Free CIPS L4M4 Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 8

Explanation

In a 'Credit Account' payment mechanism- the supplier receives payment after the goods are delivered, in line with agreed payment terms (which may be 30 days or something like that).

Gearing is a measure of a supplier’slong-term financial riskand indicates the proportion of debt used to finance the organisation compared with equity. It is calculated usinglong-term debt (such as long-term loans)in relation toshareholders’ equity (ordinary share capital). High gearing suggests greater reliance on borrowed funds, increasing the risk of financial instability and potential supply disruption. Cost of sales and operating costs relate to profitability, while current liabilities are short-term obligations assessed through liquidity ratios, not gearing. Procurement professionals must understand gearing when conducting financial due diligence to ensure suppliers are financially sustainable and capable of meeting long-term contractual commitments.

The balance sheet (statement of financial position) shows assets, liabilities, and equity at a point in time. The profit and loss account (income statement) shows revenues, expenses, and profit over a period. These are the two core statements used to assess supplier stability and performance. The cash flow statement is useful but supplementary, while chairman’s statements are narrative, not financial records. Responsible sourcing emphasises using balance sheet and P&L analysis to evaluate supplier financial strength, ensuring continuity of supply and risk management.

CIPS promotes a constructive and corrective approach when suppliers fall short of ethical standards, especially on critical issues like human rights. Immediately cutting ties can harm workers further and disrupt supply without addressing root causes. A responsible sourcing approach requires buyers to engage suppliers, escalate the concern, and establish a corrective action plan with monitoring to ensure compliance. Only if the supplier refuses to act or breaches persist should termination occur. This supports continuous improvement, supplier development, and ethical due diligence, reflecting global standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Explanation

Intracompany trading is when two departments in the same company do trading. AND when two companies owned by the same parent company do trading.

INTRA means 'within' - so it's doing business with yourself.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'the supplier is able to work at the same technical level as the buyer'. It's about being able to integrate the businesses together in terms of IT systems and such like.

Explanation

Incoterms describe the point at which an item is considered 'delivered' and explains who has the risk of what during the transport of the goods.

Standards, such as ISO or BS norms, establish clear, universally recognised benchmarks for quality, safety, and performance. Including them in specifications reduces ambiguity, ensuring suppliers know exactly what is required and how compliance will be measured. They do not automatically guarantee lowest pricing or cover all unique buyer requirements. Instead, they improve comparability, fairness, and governance in tendering. Responsible sourcing emphasises use of recognised standards to ensure safety, ethical compliance, and consistent quality, particularly in sensitive categories like healthcare, where patient safety and continuity of service are paramount.

Explanation

ISO 20400 is sustainable procurement.

14000 is environment

9001 is quality management

27001 is information security

Explanation

The correct answers are; lead times, product competition and changes in the marketplace.

You wouldn't expect to receive samples or costings from a Request for Information - rather, these should be expected as part of the Tender Competition