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Pierre is constructing a tender for a security contract. As well as cost, he would like to ask the security companies some questions about their health and safety processes and staff qualifications. He has created several questions and weighted these so that they add up to 25. is this the correct thing to do?
weighted points systems for assessments should add up to 100. This is 100%.
An example is how this would work is
Price = 50%
Health and Safety questions= 30%
Qualifications = 20%
A public sector buyer ran a tender with eight bidders, all meeting minimum standards. How is the award decision made?
Public sector procurement is bound by transparency, fairness, and value-for-money principles. Once minimum thresholds are met, evaluation must be based on pre-published weighted criteria (often combining price, quality, sustainability, and social value). Sole reliance on price or location would breach fairness and equal treatment obligations. Weighted scoring ensures that decisions are objective, defendable, and aligned with responsible sourcing principles. This also allows ethical and sustainability considerations to be formally scored alongside commercial ones, reinforcing good governance.
Which of the following are examples of secondary data? Select TWO
economic indices and comparison websites are secondary sources of data. The other three are examples of primary sources of data.
Primary= you get the data yourself
Secondary = you find the data from somewhere else
Which of the following incoterms relate specifically to transporting items over water?
cost and freight is specific to transport over water. The others relate to all types of transportation. Incoterms_2020_chart | Intersped
Some students report a lot of questions on Incoterms in the exam, some say they only had 1. It real-ly is luck of the draw.
Which of the following can be undertaken by the buyer in relation to the governance of a supplier's ethical and sustainable behaviours?
Review the insurance clauses in the contract
Check that the supplier's internal policies are up to date
Check the supplier's conflict of interest register for their contract
Review the non-disclosure agreement for their contract
Governance of ethical and sustainable behaviours involves monitoring risk coverage and transparency measures. Reviewing insurance clauses (1) ensures suppliers are prepared to cover liabilities responsibly. Checking conflict of interest registers (3) promotes transparency, reducing risks of corruption or unfair influence. Simply reviewing NDAs (4) or updated policies (2) does not provide direct assurance of ethical and sustainable practices. Responsible sourcing requires robust governance mechanisms that ensure supplier compliance, reduce risk, and maintain ethical integrity across the supply chain.
302 questions covering all exam domains, starting from $20
Exam domains verified against: Official CIPS L4M4 exam guide, last checked September 2026.
Identify the sourcing process in relation to procurement and differentiate between approaches to sourcing requirements from suppliers. Learn selection criteria commonly applied when sourcing from external suppliers and award criteria used in supplier selection decisions.
Sample question from this domain above: Q1
Evaluate commonly used sources of market data that impact supplier sourcing decisions. Master processes for obtaining quotations and tenders, assess their quality, and analyse electronic systems that support sourcing requirements from external suppliers.
Contrast vital legislative, regulatory, and organisational requirements when sourcing in the not-for-profit, private, and public sectors. Compare major requirements for international supplier sourcing across different jurisdictions and regulatory environments.
Sample question from this domain above: Q4
Define the impact of international ethical standards on procurement and supply, including fraud, modern slavery, and human rights. Identify practices that support ethical procurement and compare audits and feedback mechanisms to evaluate ethical standards in the workplace.
Explore fundamental principles and importance of ethical sourcing practices, including human rights, labour standards, environmental impact, and supply chain transparency in procurement decisions.
Apply ethical frameworks, due diligence processes, and best practices to ensure responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain and across all supplier relationships.
Sample question from this domain above: Q2
Develop strategies to identify and manage risks related to forced labour, child labour, ethical procurement, and sustainable practices in the supply chain and supplier operations.
Apply practices such as fair trade, ethical sourcing of raw materials, and responsible contracting to promote sustainability and social responsibility in supplier relationships and sourcing decisions.
Understand labour laws, workers' rights, and ethical labour practices, including freedom of association, fair wages, and safe and healthy working conditions in supplier operations.
Master ethical auditing processes, third-party certifications, and social compliance programmes to ensure ethical standards are met and maintained across the supply chain.
Common questions about the exam itself
