Free CIPS L4M8 Practice Test & Real Exam Questions

  • Exam Code/Number: L4M8
  • Exam Name/Title: Procurement and Supply in Practice
  • Certification Provider: CIPS
  • Corresponding Certification: CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply
  • Exam Questions: 198
  • Updated On: Sep 13, 2026
Research the ethical standard or accreditations of an industry with which you are familiar
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
If a supplier is accredited or is a member of an association that promotes good ethical conduct, a statement to this effect is likely to be featured on its company documentation. This could be in a form of letters after the organization name or the authorized use of logo.
Accreditation information should be verified by procurement professionals either asking organiza-tion for certification to prove membership or accreditation or checking on a professional register.
Below are associated bodies that form some industries.
1. ISO 14001 - for quality management
2. CIPS - for procurement and Supply
3. Red Tractor - NGO Registered in the UK, promoting human right
4. Amnesty International - human right
5. Carbon Trust - For Carbon neutral status.
Describe two ways in which an organization with which you are familiar could use continuous im-provement as part of whole life asset management.
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Continuous improvement relates to removing waste from the supply chain and improving processes to increase efficiency within whole life asset management in a full power project (a flour producing firm) can benefit from continuous improvement in the following ways;
1) Reduce cost of spears by recondition parts, instead of disposing them out rightly.
2) Can reduce down time by conducting routine maintenance after hours.
3) Can reducing accident by up skilling operators on safety
4) Can reduce waste oil by following owner's manual instead of relying on experience.
5) Create efficiencies by operating a 24/7 shift pattern.
What are the four methods that can be used to try to resolve dispute?
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Conflict or dispute is the final area a procurement professional considers when creating terms for a contract with a supplier. If conflict or dispute arises, there must be a process put in place in the contract to try to resolve it and these includes; a) Negotiation, b) mediation, c) arbitration and d) litigation.
Negotiation is usually carried out between senior people within organization that are in conflict, if they cannot reach an agreement through negotiation, mediation is the next stage, mediation is when a third party tries to help find a resolution among the parties in dispute. If mediation fails arbitration can start, arbitration involve independent professionals (arbitrators) working with all the party to try to reach an agreement. Parties do not have a formal or legal obligation to follow the arbitrator's recommendation. Arbitration is expensive. If arbitration fails to resolve the conflict, the final stage is litigation, litigation takes time and money, and most people avoid it. It is a legal process where a court decides on the outcome of the dispute. The judge's ruling is final.
Explain with examples three differences between offers and invitation to treat.
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
An offer is created when one party communicates to another or to multiple parties that they wish to enter into a legal binding agreement in accordance with the terms stated, for example; a company in promotion advertising for buyers to buy one and get one free, an offer is a buying organization communicating to a supplier to supply X number of goods and be paid x amount upon delivery at company premises, an offer is when a football club proposes to pay X amount to a player if agrees to play for them for a month. An offer can be legally banded if accepted, whereas invitation to treat does not. An invitation to treat is just an invitation from one party to another to begin negotiations with the intention of creating an offer. If an offer is made without stating terms, this becomes an invitation to treat, for example, an invitation to treat is when a pharmacy displays a drug in its shelf. An invitation to treat can be linked to a request a buyer send to suppliers asking them for specific information.
* Refer to the question column for response
Maximum Score: 25
Explain the elements that Lucie should include in her analysis based on whole-life asset management.
(25 marks)
Water Works Limited
11
Water Works Limited is the regulated public authority for the provision of clean and waste water services in the Southern region. The procurement manager, Lucie James, has been asked to review the contract for the supply of vehicles across Water Works' ten regional offices. The vehicles are currently hired from Vehicle Press, but several vehicle breakdowns have created operational issues on Water Works sites. There are currently 200 vehicles in the fleet. Some of these are now several years old and running costs are increasing.
Lucie reviewed the contract with Vehicle Press and is aware that the expiry date of the contract is at the end of the current year. Water Works has the option to extend the contract. Lucie undertakes a review of Vehicle Press' contract performance and the specification for vehicles, together with the number of vehicles that will be required in the future. Following this, Lucie presents the analysis of the options available to the operations director, Anna Cabo, in a procurement strategy report. Lucie's report presents the following three options;
1. Extend the contract with Vehicle Press Limited for the hire of the vehicles 2. Re-tender the contract to the open market for the provision of hired vehicles Purchase the vehicles instead of hiring them from the open market.
3.
3. Purchase the vehicles instead of hiring them from the open market. Anna's decision is to progress with option three to purchase the vehicles, as there are capital funds available for strategic purchases in the current year. To proceed, Anna must generate a business case for presentation to the senior leadership team. Anna asks Lucie to prepare a detailed whole life asset management analysis for the provision of the vehicles to support her business case.
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.below.
Explanation:
3. Explain the elements that Lucie should include in her analysis based on whole-life asset management.
(25 marks)
Whole-life asset management means evaluating the total cost and value of an asset over its full life , not just the initial purchase price. CIPS explains this as whole-life costing / total cost of ownership , covering acquisition, usage and end-of-life costs. ISO 55000 also states that asset management should consider assets over their life cycles to realise value for the organisation.
In Water Works' case, Lucie should include the following elements in her analysis of purchasing the 200 vehicles.
1. Initial acquisition costs
Lucie should first calculate the purchase price of the vehicles. This includes not only the price of each vehicle, but also delivery charges, registration, taxes, any fit-out requirements, signage, tracking systems and initial insurance. This is important because the capital cost will be high for a fleet of 200 vehicles, so the business case must show the full upfront investment rather than just the list price. CIPS notes that whole-life costing includes purchase price and acquisition cost .
2. Operating and running costs
A major element is the cost of operating the vehicles during their working life. Lucie should estimate fuel or energy costs, servicing, maintenance, repairs, tyres, road tax and insurance. This is especially relevant because the case states that some current vehicles are several years old and running costs are increasing . Therefore, Lucie should compare the likely running costs of new vehicles with the current hired fleet to show whether ownership offers better long-term value. CIPS identifies usage cost as a core part of total cost of ownership.
3. Reliability and performance
Lucie should assess how reliable the vehicles are expected to be over time. The case already mentions several breakdowns causing operational issues on Water Works sites. Therefore, her analysis should include the likely cost of breakdowns, lost productivity, missed site visits, delays to operations and possible emergency replacement vehicles. This is important because a cheaper vehicle may not represent best value if it is unreliable and disrupts service delivery. Whole-life asset management is about the value delivered over the asset life, not only cost. ISO guidance emphasises value, risk and outcomes across the lifecycle.
4. Maintenance strategy and support arrangements
Lucie should include how the vehicles will be maintained once purchased. For example, she should assess whether servicing will be outsourced, managed through manufacturer warranties, or supported by local garages across the ten regional offices. She should also consider the availability of spare parts and support response times. This matters because purchasing the fleet transfers more responsibility for asset upkeep to Water Works compared with hiring.
5. Asset life and replacement cycle
Another important element is the expected useful life of the vehicles. Lucie should estimate how long the vehicles will remain economically and operationally effective before replacement is needed. This should include mileage, intensity of use, operating conditions and likely deterioration. Since Water Works operates across ten regional offices, some vehicles may experience heavier use than others. A whole-life analysis should therefore include assumptions on replacement timing and fleet renewal planning.
6. Residual value and disposal value
Lucie should include the likely residual value of the vehicles at the end of their useful life. If Water Works owns the vehicles, they may be sold, traded in or auctioned. This means the organisation may recover some value at the end of the asset life. She should also include any disposal costs, such as decommissioning, collection, administration or environmentally compliant disposal. CIPS notes that whole-life costing includes end-of-life cost .
7. Financing and cost of capital
Although capital funds are available, Lucie should still consider the financial impact of tying up funds in vehicle ownership. The analysis should show whether using capital for vehicles represents best value compared with other strategic uses of funds. She may also include depreciation and the effect on budgets over time. This is important because purchasing assets creates a different financial commitment from hiring them.
8. Specification and fitness for purpose
Lucie should review whether the chosen vehicles meet operational needs. This includes vehicle size, load capacity, durability, fuel efficiency, suitability for site conditions and any specialist requirements for water service operations. A whole-life approach requires the asset to be fit for purpose, because a poor specification can increase maintenance costs and reduce operational value later in the lifecycle.
9. Risk analysis
Lucie should include risks associated with ownership. These may include unexpected repair costs, changes in fuel prices, asset obsolescence, poor resale values, non-availability of parts and the risk that operational needs change during the asset life. She should compare these ownership risks with the risks under hiring arrangements. ISO 55000 highlights that asset management should consider risks and opportunities throughout the lifecycle .
10. Sustainability and regulatory factors
As a regulated public authority, Water Works should also consider environmental and regulatory issues.
Lucie's analysis should include emissions, fuel efficiency, possible transition to lower-emission vehicles, compliance requirements and disposal obligations. This is relevant because public sector organisations are expected to consider long-term environmental impact as well as cost.
11. Whole-life comparison against hiring
Finally, Lucie should compare the total whole-life cost of buying against the alternatives of extending the current hire contract or re-tendering for hired vehicles . This comparison should include all acquisition, usage, maintenance and end-of-life costs, as well as service reliability and operational value. CIPS describes whole-life costing as an end-to-end cost estimate to support procurement decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lucie's whole-life asset management analysis should not focus only on the purchase price of the vehicles. It should include acquisition costs, operating costs, maintenance, reliability, useful life, replacement cycle, residual value, disposal costs, finance implications, specification, risk and sustainability considerations . By analysing all these elements, Lucie can show whether purchasing the fleet gives Water Works better long-term value than continuing to hire vehicles. This is the main purpose of whole- life asset management.
Create a list of primary and secondary Data sources?
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Data can be primary or secondary
Primary data are derived from original work or research through experience. Primary data can be gathered from the following sources; 1) Interview (2) survey (3) meetings (4) case studies.
Secondary data is derived from a previous source, i.e. somebody else has gathered the data. Sec-ondary data can be gained from; (1) Books (2) Websites, Trade magazines, etc
What are the five stages in Tuckman's team Development model?
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Tuckman's team development model depicts from where a team is formed to the various stages they might experience before the end where the objective is achieved and these includes.
1) Forming: here they are just being put together
2) Storming: conflict and competition begin to arise
3) Norming: here agreement and consensus is reached as roles and responsibility is clear.
4) Perform: They start carrying out the roles and responsibility
5) Adjourning: Task is complete and they are discharged
* Refer to the question column for response
Describe three types of fraud that could occur within the supply chain of an organization with which you are familiar.
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Fraud occurs when a person acts deliberately to secure monies from another party through dishonest method.
Within the supply chain of an organization, fraud can represent itself in the following ways:
1. Kickbacks: e.g. (commission given to a bribe taker for service perform)
2. Corrupt influence (e.g ordering more than what is required)
3. Collusion: (group of suppliers working together to submit multiple bids and split profit.
4. Bid Rigging (a contract is informally agreed with a chosen supplier prior to the official process
5. invoicing fraud
6. Substitution (submitting products that are below the required quality
7. False claims (files false document)
Case Study
A series of news stories reporting events such as the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013 have drawn attention to the poor conditions in garment factories across India and South East Asia. Human rights groups have long be critical of the excessive hours and poor wages workers are forced to endure, as well as the abuse they receive from supervisor. With consumers becoming increasingly aware of these conditions, more pressure is being put on global brands and retailers to ensure their supply chains are fair and ethical.
Certain areas have been notorious for the mistreatment of workers. In India's textile valley', young women are been bound into contracts where they work for two to three years, in exchange for a lump sum of money that they can then put towards a dowry. This is known as the 'Sumangali [a married woman] Thittam' scheme. These women are forced to live in hostels under restrictions that prevent them from moving, and are denied the opportunity to improve their living conditions. Retailers including Walmart and H & M are known to source garments from factories in the 'textile valley'.
Reports by organizations including the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), Central Combodia, Global Labor Justice, Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS) Indonesia, and Society for Labour and Development (SLD) India have exposed unethically run factories that supply garments to H & M, Gap and Walmart. However, retailers will continue to benefit from expensive labour until mounting customers pressure causes them to change.
Why is it important to have adequate procedures in place within an organization in relation to bribery?
Correct Answer:
See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Bribery is the act of giving someone something of value to persuade them to do something that benefits you.
Ethical and responsible sourcing requires conducting due diligence on bribery before going into contractual relationship because failure to this might lead to loss in reputation.
In other for an organization to defend itself against a case of suspected bribery, the United Kingdom bribery Act introduced in 2010 suggests that organizations should have adequate procedures' in place.
The following are six procedures an organization should have in place to be able to defend itself against bribery
1) Proportionate procedure
2) Top level commitment
3) risk assessment
4) due diligence
5) communication
6) monitoring and reviewing