The chart type commonly used to illustrate task sequencing and durations in a project is:

• A. Timeline chart
• B. PERT chart
• C. Pie chart
• D. Scatter plot

Answer: (B)

Understanding how tasks depend on each other and how long they take is essential for accurate project scheduling. A PERT chart does exactly that by laying out a network of activities showing the sequence in which work must occur and the duration of each activity. In this network, milestones or events are shown as nodes and the activities linking them are arrows with duration estimates. This setup helps you see not only the order of tasks but also which tasks are on the critical path—the longest chain of dependent activities that determines the project’s minimum completion time. Because PERT often uses optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic time estimates, it also provides insight into uncertainty and helps with planning buffers.

Other chart types don’t convey this network of dependencies and timing as clearly. A timeline chart sequences events on a time axis but doesn’t emphasize the relationships between tasks. A pie chart shows proportions, not task order or duration. A scatter plot analyzes relationships between two variables but isn’t designed to map a project’s task network.