How many maturity levels are defined in the model?

• A. Four
• B. Five
• C. Six
• D. Seven

Answer: (C)

This question focuses on how many maturity levels the model defines in its staged representation. In the traditional CMMI staged model, there are five maturity levels: Initial, Managed, Defined, Quantitatively Managed, and Optimizing. Each level marks a deeper degree of process maturity and organizational capability.

A common source of confusion is the continuous representation, which uses capability levels numbered 0 through 5—six levels in total. Those are called capability levels, not maturity levels, so they’re counted differently from the five maturity levels in the staged model.

So, the correct count for maturity levels is five. If six is listed, that mix-up usually comes from conflating capability levels with maturity levels.