The answer is to crash the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks. This is correct because the critical path has zero float, meaning any delay directly extends the project completion date, and crashing adds resources to compress the schedule without increasing scope—unlike fast tracking, which would reorder tasks and introduce risk but is only viable when float exists. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that crashing is the go-to schedule compression technique when the critical path is tight and scope is locked; a common trap is choosing fast tracking, which fails here because it requires parallel work on tasks that still have dependency slack. Remember the memory tip: “No float? Crash the boat—add resources, don’t reorder courses.”
PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. 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 manager discovers that a critical path activity is behind schedule. The project has no float on the critical path. Which action should the project manager take to bring the project back on track without increasing scope?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Crash the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks
Crashing the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks is the correct action because the critical path has zero float, meaning any delay directly extends the project completion date. Crashing adds resources to compress the schedule without changing scope, which is the only viable option when no float exists and scope must remain unchanged.
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.
✗
Add a new activity to the critical path to create more time
Why it's wrong here
Adding activities would increase scope and likely delay further.
✗
Fast track the remaining activities by starting them earlier
Why it's wrong here
Fast tracking increases risk and may not be as effective on critical path.
✓
Crash the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks
Why this is correct
Crashing adds resources to reduce duration on critical path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement a change request to reduce the scope of the delayed activity
Why it's wrong here
Reducing scope is a scope change, not a schedule compression technique.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between fast-tracking (parallel execution) and crashing (adding resources), and the trap here is that candidates confuse fast-tracking as a solution for a behind-schedule critical path, but fast-tracking does not shorten the duration of individual activities and can increase risk, whereas crashing directly reduces activity duration on the critical path.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Crashing is a schedule compression technique that focuses on the critical path by adding resources (e.g., overtime, extra staff) to reduce duration, but it typically increases cost. In project management, the critical path has zero total float, so any delay on it pushes the project end date; crashing is the only method that directly shortens the critical path without changing scope or dependencies. Real-world scenarios often involve trade-offs between cost and time, where crashing is used when schedule is the primary constraint.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Crash the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks — Crashing the project by assigning additional resources to critical tasks is the correct action because the critical path has zero float, meaning any delay directly extends the project completion date. Crashing adds resources to compress the schedule without changing scope, which is the only viable option when no float exists and scope must remain unchanged.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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. The sponsor asks the project manager to accelerate the project schedule without changing scope. Which technique should the project manager recommend?
medium
A.Monte Carlo simulation
✓ B.Crashing
C.Fast tracking
D.Resource leveling
Why B: Crashing is the correct technique because it involves adding additional resources to critical path activities to compress the project schedule without altering scope. This directly addresses the sponsor's request to accelerate the schedule while keeping the project scope unchanged.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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