hardMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: A project is behind schedule due to…
A project is behind schedule due to underestimation of task durations. The project manager needs to compress the schedule without increasing costs. Which technique should the project manager consider?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse fast tracking with crashing, assuming both compress the schedule, but crashing increases costs while fast tracking does not, making fast tracking the correct choice when cost cannot increase.
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
✓
Fast tracking
Fast tracking involves performing critical path activities in parallel instead of sequentially to compress the schedule. Since the project is behind schedule due to underestimation of task durations, fast tracking can shorten the project timeline without increasing costs, as it does not require additional resources or overtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Fast tracking
Why this is correct
Fast tracking overlaps activities that would normally run sequentially, shortening the critical path duration without adding labour or resources. Crashing would compress the schedule but increases costs, breaching the stem's constraint of no additional expenditure.
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Scope reduction
Why it's wrong here
Reducing scope removes deliverables rather than compressing the existing schedule, so it fails the requirement to deliver the agreed scope sooner. It is tempting as a fallback when timelines are immovable, and would suit a scenario where the customer accepts descoped functionality.
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Crashing
Why it's wrong here
Crashing adds resources to critical-path activities, which raises costs, directly violating the no-cost-increase constraint. It is tempting because crashing genuinely compresses duration, and would be correct where budget is available and the priority is purely speed.
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Resource leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling resolves overallocation by delaying tasks within their float, which typically extends the schedule rather than compressing it. It is tempting because it addresses resourcing, and would be correct where the goal is smoothing demand, not shortening duration.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.