PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
A project has a budget at completion (BAC) of $200,000. The earned value (EV) is $120,000 and the actual cost (AC) is $150,000. What is the estimate at completion (EAC) using the typical cost performance index (CPI) assumption?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests whether candidates apply the correct EAC formula for the stated assumption — mixing up the typical (BAC/CPI) and atypical (AC + BAC - EV) formulas is the most common error.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
$250,000
CPI = EV / AC = 120,000 / 150,000 = 0.8. Using the typical CPI assumption, EAC = BAC / CPI = 200,000 / 0.8 = $250,000. This assumes the current cost performance will continue for the remainder of the project.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
$170,000
Why it's wrong here
Dividing BAC by CPI ($200,000 ÷ 0.8) gives $250,000, not $170,000; this figure instead reflects AC plus the remaining budget, which ignores the CPI assumption the stem specifies. It tempts because adding remaining work to actual spend suits a one-off variance, where atypical performance makes the original estimate still valid.
- ✗
$300,000
Why it's wrong here
This figure does not equal BAC divided by CPI; with EV $120,000 and AC $150,000, CPI is 0.8, giving EAC of $250,000. It is tempting because it resembles a worst-case projection, and would be correct if the estimate were derived from a bottom-up re-estimate rather than the typical CPI assumption.
- ✓
$250,000
Why this is correct
Using the typical CPI assumption, EAC equals BAC divided by CPI. Here CPI is EV/AC, or $120,000/$150,000 = 0.8, so EAC is $200,000/0.8 = $250,000. This satisfies the stem's requirement to forecast the final cost using typical performance.
- ✗
$230,000
Why it's wrong here
Dividing BAC by CPI ($200,000 ÷ 0.8) gives $250,000, not $230,000, so this figure fails the typical-CPI EAC formula. It is tempting because it equals AC plus the $80,000 remaining budget, which is the atypical assumption where past variances are not expected to recur.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.