Quick Answer
The answer is that the project is over budget and ahead of schedule. This interpretation is correct because the cost performance index (CPI) of 0.8 means the project is earning only $0.80 for every dollar spent, signaling a cost overrun, while the schedule performance index (SPI) of 1.1 indicates it is earning $1.10 for every dollar of planned work, meaning progress is ahead of schedule. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your ability to read CPI and SPI values together—a common trap is assuming both indexes must be above 1.0 for a healthy project, but here the mixed values show a trade-off between cost and time. To interpret cost performance index and schedule performance index quickly, remember the mnemonic: “CPI under 1 is cost undone, SPI over 1 is schedule won.”
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 is reviewing a project that has a cost performance index (CPI) of 0.8 and a schedule performance index (SPI) of 1.1. What is the best interpretation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
The project is on budget and on schedule
Why wrong: Both indices deviate from 1.
The project is over budget and ahead of schedule
CPI<1 over budget, SPI>1 ahead of schedule.
The project is over budget and behind schedule
Why wrong: SPI 1.1 indicates ahead of schedule.
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: CPI 0.8 indicates over budget.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The project is over budget and ahead of schedule
A CPI of 0.8 means the project is earning only $0.80 for every $1.00 spent, indicating cost overrun (over budget). An SPI of 1.1 means the project is earning $1.10 for every $1.00 of planned work, indicating progress ahead of schedule. Therefore, the project is over budget and ahead of schedule, making option B correct.
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.
The project is on budget and on schedule
Why it's wrong here
Both indices deviate from 1.
The project is over budget and ahead of schedule
Why this is correct
CPI<1 over budget, SPI>1 ahead of schedule.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The project is over budget and behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
SPI 1.1 indicates ahead of schedule.
The project is under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
CPI 0.8 indicates over budget.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often misinterpret CPI and SPI values, confusing values below 1.0 as 'good' or failing to recognize that a CPI of 0.8 clearly indicates cost overrun regardless of the SPI value.
Detailed technical explanation
CPI and SPI are earned value management (EVM) metrics derived from actual cost (AC), earned value (EV), and planned value (PV). CPI = EV/AC, so a value below 1.0 means costs are exceeding the value of work performed. SPI = EV/PV, so a value above 1.0 means more work has been completed than planned. In real-world scenarios, this combination often occurs when a project accelerates work by using overtime or additional resources, driving up costs while advancing the schedule.
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The project is over budget and ahead of schedule — A CPI of 0.8 means the project is earning only $0.80 for every $1.00 spent, indicating cost overrun (over budget). An SPI of 1.1 means the project is earning $1.10 for every $1.00 of planned work, indicating progress ahead of schedule. Therefore, the project is over budget and ahead of schedule, making option B correct.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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