PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager is preparing for the first phase gate review. The sponsor wants assurance that the phase has met its exit criteria before funding the next phase. Which activity best supports this decision?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is substituting general planning or monitoring artifacts for the formal phase-end review that actually validates exit criteria.
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
✓
Conducting a phase-end review to verify deliverables and confirm exit criteria are met.
Phase gate reviews verify that exit criteria and deliverables are met before authorizing the next phase, giving the sponsor a formal basis for continued funding. Benefit-cost analysis, engagement matrices, and resource calendars support other decisions but do not validate phase completion. The phase-end review is the activity that satisfies the sponsor's assurance request.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Conducting a phase-end review to verify deliverables and confirm exit criteria are met.
Why this is correct
A phase-end review validates that the phase achieved its objectives and satisfies the defined exit criteria before the next phase is authorized. This gives the sponsor evidence-based assurance and a formal decision point for continued funding. It aligns with the predictive life cycle's use of phase gates to control risk and investment progressively.
- ✗
Updating the stakeholder engagement assessment matrix with current positions.
Why it's wrong here
The engagement assessment matrix tracks stakeholder support levels and helps plan communication, but it does not confirm phase completion or exit criteria. It is a useful monitoring tool, yet it cannot provide the sponsor with the deliverable verification required at a gate. Presenting it as the gate evidence would leave the funding decision unsupported.
- ✗
Reviewing the resource calendar to confirm team availability for the next phase.
Why it's wrong here
The resource calendar shows when team members and assets are available, which helps with scheduling but not with verifying phase deliverables. Availability alone does not prove that exit criteria were met. The sponsor needs evidence of completed work and quality, so a phase-end review is the appropriate activity.
- ✗
Performing a benefit-cost ratio calculation for the entire project.
Why it's wrong here
A benefit-cost ratio supports the initial business case and investment decision, not a phase gate review. It does not verify whether the current phase's deliverables and exit criteria were achieved. Using it here would skip the operational evidence the sponsor needs to justify releasing funds for the next phase.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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