PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
A project is experiencing cost overruns. The project manager wants to calculate key earned value metrics. Which THREE metrics are needed to compute the cost performance index (CPI) and schedule performance index (SPI)? (Select three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests confusion between inputs and outputs of EVM formulas, tempting candidates to select BAC or EAC as required for CPI/SPI.
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
✓
Actual cost (AC)
The three metrics needed to compute CPI and SPI are Actual cost (AC), Planned value (PV), and Earned value (EV). CPI is calculated as EV / AC, so both EV (option E) and AC (option C) are required to measure cost efficiency. SPI is calculated as EV / PV, so EV (option E) and PV (option D) are required to measure schedule efficiency. Together, EV, PV, and AC provide the core earned value inputs for both indices. Budget at completion (BAC, option A) is used for forecasting metrics such as EAC and TCPI, and Estimate at completion (EAC, option B) is itself a forecast derived from earned value data, so neither is needed to compute CPI or SPI directly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Budget at completion (BAC)
Why it's wrong here
BAC is the total authorised budget, used in variance and forecasting formulas, not in CPI or SPI, which need EV, AC and PV. It is tempting because BAC underpins EAC and TCPI calculations elsewhere in earned value reporting.
- ✗
Estimate at completion (EAC)
Why it's wrong here
EAC is derived from CPI, not used to compute it.
- ✓
Actual cost (AC)
Why this is correct
Actual cost is the money spent on work performed to date. CPI equals earned value divided by AC, so AC is essential for the cost efficiency calculation; it satisfies the stem's requirement for metrics needed to compute CPI.
- ✓
Planned value (PV)
Why this is correct
Planned value is the authorised budget for work scheduled to date. SPI equals earned value divided by PV, so PV is essential for the schedule efficiency calculation; it satisfies the stem's requirement for metrics needed to compute SPI.
- ✓
Earned value (EV)
Why this is correct
Earned value (EV) is the budgeted value of work actually completed, and it forms the numerator of both CPI (EV ÷ AC) and SPI (EV ÷ PV). Without EV, neither cost nor schedule performance can be computed, so it directly satisfies the stem's requirement to calculate both indices.
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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
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