AACE CST Primer (AACE Certified Scheduling
Technician Exam) Questions With Complete
Solutions
Course
AACE
1. Question:
What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in project scheduling?
A. Define contractual terms
B. Allocate resources to activities
C. Organize project scope into manageable sections
D. Schedule procurement deliverables
Answer: C. Organize project scope into manageable sections
Solution:
A WBS decomposes the total project scope into smaller, more manageable components. This
hierarchy helps define and control deliverables and supports planning, estimating, and
scheduling efforts.
2. Question:
In a critical path method (CPM) schedule, the float of an activity refers to:
A. The amount of delay allowed without affecting the project end date
B. The percentage of work completed
C. The labor hours allocated to an activity
D. The total cost of the activity
Answer: A. The amount of delay allowed without affecting the project end date
Solution:
Float (also known as slack) is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project's
finish date. Activities on the critical path have zero float.
3. Question:
Which of the following defines the longest path of activities through a project schedule?
A. Schedule variance
B. Critical Path
,C. Float path
D. Gantt chart
Answer: B. Critical Path
Solution:
The critical path represents the sequence of dependent activities with zero float that directly
determines the project's completion time.
4. Question:
An activity with a late start of day 30 and an early start of day 25 has how much total float?
A. 0
B. 5
C. -5
D. 10
Answer: B. 5
Solution:
Total float = Late Start – Early Start = 30 – 25 = 5 days.
This means the activity can be delayed by 5 days without affecting the project.
5. Question:
Which scheduling method best accommodates resource limitations?
A. Bar Chart Method
B. Milestone Chart
C. Critical Path Method
D. Critical Chain Method
Answer: D. Critical Chain Method
Solution:
Critical Chain Scheduling incorporates resource availability and buffer management, making
it ideal when resources are constrained.
6. Question:
Which scheduling document is typically used to communicate schedule status visually over
time?
, A. Network diagram
B. RACI matrix
C. Gantt chart
D. Scope statement
Answer: C. Gantt chart
Solution:
Gantt charts display activities along a timeline, allowing stakeholders to view planned progress
versus actual progress visually.
7. Question:
What is the free float of an activity?
A. Time it can be delayed without delaying any successor
B. Time it can be delayed without delaying the project
C. Total duration of an activity
D. Time between early start and late finish
Answer: A. Time it can be delayed without delaying any successor
Solution:
Free float = ES of the next activity – EF of the current activity. It measures schedule flexibility
without impacting successor activities.
8. Question:
Which of the following is NOT typically found in a baseline schedule?
A. Original planned dates
B. Critical path
C. Schedule updates
D. Original duration estimates
Answer: C. Schedule updates
Solution:
Baseline schedules capture the original plan. Updates are made later to reflect actual progress
and changes.
9. Question:
Technician Exam) Questions With Complete
Solutions
Course
AACE
1. Question:
What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in project scheduling?
A. Define contractual terms
B. Allocate resources to activities
C. Organize project scope into manageable sections
D. Schedule procurement deliverables
Answer: C. Organize project scope into manageable sections
Solution:
A WBS decomposes the total project scope into smaller, more manageable components. This
hierarchy helps define and control deliverables and supports planning, estimating, and
scheduling efforts.
2. Question:
In a critical path method (CPM) schedule, the float of an activity refers to:
A. The amount of delay allowed without affecting the project end date
B. The percentage of work completed
C. The labor hours allocated to an activity
D. The total cost of the activity
Answer: A. The amount of delay allowed without affecting the project end date
Solution:
Float (also known as slack) is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project's
finish date. Activities on the critical path have zero float.
3. Question:
Which of the following defines the longest path of activities through a project schedule?
A. Schedule variance
B. Critical Path
,C. Float path
D. Gantt chart
Answer: B. Critical Path
Solution:
The critical path represents the sequence of dependent activities with zero float that directly
determines the project's completion time.
4. Question:
An activity with a late start of day 30 and an early start of day 25 has how much total float?
A. 0
B. 5
C. -5
D. 10
Answer: B. 5
Solution:
Total float = Late Start – Early Start = 30 – 25 = 5 days.
This means the activity can be delayed by 5 days without affecting the project.
5. Question:
Which scheduling method best accommodates resource limitations?
A. Bar Chart Method
B. Milestone Chart
C. Critical Path Method
D. Critical Chain Method
Answer: D. Critical Chain Method
Solution:
Critical Chain Scheduling incorporates resource availability and buffer management, making
it ideal when resources are constrained.
6. Question:
Which scheduling document is typically used to communicate schedule status visually over
time?
, A. Network diagram
B. RACI matrix
C. Gantt chart
D. Scope statement
Answer: C. Gantt chart
Solution:
Gantt charts display activities along a timeline, allowing stakeholders to view planned progress
versus actual progress visually.
7. Question:
What is the free float of an activity?
A. Time it can be delayed without delaying any successor
B. Time it can be delayed without delaying the project
C. Total duration of an activity
D. Time between early start and late finish
Answer: A. Time it can be delayed without delaying any successor
Solution:
Free float = ES of the next activity – EF of the current activity. It measures schedule flexibility
without impacting successor activities.
8. Question:
Which of the following is NOT typically found in a baseline schedule?
A. Original planned dates
B. Critical path
C. Schedule updates
D. Original duration estimates
Answer: C. Schedule updates
Solution:
Baseline schedules capture the original plan. Updates are made later to reflect actual progress
and changes.
9. Question:
