Practical Assessment Tasks in Project Management
- Michelle M
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
True mastery comes from applying knowledge in practical, real-world situations. That is why practical assessment tasks are an essential part of every project management training program or certification course. They allow learners to move beyond reading about project lifecycles, risk matrices, and stakeholder maps, and instead engage directly with the type of decisions and problem-solving that define a successful project manager.
This blog explores a range of practical assessment tasks in Project Management, designed for students, trainees, and professionals seeking to strengthen their skills and demonstrate competence in a hands-on environment. Whether you are completing a university qualification, working toward a PMP or PRINCE2 certification, or participating in corporate project management training, these examples will help you understand how to turn theoretical knowledge into meaningful action.
The tasks covered here simulate authentic project management scenarios that mirror the challenges faced in workplaces every day. They assess how effectively you can plan, organize, communicate, monitor progress, and respond to issues under pressure. Each task aims to measure not just what you know, but how you apply what you know to deliver successful project outcomes.
By exploring these practical examples, you will gain insight into how assessment tasks are used to evaluate critical skills such as leadership, problem-solving, budgeting, scheduling, and stakeholder engagement. You will also discover how these assessments can enhance your professional growth, build confidence, and prepare you for complex projects across a variety of industries.
So, whether you are a beginner exploring project management fundamentals, or an experienced professional refreshing your skills, this guide will help you see how hands-on assessment tasks can transform your understanding and prepare you for real-world success in the dynamic world of project management.
1. Develop a Project Charter
Objective: Assess understanding of project initiation and stakeholder alignment.Task:
Choose a project idea (e.g., building an app, hosting an event, or launching a marketing campaign).
Create a detailed Project Charter that includes:
Project objectives and scope
Stakeholders and roles
Budget estimate
Timeline
Key risks and assumptions
Assessment Criteria:
Clarity of project objectives
Realism of scope and timeline
Identification of key stakeholders
Quality of risk and assumption analysis
2. Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Objective: Test planning and task decomposition skills.Task:
Select a sample project and break it down into phases, deliverables, and tasks.
Present the WBS as a hierarchical chart or table using software such as Microsoft Project, Excel, or Lucidchart.
Assessment Criteria:
Logical breakdown of work
Completeness of deliverables
Proper use of hierarchy and numbering
3. Develop a Project Schedule
Objective: Evaluate scheduling and time management skills.Task:
Using your WBS, create a Gantt chart that includes:
Task start and end dates
Dependencies
Milestones
Critical path identification
Assessment Criteria:
Accuracy of task sequencing
Proper identification of dependencies
Use of milestones to track progress
4. Conduct a Risk Assessment
Objective: Assess ability to identify and mitigate project risks.Task:
List potential project risks in a Risk Register that includes:
Description of the risk
Probability and impact
Mitigation strategy
Risk owner
Assessment Criteria:
Quality and relevance of risks identified
Realistic mitigation strategies
Use of clear and structured documentation
5. Prepare a Project Budget
Objective: Evaluate financial planning and cost estimation skills.Task:
Create a budget plan for a project that covers:
Resource costs (personnel, equipment, materials)
Indirect costs (overheads, contingency)
Total cost estimate
Include a cost baseline for tracking project performance.
Assessment Criteria:
Accuracy of estimates
Inclusion of all cost categories
Presentation and clarity of the budget document
6. Stakeholder Analysis and Communication Plan
Objective: Test stakeholder management and communication planning abilities.Task:
Identify all stakeholders and analyze their interest, influence, and impact on the project.
Create a communication plan that defines:
What information will be shared
How frequently
Communication methods (meetings, reports, dashboards)
Responsible team members
Assessment Criteria:
Correct identification of stakeholders
Clear communication strategy
Appropriateness of communication frequency and channels
7. Project Execution Simulation
Objective: Evaluate ability to manage project implementation and monitor performance.Task:
Simulate the execution phase by preparing a project status report based on hypothetical data.
Include:
Progress summary
Variance analysis (schedule and cost)
Risks and issues
Corrective actions
Assessment Criteria:
Accuracy of performance tracking
Depth of issue analysis
Relevance of proposed corrective actions
8. Change Management Exercise
Objective: Assess how the learner handles project changes.Task:
A change request has been submitted to increase the project scope.
Prepare a Change Request Form that includes:
Description of change
Reason for change
Impact on schedule, cost, and quality
Recommendation (approve, reject, or defer)
Assessment Criteria:
Completeness of change documentation
Quality of impact analysis
Decision justification
9. Develop a Project Closure Report
Objective: Evaluate understanding of project closing processes.Task:
Prepare a Project Closure Report for a completed project.
Include:
Final project outcomes
Lessons learned
Performance against KPIs
Recommendations for future projects
Assessment Criteria:
Quality and depth of lessons learned
Accuracy of project performance summary
Professional presentation of the report
10. Group Project Presentation
Objective: Test collaboration, leadership, and presentation skills.Task:
Work in a group to design and plan a mock project (e.g., launching a new product).
Present the full project lifecycle to an assessment panel, covering:
Initiation and planning
Risk and resource management
Execution and monitoring
Closing and evaluation
Assessment Criteria:
Team collaboration and coordination
Clarity and confidence in the presentation
Ability to answer practical project-related questions
Bonus Practical Assessment Ideas
Develop a PMO implementation plan for a large organization.
Conduct a SWOT analysis of a failed project and present recovery recommendations.
Use project management software (MS Project, Asana, or Trello) to demonstrate project tracking.
Design a performance dashboard that visualizes KPIs and progress metrics.
Conclusion - Practical Assessment Tasks
Practical assessment tasks in project management are designed to help learners demonstrate real-world skills, not just theoretical knowledge. These exercises encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and the ability to apply project management principles in various scenarios. By completing these tasks, aspiring project managers gain the confidence and experience needed to manage projects effectively from start to finish.
Professional Project Manager Templates are available here
Key Learning Resources can be found here:
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