Quick Answer
The correct answer is behind schedule and under budget. An SPI of 0.8 means the project is completing only 80% of the work planned for the time spent, indicating a schedule deficit, while a CPI of 1.2 means the project is earning $1.20 of work for every dollar spent, signaling cost efficiency. This SPI and CPI interpretation is a core concept tested on the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, where you must distinguish between schedule and cost performance metrics. A common trap is confusing the direction of the indices: remember that any SPI or CPI below 1.0 is unfavorable, while above 1.0 is favorable. For a quick memory tip, think of SPI as "Schedule Painful" when below 1, and CPI as "Cost Profitable" when above 1.
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of tools and documentation. 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 tracking project performance and notices that the SPI is 0.8 and the CPI is 1.2. What does this indicate about the project?
Ahead of schedule and under budget
Why wrong: SPI < 1 indicates behind schedule.
Ahead of schedule and over budget
Why wrong: SPI < 1 indicates behind schedule, not ahead.
Behind schedule and under budget
SPI < 1 = behind schedule; CPI > 1 = under budget.
Behind schedule and over budget
Why wrong: CPI > 1 indicates under budget, not over.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Behind schedule and under budget
SPI (Schedule Performance Index) of 0.8 indicates that for every unit of planned work, only 0.8 units have been completed, meaning the project is behind schedule. CPI (Cost Performance Index) of 1.2 indicates that for every dollar spent, $1.20 worth of work has been earned, meaning the project is under budget. Therefore, the project is behind schedule and under budget, making option C 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.
Ahead of schedule and under budget
Why it's wrong here
SPI < 1 indicates behind schedule.
Ahead of schedule and over budget
Why it's wrong here
SPI < 1 indicates behind schedule, not ahead.
Behind schedule and under budget
Why this is correct
SPI < 1 = behind schedule; CPI > 1 = under budget.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Behind schedule and over budget
Why it's wrong here
CPI > 1 indicates under budget, not over.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a high CPI automatically means the project is ahead of schedule, but CPI and SPI are independent metrics that must be interpreted separately.
Detailed technical explanation
Earned Value Management (EVM) uses SPI = EV/PV and CPI = EV/AC. An SPI below 1.0 means less value earned than planned, signaling schedule slippage. A CPI above 1.0 means more value earned than spent, indicating cost efficiency. In practice, a project with SPI=0.8 and CPI=1.2 might be using lower-cost resources or delaying work, which can mask future risks if schedule compression is needed later.
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
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FAQ
Tools and Documentation — This question tests Tools and Documentation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Behind schedule and under budget — SPI (Schedule Performance Index) of 0.8 indicates that for every unit of planned work, only 0.8 units have been completed, meaning the project is behind schedule. CPI (Cost Performance Index) of 1.2 indicates that for every dollar spent, $1.20 worth of work has been earned, meaning the project is under budget. Therefore, the project is behind schedule and under budget, making option C correct.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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