The correct answer is the option where the Cost Performance Index (CPI) is 0.92 and the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is 0.80, because both values are less than 1.0, which signals the project is over budget and behind schedule. A CPI below 1 means the project is earning less value for every dollar spent, indicating a cost overrun, while an SPI below 1 means the project is progressing slower than planned, indicating a schedule delay. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, interpreting CPI and SPI values tests your ability to quickly assess project health using earned value management; a common trap is confusing values above 1 as good when they actually indicate underperformance for cost and schedule. Remember the memory tip: “Less than one? Under the gun.” — if either index dips below 1.0, that metric is in trouble.
PK0-005 Project Management Concepts Practice Question
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Earned Value Report as of Month 3:
PV=$150k, EV=$120k, AC=$130k.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cost Performance Index (CPI) = 0.92, Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = 0.80
Option B is correct because both the Cost Performance Index (CPI) of 0.92 and the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.80 are less than 1.0, indicating the project is over budget and behind schedule. A CPI below 1 means the project is earning less value for each dollar spent (cost overrun), while an SPI below 1 means the project is progressing slower than planned (schedule delay). This is the only option where both indices are under 1.0, which is a common realistic scenario in troubled projects.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
CPI = 1.08, SPI = 0.8
Why it's wrong here
CPI would be >1 if AC were less than EV, not the case.
✓
Cost Performance Index (CPI) = 0.92, Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = 0.80
Why this is correct
Correct. CPI=120/130=0.92, SPI=120/150=0.80.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
CPI = 0.92, SPI = 1.2
Why it's wrong here
SPI >1 would require EV>PV, which is not true.
✗
CPI = 1.08, SPI = 1.2
Why it's wrong here
Both indices are incorrectly high.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the direction of the indices—thinking a value above 1 is always bad—or they fail to recognize that only option B presents a consistent scenario where both cost and schedule performance are unfavorable, which is the most common exam context for EVM interpretation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Earned Value Management (EVM) uses CPI = EV/AC and SPI = EV/PV. A CPI of 0.92 means for every dollar spent, only $0.92 of value is earned, indicating a cost overrun of 8%. An SPI of 0.80 means the project is progressing at 80% of the planned rate, indicating a 20% schedule delay. In real-world projects, these indices are often used together to forecast Estimate at Completion (EAC = BAC/CPI) and to trigger corrective actions; a project with both indices below 1 is typically flagged for immediate management attention.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Project Management Concepts — This question tests Project Management Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cost Performance Index (CPI) = 0.92, Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = 0.80 — Option B is correct because both the Cost Performance Index (CPI) of 0.92 and the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.80 are less than 1.0, indicating the project is over budget and behind schedule. A CPI below 1 means the project is earning less value for each dollar spent (cost overrun), while an SPI below 1 means the project is progressing slower than planned (schedule delay). This is the only option where both indices are under 1.0, which is a common realistic scenario in troubled projects.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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