PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
A project manager notices that the project is behind schedule. The planned value (PV) is $50,000, earned value (EV) is $40,000, and actual cost (AC) is $45,000. What is the schedule performance index (SPI) and what does it indicate?
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
✓
0.8, behind schedule
SPI = EV / PV = 40,000 / 50,000 = 0.8. An SPI less than 1 indicates the project is behind schedule.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
1.25, ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
SPI is EV divided by PV, giving 0.80 here, which signals behind schedule; 1.25 would require EV of $62,500 against the $50,000 PV. The figure 1.25 tempts because dividing PV by EV inverts the ratio, and an index above 1.0 conventionally indicates favourable progress.
- ✓
0.8, behind schedule
Why this is correct
SPI is calculated as EV ÷ PV, giving 0.8, which is below 1.0 and therefore signals the project is behind schedule, directly satisfying the stem's stated concern. The AC figure is irrelevant here, since SPI measures schedule efficiency only, not cost performance.
- ✗
0.89, behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
SPI is EV/PV = 40,000/50,000 = 0.80, not 0.89, so the arithmetic is wrong even though the direction (behind schedule) is right. Dividing EV by AC gives CPI instead. This option tempts because it correctly identifies the behind-schedule condition, but the numeric value fails.
- ✗
1.0, on schedule
Why it's wrong here
SPI of 1.0 would require EV to equal PV, but 40,000 against 50,000 gives 0.80, indicating behind schedule. An SPI of exactly 1.0 describes a project progressing precisely to plan, which this data does not show.
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