Quick Answer
The correct interpretation is that the project is over budget and ahead of schedule. This is determined by the earned value interpretation: a cost performance index (CPI) of 0.8, being less than 1.0, means the project is earning only 80 cents of value for every dollar spent, indicating a cost overrun; conversely, a schedule performance index (SPI) of 1.2, being greater than 1.0, means the project is completing 20% more work than planned, placing it ahead of schedule. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your ability to apply earned value management (EVM) metrics during the monitoring and controlling phase, where a common trap is confusing the direction of the indices—remember that below 1 is bad for both cost and schedule, but here they move in opposite directions. A useful memory tip is to think of CPI as the "cost penalty" (lower is worse) and SPI as the "speed prize" (higher is better), so CPI < 1 hurts the budget while SPI > 1 helps the timeline.
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project life cycle phases. 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 is in the monitoring and controlling phase. The project manager notices that the cost performance index (CPI) is 0.8 and the schedule performance index (SPI) is 1.2. What does this indicate about the project?
The project is over budget and ahead of schedule
CPI<1 over budget, SPI>1 ahead of schedule.
The project is on budget and on schedule
Why wrong: CPI and SPI not equal to 1.
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: CPI <1 indicates over budget.
The project is over budget and behind schedule
Why wrong: SPI >1 indicates ahead of schedule.
Answer choices
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 over budget and ahead of schedule
Option D is correct because CPI < 1 means the project is over budget, and SPI > 1 means it is ahead of schedule. Option A is incorrect because it states under budget. Option B is incorrect because it states behind schedule. Option C is incorrect because it states both on track.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
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 this is correct
CPI<1 over budget, SPI>1 ahead of schedule.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The project is on budget and on schedule
Why it's wrong here
CPI and SPI not equal to 1.
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
CPI <1 indicates over budget.
The project is over budget and behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
SPI >1 indicates ahead of schedule.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Project Life Cycle Phases — This question tests Project Life Cycle Phases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The project is over budget and ahead of schedule — Option D is correct because CPI < 1 means the project is over budget, and SPI > 1 means it is ahead of schedule. Option A is incorrect because it states under budget. Option B is incorrect because it states behind schedule. Option C is incorrect because it states both on track.
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. While monitoring and controlling, the project manager reviews earned value metrics and finds CPI = 0.8 and SPI = 1.1. What does this indicate?
mediumWhy A: CPI less than 1 indicates over budget; SPI greater than 1 indicates ahead of schedule. Therefore the project is over budget but ahead of schedule.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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