L4M4 CIPS Ethical and Responsible Sourcing Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Secondary sources are data sets and publications that already exist and are not collected directly by the buyer. Examples include published economic indices (A), which provide information on inflation, commodity prices, and market trends, and financial/trade press (D), which offers insights into industries, suppliers, and economic conditions. By contrast, a buyer’s internal database and field observation studies are primary data sources, while supplier marketing materials are biased and less reliable. Responsible sourcing requires procurement professionals to use both secondary and primary sources for comprehensive market analysis, but secondary sources are especially useful for benchmarking and environmental scanning.

Explanation

Items of 'Non-Preferential Origin' are subject to tariff quotas and other customs commercial regulations. 'Preferential Origin' goods have no duties or tariffs.

The good news is CIPS have significantly simplified section 3.2 of the syllabus. The new study-guide is much lighter on names of documents and protocols for importing and quotas etc. The focus of this Learning Outcome has shifted more to Inco Terms so I would focus on that for revision, but do make sure you have a basic understanding of documents, law and jurisdiction.

ISO environmental standards (e.g., ISO 14001) provide a structured framework for managing environmental responsibilities. They support sustainability goals by embedding continual improvement, legal compliance, and stakeholder trust. They are relevant to organisations of all sizes and sectors, not just large firms. While they do not automatically guarantee compliance, they enhance systematic control, training, and supplier engagement. Resistance and complexity can be overcome with phased implementation and awareness-building. CIPS emphasises that adoption of recognised standards demonstrates responsible sourcing, aligns with CSR strategies, and reassures stakeholders about commitment to sustainability.

Explanation

When single sourcing, you should aim to have a collaborative relationship with the supplier. They're the only ones who provide you with glass, which is a vital part of windows. So you need to make sure you have a good relationship with them and work with them to overcome any issues such as supply chain disruptions. If not- you've got no windows to sell!

Explanation

The C category is the 'tail spend' - it represents a large number of suppliers of small value items.

I recommend giving this a read ABC Classification & ABC Method | CIPS

For low-value, routine purchases where price is the primary consideration, employing a weighted points system may not be necessary. Such systems are more suitable for complex procurements where multiple factors, such as quality, delivery, and sustainability, need to be evaluated alongside price. In the case of purchasing standard items like pens, a straightforward price comparison is typically sufficient.

Explanation

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is about product safety and making sure products sold on the market are fit for purpose. It gives buyers rights and protections. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 - Citizens Advice

There's a long list of legislation on p.105. I wouldn't worry about memorizing them all but just have an idea of what legislation relates to what area. E.g. GDPR is about Data Protection and the Com-petitions Act is about Marketplace competition. Most of them are quite obvious from the name.

Explanation

This is tariffs. Be careful not to confuse tariffs and duties;

tariffs = rules and duties = payments.

Single sourcing can be appropriate when set-up costs are high, making it impractical to involve multiple suppliers. This aligns with responsible sourcing principles, particularly for high-value or specialised items, where relationship management and collaboration with one supplier can enhance quality and efficiency.

Outsourcing can create risks such as loss of control over a project (1) since operations are managed externally, and loss of private information (4) if data security and confidentiality are not managed effectively. Loss of assets (2) typically refers to internal asset disposal, not outsourcing. Loss of future business opportunities (3) is more linked to strategic misalignment, not a core outsourcing risk. Responsible sourcing emphasises that outsourcing should include robust governance, contractual protections, and supplier monitoring to manage risks of data leakage, reduced oversight, and potential ethical breaches.

Addressing human rights issues collaboratively by developing an action plan allows for improvement and correction. This approach is consistent with ethical sourcing principles, which encourage responsible intervention to correct and improve supply chain practices rather than punitive measures that may not lead to long-term change.

Global shortages combined with steady or high demand create upward price pressure. This reduces the buyer’s bargaining power, making it difficult to negotiate lower prices. Instead, suppliers are justified in raising prices to reflect scarcity. Options A and C are contradictory to economic principles, while B ignores the impact of shortages on pricing. Responsible sourcing requires buyers to anticipate such conditions using market intelligence and mitigate risks through forward contracts, alternative sourcing, or hedging strategies, rather than relying on negotiation leverage during shortages.

Total Quality Management (TQM) practices and ISO 9001 certification are indicators of a supplier’s commitment to quality. Responsible sourcing evaluates these factors to ensure suppliers meet high-quality standards and continuous improvement expectations.

Explanation

Weighted points systems can be time consuming to create. They're very transparent and allow for objective grading of supplier bids (so these answers are incorrect). They are not easy to manipulate and this is an advantage of using them.

Prohibiting trade union membership is a violation of workers' rights and international labor standards. Such a practice indicates potential non-compliance with ethical sourcing principles and necessitates further investigation. Ensuring that suppliers respect workers' rights to association is fundamental to ethical procurement.

Advertising in a local newspaper for a specialized requirement can lead to irrelevant bids, delaying the process. Efficient sourcing practices recommend targeted advertising to reach qualified suppliers, ensuring timely responses and reducing assessment time, especially for urgent needs.

To maintain integrity and avoid conflicts of interest, Tracey should declare the conflict and remove herself from the tender process. Ethical sourcing practices emphasize transparency and fairness, which prevent potential biases and maintain trust within procurement processes.

Explanation

economic indices and comparison websites are secondary sources of data. The other three are examples of primary sources of data.

Primary= you get the data yourself

Secondary = you find the data from somewhere else

Explanation

Primary data includes trade fairs and exhibits, and phone calls to current suppliers. The others are examples of secondary data.

Remember primary= you do it yourself, Secondary = someone else did it.