- A
SV = -$5,000, CV = -$10,000
Why wrong: Values are swapped; SV is EV-PV, CV is EV-AC.
- B
SV = -$10,000, CV = $5,000
Why wrong: CV would be positive only if EV > AC, but here EV < AC.
- C
SV = $10,000, CV = $5,000
Why wrong: Positive variances would indicate ahead of schedule and under budget, which is not the case.
- D
SV = -$10,000, CV = -$5,000
Correct: SV negative indicates behind schedule; CV negative indicates over budget.
Question 816 of 1,000
PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of tools and documentation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 planned value (PV) of $50,000, earned value (EV) of $40,000, and actual cost (AC) of $45,000. What is the schedule variance (SV) and cost variance (CV)?
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
✓
SV = -$10,000, CV = -$5,000
Schedule variance (SV) is calculated as EV - PV = $40,000 - $50,000 = -$10,000, indicating the project is behind schedule. Cost variance (CV) is EV - AC = $40,000 - $45,000 = -$5,000, indicating the project is over budget. Option D correctly states both negative variances.
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.
- ✗
SV = -$5,000, CV = -$10,000
Why it's wrong here
Values are swapped; SV is EV-PV, CV is EV-AC.
- ✗
SV = -$10,000, CV = $5,000
Why it's wrong here
CV would be positive only if EV > AC, but here EV < AC.
- ✗
SV = $10,000, CV = $5,000
Why it's wrong here
Positive variances would indicate ahead of schedule and under budget, which is not the case.
- ✓
SV = -$10,000, CV = -$5,000
Why this is correct
Correct: SV negative indicates behind schedule; CV negative indicates over budget.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the formulas for SV and CV, swapping the order of subtraction (e.g., using PV - EV for SV or AC - EV for CV), leading to incorrect positive values instead of the correct negative ones.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In earned value management (EVM), SV measures schedule performance against the planned value baseline, while CV measures cost efficiency against actual costs. A negative SV means less work was completed than planned, and a negative CV means more money was spent than budgeted for the work accomplished. In real-world projects, these metrics are used to forecast estimate at completion (EAC) and identify corrective actions.
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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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: SV = -$10,000, CV = -$5,000 — Schedule variance (SV) is calculated as EV - PV = $40,000 - $50,000 = -$10,000, indicating the project is behind schedule. Cost variance (CV) is EV - AC = $40,000 - $45,000 = -$5,000, indicating the project is over budget. Option D correctly states both negative variances.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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