Critical Path Test

The DCMA guideline states that a programme either passes or Fails the Critical Path Test

The critical path test is a simple pass/fail test intended to evaluate the integrity of the network logic. The test is performed by first noting the total duration of the project, then displaying the critical path in the schedule, choosing a critical activity as close to the start milestone as possible, and then intentionally increasing the duration by a large amount, which is greater than the total duration of the project, usually 600 days is sufficient.

If the project completion date is not delayed for the same amount of days i.e. 600 days, it means that somewhere in the logic network there is a gap or break in the logic which is most likely the result of either a missing Predecessor and/or Successor, it could also be due to a Hard Constraint, preventing true calculation.

If the programme fails the test, then corrections and/or amendments must be made until the programme passes the test.