- A
Over budget and behind schedule
Why wrong: Over budget would be CPI<1.
- B
Under budget and behind schedule
CPI >1 indicates under budget; SPI <1 indicates behind schedule.
- C
Under budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: Ahead of schedule would be SPI>1.
- D
Over budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: Over budget would be CPI<1, ahead of schedule would be SPI>1.
Question 553 of 1,000
PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of tools and documentation. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A project has a cost performance index (CPI) of 1.2 and a schedule performance index (SPI) of 0.9. Which of the following best describes the project's status?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Under budget and behind schedule
A CPI of 1.2 means the project is earning $1.20 for every $1.00 spent, indicating it is under budget. An SPI of 0.9 means the project is earning only $0.90 for every $1.00 of planned work, indicating it is behind schedule. Therefore, the project is under budget and behind schedule, making option B correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Over budget and behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
Over budget would be CPI<1.
- ✓
Under budget and behind schedule
Why this is correct
CPI >1 indicates under budget; SPI <1 indicates behind schedule.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
Ahead of schedule would be SPI>1.
- ✗
Over budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
Over budget would be CPI<1, ahead of schedule would be SPI>1.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a CPI greater than 1.0 means over budget, when in fact it means the project is under budget because the earned value exceeds the actual cost.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CPI and SPI are earned value management (EVM) metrics calculated as CPI = EV/AC and SPI = EV/PV. A CPI of 1.2 means the project has a cost efficiency of 120%, while an SPI of 0.9 means schedule efficiency is 90%. In practice, a project with these values might be using cheaper resources or completing work faster in some areas but overall falling behind the planned timeline, requiring schedule compression or corrective action.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Tools and Documentation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PK0-005 question test?
Tools and Documentation — This question tests Tools and Documentation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Under budget and behind schedule — A CPI of 1.2 means the project is earning $1.20 for every $1.00 spent, indicating it is under budget. An SPI of 0.9 means the project is earning only $0.90 for every $1.00 of planned work, indicating it is behind schedule. Therefore, the project is under budget and behind schedule, making option B correct.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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