IPA IP 2026 Question 37
A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問37, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Mr. A is doing the work of the planning phase of a new project, and has started estimating the development cost. Which of the following is the most appropriate method for estimating the approximate cost in a short time at this phase?
Explanation
Estimating by analogy with similar projects — in the planning phase there is little detail, and analogous estimating gives a rough figure quickly from past actual costs.
Analogous estimating is a top-down method: the actual cost of a similar past project is adjusted for differences in size and conditions. It needs only an outline of the new project, so it suits early phases, at the price of lower accuracy.
The other methods need information that the planning phase does not yet have:
- •the FP (Function Point) method counts and weights the functions (data and transactions) defined in the requirements
- •bottom-up estimating needs the work broken down into units, a WBS, and estimates each one: accurate but slow
- •estimating from lines of code (the program step method) needs the size of each program, known only once the design takes shape
Answer (d)
Why not others:
- •(a) — function points can be counted only after the functions are defined in requirements definition
- •(b) — bottom-up estimating takes the most effort and needs a detailed breakdown of the work
- •(c) — lines of code are hard to predict before design, and estimates from them are unreliable early on
Key rule: Early and fast: analogous (top-down) estimating; later, with requirements or a WBS: function points or bottom-up estimating for accuracy.
Project Management · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.