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.
Project Status Report - Monthly Budget: Planned Value (PV): $120,000 Actual Cost (AC): $130,000 Earned Value (EV): $115,000
Refer to the exhibit. Based on the project status report, what is the cost variance (CV) and what does it indicate?
Project Status Report - Monthly Budget: Planned Value (PV): $120,000 Actual Cost (AC): $130,000 Earned Value (EV): $115,000
CV = -$5,000; over budget
Why wrong: Incorrect calculation.
CV = -$15,000; over budget
Correct calculation and interpretation.
CV = -$10,000; over budget
Why wrong: Incorrect calculation; uses PV instead of EV.
CV = $5,000; under budget
Why wrong: Incorrect sign and value.
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 = -$15,000; over budget
The cost variance (CV) is calculated as earned value (EV) minus actual cost (AC). From the exhibit, EV = $25,000 and AC = $40,000, so CV = $25,000 - $40,000 = -$15,000. A negative CV indicates the project is over budget, meaning costs have exceeded the value of work performed.
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 = -$5,000; over budget
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect calculation.
CV = -$15,000; over budget
Why this is correct
Correct calculation and interpretation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
CV = -$10,000; over budget
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect calculation; uses PV instead of EV.
CV = $5,000; under budget
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect sign and value.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may misread the exhibit or incorrectly compute CV by subtracting EV from AC (AC - EV) instead of EV - AC, leading to a positive value that falsely suggests under budget performance.
Detailed technical explanation
Cost variance (CV) is a key performance indicator in earned value management (EVM), calculated as EV - AC. A negative CV means the project has spent more than the value of work accomplished, signaling a cost overrun. In real-world projects, this could trigger corrective actions such as re-estimating remaining costs or reallocating resources to control spending.
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Tools and Documentation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Tools and Documentation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All PK0-005 questions
500 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
PK0-005 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Project Life Cycle Phases.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Project Management Concepts.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to Tools and Documentation.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 fundamentals.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 scenario.
Practise PK0-005 questions linked to PK0-005 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Tools and Documentation — This question tests Tools and Documentation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: CV = -$15,000; over budget — The cost variance (CV) is calculated as earned value (EV) minus actual cost (AC). From the exhibit, EV = $25,000 and AC = $40,000, so CV = $25,000 - $40,000 = -$15,000. A negative CV indicates the project is over budget, meaning costs have exceeded the value of work performed.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.