Quick Answer
The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is the correct metric for measuring the percentage of work completed compared to the planned schedule. SPI directly compares Earned Value (EV) to Planned Value (PV), yielding a ratio that quantifies schedule efficiency. An SPI greater than 1.0 indicates the project is ahead of schedule, while less than 1.0 signals it is behind, and exactly 1.0 means on schedule. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this metric tests your ability to distinguish SPI from Cost Performance Index (CPI)—a common trap is confusing schedule efficiency with cost efficiency. The exam often presents a scenario where you must calculate or interpret SPI from given EV and PV values. To remember it, think of the "S" in SPI standing for "Schedule" and the "P" for "Planned"—you are comparing what you have earned (EV) against what you planned (PV). A useful memory tip: "SPI > 1 means you're ahead of the sun."
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 wants to measure the percentage of work completed compared to the planned schedule. Which metric should be used?
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
SPI = EV/PV, showing percentage of work completed vs planned.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Why wrong: CPI measures cost efficiency (EV/AC), not schedule performance.
Earned Value (EV)
Why wrong: EV is the budgeted cost of work performed, not a ratio.
Planned Value (PV)
Why wrong: PV is the budgeted cost of work scheduled, not a ratio.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is the correct metric because it directly compares the Earned Value (EV) to the Planned Value (PV), providing a ratio that indicates whether the project is ahead of, on, or behind schedule. An SPI greater than 1.0 means the project is ahead of schedule, while less than 1.0 indicates it is behind. This aligns with the project manager's goal of measuring work completion against the planned schedule.
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.
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Why this is correct
SPI = EV/PV, showing percentage of work completed vs planned.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Why it's wrong here
CPI measures cost efficiency (EV/AC), not schedule performance.
Earned Value (EV)
Why it's wrong here
EV is the budgeted cost of work performed, not a ratio.
Planned Value (PV)
Why it's wrong here
PV is the budgeted cost of work scheduled, not a ratio.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the distinction between a raw EVM value (like EV or PV) and a performance index (like SPI or CPI), so the trap here is confusing the absolute value of Earned Value with the ratio that actually measures schedule performance.
Detailed technical explanation
SPI is calculated as EV / PV and is part of Earned Value Management (EVM), a methodology defined in PMI's PMBOK Guide. A subtle behavior is that SPI can be misleading in the later stages of a project because it only measures schedule efficiency up to the status date, not the critical path performance. In real-world scenarios, a project with an SPI of 1.0 might still be behind schedule if work is being completed on non-critical tasks while critical path tasks lag.
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: Schedule Performance Index (SPI) — The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is the correct metric because it directly compares the Earned Value (EV) to the Planned Value (PV), providing a ratio that indicates whether the project is ahead of, on, or behind schedule. An SPI greater than 1.0 means the project is ahead of schedule, while less than 1.0 indicates it is behind. This aligns with the project manager's goal of measuring work completion against the planned schedule.
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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