Free Practice Questions for the CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations L3M1 Exam (2026 Updated)

Explanation

Competitive rivalry within an industry.

This can be quite an important point, and why I have such a dislike of the less formal title for the model - the model is about entire industries, not just about a single firm - this is commonly misun-derstood by students (and sadly, some tutors) - and the original Porter title - 'Industry Structure Analysis' - helps us understand that, I think. I find this tool of analysis to be very helpful in under-standing behaviour within sectors, despite criticism of the model and its age from some commenta-tors

The other answers shown are mere fictions.

Explanation

In 2015 an agreement was reached in Paris, France among most world nations to try to limit climate change and its effects.

The other answers shown are simply fictions.

Explanation

Payment (the implication here is 'in full') 60 days after delivery allows the buying organisation time to check the goods carefully, and possibly even use them in that time.

All of the other options would require the buyer to part with money prior to holding the goods, thus exposing that sum to risk. The least risky from the buyer's viewpoint is therefore after 60 days.

Particularly hazardous would be payment at time of order.

Explanation

Causal, not casual. They exert pressure about particular causes.

'Sectional' is an invention by me; blood pressure group is a rather weak attempt at humour.

Explanation

All answers are correct. Each of these areas can create safety hazards for people in the workplace, and so in many countries government legislation has been passed to make these topics subject to regulation.

For example, within the UK, it is mandatory for employers to provide compulsory training for em-ployees who may be involved in lifting heavy items, and there are limits placed on the weight which can be handled by any one person. In many cases, mechanised lifting equipment is used to aid or replace humans.

Explanation

There is an expression 'painshare' which is an almost-ironic term referring to the opposite of the situ-ation described in the QUESTION NO: - when something has gone wrong, and the additional cost must be shared between the parties. The other two answers are a little bit facetious.

The correct answer is 'gainshare' when the parties share benefits, according to a pre-agreed ratio or formula.

Explanation

Biodiversity is significantly under threat, with many species being lost almost daily on Earth.

The other answers given in response to this QUESTION NO:, whilst they can be seen as being broadly relat-ed do not fit the bill precisely.

The BBC's one-hour documentary (2020) 'Extinction - The Facts' explains in all-too-chilling detail the meaning of biodiversity, and is recommended viewing for all.

Explanation

Payment of high salaries and large allowances, may, fairly obviously reduce the amount of profit which can be retained for capital growth. If money is being distributed in this way, it isn't being re-tained.

A profitable company has a choice: to pay dividends to a greater or lesser extent; or retain some of its profits to a greater or lesser extent in the form of retained capital - capital growth.

Increased sales and increased profit may result in increased capital growth, all other things being equal, depending on the firm's dividend policy.

Explanation

A competitive exercise is being referred to, in which the seller is under competitive pressure to try to win the business, yet not charge so much they don't win the business. This is commonly known as a 'tender', or 'tender exercise'; also 'competitive bidding' etc.

It is this desire to win profitable business, restricted by an upper limit on price because of competitor behaviour, that forces suppliers to be competitive with their prices. This tension between the bid-der's desire for profit; and the need to be realistic with price, explains why the competitive approach is so highly valued in procurement.

Explanation

Social arrangement because it involves people; they have a collective goal eg to be a profitable or-ganisation; and their performance must be controlled to work towards or to achieve that goal / those goals.

Explanation

CO2 is the correct answer - carbon dioxide.

CO is carbon monoxide; H20 is water (or steam or ice) and CO3 is carbon trioxide.

Explanation

In the not-for-profit sector, funding often comes from external sources or donors. The beneficiaries of the services are often beneficiaries of services because they don't have funds eg the homeless, the poor, the sick, etc

Thus in this sector, the 'paymaster' is often separated from the recipient of services provided, which has implications for the management of such organisations.

Which is the priority? The one providing funding; or the one receiving the services?

Explanation

Non-tariff barriers are restraints on international trade which are not so obvious as simple duties or tariffs. Complex procedures can slow things down, reducing the incentive to export to that country resulting in protected domestic business; subsidies to one's own producers make it more difficult for foreign firms to compete - again creating a barrier to trade.

Increased import duties would be a form of tariff (potentially in breach of GATT / WTO agree-ments); reduced import duties would free up / encourage trade.

Explanation

The Act was introduced in 2010. Although this is a UK-centric QUESTION NO:, it is valid for several rea-sons. Firstly, the UK was one of the first countries to introduce such a wide-ranging Act; secondly the Act is so wide-ranging that all UK managers need to be familiar with it. People who live and work outside the UK may wish to familiarise themselves with the content of the Act to have an idea of what the impact of such legislation might be like.

Interestingly, in the UK, the Act has seldom been used 'in anger'.

Explanation

All except the self-employed tutor have a social arrangement with collective goals, and controls on performance.

The self-employed tutor may have a goal, but it is not collective; is not part of a(n internal) social arrangement and controls on performance may be entirely in their own hands, or perhaps even ab-sent altogether.

Explanation

This is true.

The purpose of creating or entering into a trading bloc is to increase the volumes of trade between countries within that bloc. This is irrespective of trade between blocs, which may grow or not, de-pending on circumstances.

Explanation

The correct answer, covering all of these, is 'economic'.

'Political' could also be considered, but 'economic' covers them all.

The other two answers suggested are not really relevant.

Explanation

Government decisions and actions regarding the level of interest rates and supply of money in the economy.

Fiscal policy relates to taxation and its relationship to government expenditure.

The other two suggested answers: exchange rates and unemployment rates are a factor of other poli-cies; the size of coins and banknotes is beyond the scope of your syllabus and my knowledge. :)

Explanation

The x-axis shows time. For some products, it may represent a year; for others, a century.

The other answers given could all be shown on the y-axis of the PLC, depending on circumstances.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'taxpayers'. On occasion, part of a public sector organisation may make sales which will generate revenue. In some mega-projects (eg power generation), public sector bodies will sometimes into long-term arrangements with private sector financiers, but this is not the mainstream. Delaying payments to suppliers is a tactic used by some organisations, but they are more likely to be private sector, and such a practice is regarded as unethical by many, including CIPS.

Explanation

The correct answer simply describes what fiscal policy is.

This topic is often mentioned or discussed in serious radio / TV news broadcasts.

Explanation

The answer is 'not-for-profit', meaning 'third sector' (charities, co-operatives, NGOs, etc). This is not the same as 'public sector'. You should be clear on this terminology.

Explanation

It's climate change.

Interestingly I've seen writings from climate activists who say that the film provides clear evidence that human-made climate change will be disastrous for the human race; and I've seen writings from climate-change deniers saying that if things were that bad we'd have become extinct a while ago. You decide.

Explanation

One of the best ways to combat maverick buying is for procurement to be seen to be doing a good job, reducing the justification in colleagues' minds for going outside the system.

The other terms shown in the answers are simply made up to create the question.

This is your final question in this practice exam - good luck in the real exam!