activity C beyond Day 40 because the delay in B's finish, coupled with the offset, would result in C starting later.

This adjustment does NOT maintain the completion date of Activity C.

B. Replace the relationship from 'B' to 'C' with SSO (Start-to-Start with Offset):

An SSO relationship allows Activity C to begin once Activity B starts (with or without an offset).

This adjustment effectively overlaps the schedules of B and C, mitigating delays from A.

This adjustment can maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40.

C. Reduce the duration of 'B' from 10 days to 5 days by compressing work effort:

Reducing B’s duration by compressing its schedule shortens its timeline, allowing Activity C to start sooner.

This adjustment offsets the delay caused by Activity A.

This adjustment can maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40.

 Final Answer and Justification:

The adjustment described in A will NOT maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40 because the FSO relationship introduces delays, making it ineffective in this scenario.

Options B and C offer feasible adjustments to maintain the timeline.

 Study Guide Reference:

Refer to the PSP Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2 – Scheduling, Subchapter 2.2.4: Relationships (p. 151-157), which details the impact of logical relationships (FSO, SSO) on schedule timelines.

Additionally, review AACE Recommended Practice 52R-06: Time Impact Analysis for insights into how delays affect dependent activities and methods for mitigating them.