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PK0-005 Practice Question: A project manager is reviewing the project…
A project manager is reviewing the project schedule and notices that a critical path activity has a variance of -2 days. What does this indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse variance direction (negative vs. positive) or forget that critical path activities have zero float, leading them to incorrectly choose that the activity can be delayed (Option D).
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
✓
The activity is behind schedule and will delay the project.
A negative variance on the critical path indicates the activity is behind schedule. Since the critical path has zero float, any delay directly extends the project's finish date. A variance of -2 days means the activity is 2 days late, which will delay the project by 2 days unless corrective action is taken.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The activity is ahead of schedule.
Why it's wrong here
A negative variance means the activity is behind schedule, not ahead; finishing early would show a positive variance. It tempts because variance measures schedule deviation, and positive values do indicate early completion, but the sign here is negative.
- ✗
The activity is on schedule.
Why it's wrong here
Zero variance indicates the activity is on schedule; -2 days means it is two days behind. It tempts because variance tracks schedule performance against baseline, and a zero value is the on-schedule case, but the stem specifies a negative figure.
- ✓
The activity is behind schedule and will delay the project.
Why this is correct
A negative variance means the activity is taking longer than planned, so it is behind schedule. On the critical path, any delay directly pushes out the project finish date, since critical path activities have zero float. The -2 days therefore translates into a two-day project delay.
- ✗
The activity has float and can be delayed.
Why it's wrong here
Critical path activities have zero float, so a -2 day variance delays the whole project rather than allowing delay. It tempts because float permits slippage on non-critical tasks, but critical path tasks lack that slack.
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