Quick Answer
The answer is the project charter. This document is the correct choice because it formally authorizes the project, grants the project manager the authority to allocate resources, and marks the official start of the initiation phase. Without a signed charter, the project lacks organizational backing and cannot move forward legitimately. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish initiation deliverables from planning outputs—a common trap is confusing the charter with the scope statement or WBS, which are both created later in the planning phase. A reliable memory tip is to remember that the charter is the "birth certificate" of the project: it gives life and authority before any detailed planning begins.
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 manager is in the process of formally authorizing a new project. Which document should be created during the initiation phase?
Project charter
Formally authorizes the project.
Project scope statement
Why wrong: Created during planning phase.
Work breakdown structure (WBS)
Why wrong: Developed in planning phase.
Risk register
Why wrong: Part of planning phase.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Project charter
Option B is correct because the project charter formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority. Option A is incorrect because the scope statement is created during planning. Option C is incorrect because the WBS is developed in the planning phase. Option D is incorrect because the risk register is part of planning.
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.
Project charter
Why this is correct
Formally authorizes the project.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Project scope statement
Why it's wrong here
Created during planning phase.
Work breakdown structure (WBS)
Why it's wrong here
Developed in planning phase.
Risk register
Why it's wrong here
Part of planning phase.
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.
Project Life Cycle Phases — study guide chapter
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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: Project charter — Option B is correct because the project charter formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority. Option A is incorrect because the scope statement is created during planning. Option C is incorrect because the WBS is developed in the planning phase. Option D is incorrect because the risk register is part of planning.
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.
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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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