Quick Answer
The answer is high-level project risks and project purpose or justification. These are correct because the project charter is the formal authorization document that grants the project manager authority to use organizational resources, and the PMBOK Guide mandates that it must include the business case for why the project exists along with a preliminary identification of major uncertainties. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your understanding of the Initiating process group and the charter’s role in defining scope boundaries before detailed planning begins. A common trap is confusing detailed risk responses with high-level risks, which are broad and identified early. To remember, think of the charter as the project’s “birth certificate” that answers “why” and “what could go wrong” at a high level, not the “how.” A useful memory tip is the mnemonic “PURPOSE and PERIL” — purpose equals justification, peril equals high-level risks.
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.
Which TWO of the following are components of a project charter?
Work breakdown structure
Why wrong: Created after charter.
Resource calendars
Why wrong: Created during planning.
Project purpose or justification
Core component.
Detailed project budget
Why wrong: Developed during planning.
High-level project risks
Included in charter.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Project purpose or justification
The project charter is a formal document that authorizes the project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources. It must include the project purpose or justification to explain why the project is being undertaken, and high-level risks to identify major uncertainties at the outset. These are foundational components defined by the PMBOK Guide for the Initiating process group.
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.
Work breakdown structure
Why it's wrong here
Created after charter.
Resource calendars
Why it's wrong here
Created during planning.
Project purpose or justification
Why this is correct
Core component.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Detailed project budget
Why it's wrong here
Developed during planning.
High-level project risks
Why this is correct
Included in charter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the distinction between components created during Initiating (project charter) versus Planning (WBS, detailed budget, resource calendars), tempting candidates to include detailed planning artifacts as charter components.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the project charter serves as the contract between the project sponsor and the project manager, formally recognizing the project's existence. High-level risks in the charter are typically identified using techniques like brainstorming or SWOT analysis, and they are documented in a simple list without detailed response plans. In real-world scenarios, a missing project justification in the charter can lead to scope creep or project cancellation because the business need is not formally agreed upon by stakeholders.
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: Project purpose or justification — The project charter is a formal document that authorizes the project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources. It must include the project purpose or justification to explain why the project is being undertaken, and high-level risks to identify major uncertainties at the outset. These are foundational components defined by the PMBOK Guide for the Initiating process group.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A project manager is developing a project charter. Which of the following is typically included in the project charter?
mediumWhy A: The project charter is a high-level document that authorizes the project and provides a summary of its purpose and key elements. A high-level project description and product description are core components of the charter, as they define the project's scope and deliverables without going into execution-level detail.
Variation 2. A project manager is preparing a project charter. Which of the following should be included in the charter?
mediumWhy B: The project charter is a high-level document that authorizes the project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources. It must include the business case and a high-level project description to justify the project and define its scope at a strategic level, as specified in the PMBOK Guide.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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