PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager is developing a project schedule for a construction project. The team has identified all activities and their dependencies. The project manager needs to determine the longest path through the network diagram to identify the shortest possible project duration. Which technique should the project manager use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse PERT, which uses three-point estimates for uncertain durations, with CPM, which calculates the critical path.
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
✓
Critical path method (CPM)
The critical path method (CPM) is the technique used to determine the longest path through a project network, which defines the shortest possible project duration. It identifies critical activities and their float. PERT, Gantt charts, and resource leveling serve different purposes and do not directly answer the need to find the longest path.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Resource leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling is a technique used to adjust the schedule to resolve resource over-allocation, often at the expense of the critical path. It does not identify the longest path. In this scenario, the project manager is focused on determining the critical path, not resolving resource conflicts. Resource leveling would be used later if resource issues arise.
- ✗
Gantt chart
Why it's wrong here
A Gantt chart is a bar chart that displays the project schedule, showing start and end dates for activities. It is a visual tool but does not calculate the longest path or critical path. While useful for tracking progress, it does not provide the analytical capability to determine the shortest project duration. The project manager needs a network analysis technique like CPM.
- ✗
Program evaluation and review technique (PERT)
Why it's wrong here
PERT is used when activity durations are uncertain, and it uses three-point estimates (optimistic, pessimistic, most likely) to calculate expected durations. While it can be used with network diagrams, it does not directly identify the longest path. CPM is specifically designed to find the critical path and determine project duration. In this scenario, the project manager has identified activities and dependencies, so CPM is more appropriate.
- ✓
Critical path method (CPM)
Why this is correct
The critical path method (CPM) is used to determine the longest path through a network diagram, which represents the shortest possible project duration. It helps identify critical activities that cannot be delayed without delaying the project. In this scenario, the project manager needs to find the longest path, so CPM is the correct technique. CPM also calculates float for non-critical activities.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every PK0-005 question from scratch — 954 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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
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.