Quick Answer
The correct answer is over budget and ahead of schedule. This is determined by interpreting the Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI), where a CPI of 0.8 (less than 1) means the project is spending more than planned for the work completed, indicating it is over budget, while an SPI of 1.1 (greater than 1) means the project is completing work faster than planned, indicating it is ahead of schedule. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your ability to read earned value management metrics and avoid the common trap of confusing CPI with SPI or misremembering the direction of the thresholds. A reliable memory tip is to think of the number 1 as the baseline of perfection: anything below 1 is bad (over budget or behind schedule), and anything above 1 is good (under budget or ahead of schedule).
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 has a CPI of 0.8 and an SPI of 1.1. Which statement describes the project's performance?
Under budget and behind schedule
Why wrong: Both conditions are opposite to actual values.
Over budget and behind schedule
Why wrong: Behind schedule requires SPI < 1.
Over budget and ahead of schedule
Correct. CPI < 1 is over budget; SPI > 1 is ahead of schedule.
Under budget and ahead of schedule
Why wrong: Under budget requires CPI > 1.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Over budget and ahead of schedule
Option A is correct because CPI < 1 indicates over budget, while SPI > 1 indicates ahead of schedule. Option B is wrong because it says under budget. Option C is wrong because it says behind schedule. Option D is wrong because it says under budget and ahead, which is opposite.
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.
Under budget and behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
Both conditions are opposite to actual values.
Over budget and behind schedule
Why it's wrong here
Behind schedule requires SPI < 1.
Over budget and ahead of schedule
Why this is correct
Correct. CPI < 1 is over budget; SPI > 1 is ahead of schedule.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Under budget and ahead of schedule
Why it's wrong here
Under budget requires CPI > 1.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Over budget and ahead of schedule — Option A is correct because CPI < 1 indicates over budget, while SPI > 1 indicates ahead of schedule. Option B is wrong because it says under budget. Option C is wrong because it says behind schedule. Option D is wrong because it says under budget and ahead, which is opposite.
Identify which PK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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