hardMultiple Choice
PK0-005 A project is 40% complete Practice Question
A project is 40% complete. The earned value (EV) is $80,000, planned value (PV) is $100,000, and actual cost (AC) is $90,000. What is the cost performance index (CPI) and schedule performance index (SPI)?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the formula reversal trap, where candidates mistakenly calculate CPI as AC/EV or SPI as PV/EV, leading to inverted values like those in Option A.
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
✓
CPI = 0.89, SPI = 0.80
The Cost Performance Index (CPI) is calculated as EV/AC = $80,000/$90,000 = 0.89, indicating cost overrun. The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is EV/PV = $80,000/$100,000 = 0.80, indicating schedule delay. Option B correctly matches these values.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
CPI = 0.80, SPI = 0.89
Why it's wrong here
CPI is EV/AC = 80,000/90,000 = 0.89, not 0.80; 0.80 is EV/PV, the SPI. This option swaps the two indices, a tempting error because both divide EV by a single other value, and CPI = 0.80 would be right only if actual cost equalled planned value.
- ✓
CPI = 0.89, SPI = 0.80
Why this is correct
CPI is EV ÷ AC, giving 80,000 ÷ 90,000 = 0.89, so every dollar spent delivers 89 cents of value. SPI is EV ÷ PV, giving 80,000 ÷ 100,000 = 0.80, confirming the project is behind schedule. Both indices satisfy the stem's requirement to measure cost efficiency and schedule progress.
- ✗
CPI = 1.13, SPI = 1.25
Why it's wrong here
Both figures are inverted: CPI is EV/AC = 0.89, not 1.13 (which is AC/EV), and SPI is EV/PV = 0.80, not 1.25 (PV/EV). Dividing the larger number by the smaller is tempting because it yields values above 1, which would indicate good performance if the project were under budget and ahead of schedule.
- ✗
CPI = 0.89, SPI = 1.25
Why it's wrong here
CPI is EV/AC = 80,000/90,000 = 0.89, so that half is right, but SPI is EV/PV = 80,000/100,000 = 0.80, not 1.25. 1.25 is PV/EV, the reciprocal; it would be correct only if the project were ahead of schedule rather than behind.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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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.