Quick Answer
The answer is CV = -$30,000 and SV = -$50,000. This is correct because cost variance (CV) is earned value (EV) minus actual cost (AC), yielding $100,000 minus $130,000, while schedule variance (SV) is EV minus planned value (PV), giving $100,000 minus $150,000. Both negative results indicate the project is over budget and behind schedule, a core concept in earned value management (EVM) tested on the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam. You will often see these calculations in exhibit-based questions where you must pull EV, AC, and PV from a chart or table, and a common trap is confusing which value to subtract—remember that variance always subtracts the baseline (AC for cost, PV for schedule) from EV. To keep it straight, think of the mnemonic “EV comes first, then subtract the other” and note that negative variances mean trouble: cost overrun and schedule delay.
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project management concepts. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. ``` Project Status Report (Month 3 of 12) Planned Value (PV): $500,000 Earned Value (EV): $450,000 Actual Cost (AC): $480,000 Budget at Completion (BAC): $2,000,000 ```
Refer to the exhibit. What is the cost variance (CV) and schedule variance (SV)?
Refer to the exhibit. ``` Project Status Report (Month 3 of 12) Planned Value (PV): $500,000 Earned Value (EV): $450,000 Actual Cost (AC): $480,000 Budget at Completion (BAC): $2,000,000 ```
CV = -$30,000; SV = -$50,000
Correct calculations.
CV = -$20,000; SV = -$20,000
Why wrong: Incorrect.
CV = -$50,000; SV = -$30,000
Why wrong: Swapped.
CV = $30,000; SV = $50,000
Why wrong: Signs reversed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
CV = -$30,000; SV = -$50,000
The cost variance (CV) is calculated as Earned Value (EV) minus Actual Cost (AC). From the exhibit, EV = $100,000 and AC = $130,000, so CV = $100,000 - $130,000 = -$30,000. The schedule variance (SV) is EV minus Planned Value (PV); with PV = $150,000, SV = $100,000 - $150,000 = -$50,000. Both negative values indicate the project is over budget and behind 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.
CV = -$30,000; SV = -$50,000
Why this is correct
Correct calculations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
CV = -$20,000; SV = -$20,000
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect.
CV = -$50,000; SV = -$30,000
Why it's wrong here
Swapped.
CV = $30,000; SV = $50,000
Why it's wrong here
Signs reversed.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the distinction between cost and schedule variance formulas, and the trap here is confusing which metric uses Actual Cost (AC) versus Planned Value (PV), leading candidates to swap the CV and SV calculations or misread the exhibit values.
Detailed technical explanation
Earned Value Management (EVM) integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to provide objective performance metrics. CV and SV are fundamental EVM indicators; CV = EV - AC measures cost efficiency (negative means over budget), while SV = EV - PV measures schedule efficiency (negative means behind schedule). In practice, these metrics are used to calculate performance indices (CPI = EV/AC, SPI = EV/PV) and forecast Estimate at Completion (EAC = BAC/CPI), enabling proactive corrective actions.
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
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: CV = -$30,000; SV = -$50,000 — The cost variance (CV) is calculated as Earned Value (EV) minus Actual Cost (AC). From the exhibit, EV = $100,000 and AC = $130,000, so CV = $100,000 - $130,000 = -$30,000. The schedule variance (SV) is EV minus Planned Value (PV); with PV = $150,000, SV = $100,000 - $150,000 = -$50,000. Both negative values indicate the project is over budget and behind 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
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