National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Business Practice Exam

What type of chart would you use to track project timelines?

1. Bar chart

2. Pie chart

3. Gantt chart

4. Line graph

The correct answer is: Gantt chart

A Gantt chart is specifically designed to track project timelines. This type of chart visually represents the phases of a project along a timeline, illustrating the start and end dates of various tasks or activities. It allows for easy identification of overlaps between tasks and helps in monitoring progress against the overall schedule. In contrast, a bar chart is typically used for comparing different items or categories rather than tracking time. A pie chart depicts parts of a whole and is particularly useful for showing percentage distributions, making it less effective for timeline management. A line graph is generally employed for displaying trends over time, but it does not provide the detailed breakdown of individual tasks within a project like a Gantt chart does. Therefore, the specialized nature of a Gantt chart makes it the most appropriate choice for tracking project timelines.