Free Practice Questions for CIPS L4M4 Exam

Explanation

Incoterms describe who out of the buer and seller; organises transport and what type of transport this is, who pays for insurance, and who organises duty / tariff arrangements when the goods go through customs. See p.131. Note- some students report a lot of questions on Incoterms in the exam, some say they only had 1. If you can, I'd learn them just to be safe.

Explanation

Reasons to outsource include; 'overheads can be kept as effective as possible' and 'the reduction in the need to continually invest in new machinery'.

When you outsource, you transfer the costs of overheads to the supplier and it is their responsibility to buy new machinery as and when is required. For example if you outsource cleaning, the cleaning company is responsible for replacing the hoovers and floor cleaner

The other two options would be reasons to keep something 'in-house'.

A Bill of Lading is a critical shipping document in international trade, serving as a receipt for shipped goods and a contract between the shipper and carrier. It is essential for customs clearance and is recognized as a valid document for importing goods into the EU.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The Bill of Lading (B/L) is a document issued by the shipping company to the operating shipper, which acknowledges that the goods have been received on board."

The balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time, detailing assets, liabilities, and equity. Short-term liabilities, such as unpaid taxes and bank overdrafts, are obligations the company must settle within a year and are critical indicators of the company's liquidity and financial health.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The balance sheet includes details of current liabilities, such as unpaid taxes and bank overdrafts, which are essential for assessing a supplier's short-term financial obligations and overall stability."

Explanation

EXW- exworks is a suitable incoterm for transporting goods both by rail and boat. It can be used regardless of the mode of transport. The other three are for transport over water. P. 143 Shipping Incoterms: the Complete Guide - Guided Imports

Some students report a lot of questions on Incoterms in the exam, some say they only had 1. Best bet is to learn them if you possibly can.

Competitive bidding is most appropriate when there is asufficient number of capable suppliersto create genuine competition and whenadequate timeis available to conduct the process fairly and transparently. These conditions allow suppliers to prepare robust bids and enable buyers to evaluate proposals properly. Competitive bidding is less suitable where specifications are unstable or urgent decisions are required. Ethical and responsible sourcing emphasises proportionality and fairness, ensuring competition is used where it adds value and does not compromise delivery, governance, or stakeholder needs.

Strategic, high-value categories requiregreater management attention, as they have a significant impact on organisational performance, brand image, and risk exposure. A collaborative relationship allows for innovation, quality improvement, continuity of supply, and alignment with ethical and sustainability objectives. Low-value or non-critical categories are more suited to transactional or arm’s length relationships. Ethical and responsible sourcing requires procurement resources to be prioritised according tovalue and strategic importance, ensuring high-risk categories receive appropriate governance and supplier engagement.

Liquidity measures a company’s ability to meet short-term obligations. The current ratio = current assets ÷ current liabilities, indicating whether the business can cover debts due within one year. Ratios above 1 suggest healthy liquidity, though excessively high ratios may show underutilised cash. Gearing reflects debt-to-equity (solvency); ROI assesses profitability; total asset turnover measures efficiency. Responsible sourcing requires buyers to evaluate liquidity to ensure suppliers have the working capital to maintain operations and deliver reliably. Poor liquidity is a red flag for potential supply disruption.

The Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, is a tool used in procurement to identify that approximately 80% of an organisation's spend is typically with 20% of its suppliers. Applying this principle helps in:

Identifying Strategic Suppliers:Recognising which suppliers account for the majority of spend allows organisations to focus on managing and nurturing these key relationships.

Optimising Supplier Relationships:Understanding spend distribution can highlight opportunities to renegotiate terms, consolidate suppliers, or adjust sourcing strategies for better efficiency and cost savings.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The Pareto Principle is used to identify that 80% of spend is typically with 20% of suppliers, enabling procurement to focus on strategic supplier management and optimise commercial relationships."

Loss of control and loss of private information are significant risks in outsourcing. Responsible sourcing involves mitigating these risks by setting clear agreements, monitoring, and safeguarding sensitive information to maintain control over outsourced activities.