PMI Scheduling Professional Certification (PMI-SP) Practice Exam

Which activities are categorized as critical path activities?

1. Activities that can be completed at any time

2. Activities necessary for project closure

3. Activities that are on the critical path

4. Activities with the longest duration

The correct answer is: Activities that are on the critical path

Critical path activities are those that fall on the critical path of a project schedule. The critical path is defined as the sequence of stages determining the minimum time needed for an operation. Activities on this path are crucial because any delay in their completion will directly impact the overall project duration. These activities are often characterized by having no slack time, meaning any delay in one of these activities will result in a delay of the entire project. Identifying and managing critical path activities is essential for effective project scheduling and ensuring timely project delivery. The other answer choices do not accurately describe critical path activities. Activities that can be completed at any time would have slack, meaning they are not critical. Activities necessary for project closure, while important, may not necessarily be on the critical path, as they could have slack or be scheduled after critical activities. Lastly, activities with the longest duration might not all be critical, as there can be non-critical activities with long durations that do not influence the project completion date.