PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
A project has a cost performance index (CPI) of 1.2 and a schedule performance index (SPI) of 0.9. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the direction of the indices: candidates confuse CPI > 1 as over budget and SPI < 1 as ahead of schedule, reversing the correct interpretation.
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
✓
The project is under budget and behind schedule.
A CPI of 1.2 means the project is earning $1.20 of value for every $1.00 spent, so it is under budget. An SPI of 0.9 means the project is progressing at 90% of the planned rate, so it is behind schedule. Therefore the project is under budget and behind schedule.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The project is over budget and ahead of schedule.
Why it's wrong here
SPI of 0.9 is below 1.0, so the project is behind schedule, not ahead; CPI of 1.2 does correctly show under-budget performance. It tempts because cost savings can coincide with early delivery, and it would be correct if SPI exceeded 1.0.
- ✓
The project is under budget and behind schedule.
Why this is correct
A CPI above 1.0 means earned value exceeds actual cost, so the project is under budget; an SPI below 1.0 means earned value lags planned value, so it is behind schedule. Both indices must be read together to state performance accurately.
- ✗
The project is over budget and behind schedule.
Why it's wrong here
CPI of 1.2 exceeds 1.0, so the project is under budget, not over. SPI of 0.9 correctly indicates it is behind schedule. It tempts because behind-schedule projects frequently also overspend, and it would be correct if CPI were below 1.0.
- ✗
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule.
Why it's wrong here
CPI of 1.2 means cost efficiency above plan, but SPI of 0.9 is below 1.0, indicating the project is behind schedule, not ahead. It tempts because a favourable CPI often accompanies good schedule news, and it would be correct if SPI exceeded 1.0.
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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.