hardMultiple Choice
PK0-005 Practice Question: An IT project manager is using a project…
An IT project manager is using a project management software tool to track progress. The tool shows that the project's SPI is 0.8 and CPI is 1.1. Which conclusion can the project manager draw about the project's performance?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the direction of the indices, mistakenly thinking CPI > 1 means over budget and SPI < 1 means ahead of schedule, when in fact the opposite is true.
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 project is behind schedule and under budget.
The SPI (Schedule Performance Index) of 0.8 indicates that the project is behind schedule, as SPI < 1 means less progress was achieved than planned. The CPI (Cost Performance Index) of 1.1 indicates the project is under budget, as CPI > 1 means the earned value exceeds the actual cost. Therefore, the project is behind schedule and under budget, making option D correct.
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 project is behind schedule and over budget.
Why it's wrong here
An SPI of 0.8 means the project is behind schedule, but a CPI of 1.1 means it is under budget, so the over-budget claim is false. It tempts because SPI below 1 correctly signals delay, yet CPI above 1 indicates cost efficiency, not overspending.
- ✗
The project is on schedule and on budget.
Why it's wrong here
SPI of 0.8 indicates less work completed than planned, so the project is behind schedule despite CPI of 1.1 showing cost efficiency. It tempts because CPI above 1 does confirm budget health, but the schedule index contradicts the on-schedule claim.
- ✗
The project is ahead of schedule and over budget.
Why it's wrong here
SPI of 0.8 means earned value trails planned value, so the project is behind schedule, not ahead; CPI of 1.1 means costs are under budget, not over. The option inverts both indices. Reading SPI above 1.0 and CPI below 1.0 would describe ahead-of-schedule, over-budget performance.
- ✓
The project is behind schedule and under budget.
Why this is correct
SPI below 1.0 means earned value trails planned value, so the project is behind schedule. CPI above 1.0 means earned value exceeds actual cost, so it is under budget. Both indices together support this conclusion.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.