PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
A project manager is preparing a presentation for the steering committee. The PM wants to show the cumulative planned value, earned value, and actual cost over time to illustrate cost and schedule performance trends. Which tool or technique should the project manager use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is selecting a Gantt chart because it is a common project management chart, but it does not plot earned value metrics.
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
✓
S-curve
An S-curve is the standard tool for displaying cumulative planned value, earned value, and actual cost over time. It allows stakeholders to see cost and schedule performance trends at a glance. The other charts serve different purposes: burndown for agile progress, Gantt for schedule, and control chart for quality. Therefore, the S-curve is the correct choice.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Gantt chart
Why it's wrong here
A Gantt chart displays tasks as horizontal bars along a timeline, showing dependencies and durations. It is used for schedule planning and tracking, not for plotting cumulative cost and earned value data. The scenario asks for cost and schedule performance trends, which a Gantt chart does not provide.
- ✓
S-curve
Why this is correct
An S-curve is a graph that displays cumulative planned value, earned value, and actual cost over time. It is commonly used in earned value management to visualize cost and schedule performance trends. The scenario describes exactly this need, making the S-curve the correct tool.
- ✗
Burndown chart
Why it's wrong here
A burndown chart tracks the amount of work remaining versus time, typically used in agile projects to show progress toward completion. It does not display planned value, earned value, and actual cost together. The scenario requires cost and schedule performance trends, which are not the focus of a burndown chart.
- ✗
Control chart
Why it's wrong here
A control chart is used to monitor process stability over time by plotting data points against control limits. It is a quality management tool, not a cost and schedule performance tool. The scenario describes cumulative financial and schedule metrics, which are best shown with an S-curve, not a control chart.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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