PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
Which diagram is used in quality management to prioritize the most significant causes of a problem, based on the 80/20 rule?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the confusion between the fishbone diagram (cause categorization) and the Pareto chart (cause prioritization); candidates may pick fishbone because it is also a quality tool, but it lacks the frequency-based ranking and cumulative percentage line.
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
✓
Pareto chart
A Pareto chart is a bar chart ordered by frequency of occurrence, combined with a cumulative percentage line, used to identify the 'vital few' causes that account for roughly 80% of problems (the 80/20 rule). It helps quality teams prioritize improvement efforts by focusing on the most significant causes. The bars are sorted from highest to lowest frequency, making the largest contributors immediately visible.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Fishbone diagram
Why it's wrong here
A fishbone diagram organises possible causes into categories to explore a problem, but it does not quantify or rank them by frequency. It is tempting because it is the classic cause-analysis tool, and it would be correct when the question asks to brainstorm and structure potential causes rather than prioritise them.
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Histogram
Why it's wrong here
A histogram plots frequency distribution of continuous data, showing spread and shape rather than ranking causes by contribution. It is tempting because it is a core quality tool, and it would be the correct choice when the question asks how a process measurement is distributed across ranges.
- ✓
Pareto chart
Why this is correct
A Pareto chart ranks causes as bars ordered by frequency, with a cumulative line, so the vital few contributing roughly 80% of the problem stand out. This satisfies the stem's 80/20 prioritisation requirement, which a histogram or scatter diagram cannot deliver.
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Run chart
Why it's wrong here
A run chart tracks a single measure over time to reveal trends, shifts and cycles, not the relative contribution of causes. It is tempting because it is a standard quality tool, and it would be correct when the question asks how a process behaves chronologically rather than which causes dominate.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.