The answer is developing the project schedule and creating the risk management plan. These are key activities during the planning phase because this phase transforms the project charter into actionable blueprints: the schedule sequences tasks and allocates resources to meet deadlines, while the risk management plan proactively identifies threats and documents response strategies to avoid surprises later. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish planning phase outputs from those of executing or closing phases—a common trap is confusing risk identification (planning) with risk response implementation (executing). Remember the memory tip: “Plan the work before you work the plan”—if an activity creates a document or baseline for future work, it belongs in planning.
PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Phases Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project life cycle phases. 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 key activities typically performed during the planning phase of a project? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create the risk management plan.
The planning phase involves developing detailed plans to guide project execution. Creating the risk management plan (B) is a key planning activity because it identifies, analyzes, and documents risk response strategies. Developing the project schedule (E) is also a core planning activity, as it sequences tasks, assigns resources, and establishes timelines for project deliverables.
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.
✗
Obtain formal approval of the project charter.
Why it's wrong here
Charter approval is part of initiation.
✓
Create the risk management plan.
Why this is correct
Risk planning is a key planning activity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Monitor and control project work.
Why it's wrong here
Monitoring is part of monitoring and controlling.
✗
Collect requirements from stakeholders.
Why it's wrong here
Requirements collection is typically in initiation or early planning, but not a key planning activity listed here.
✓
Develop the project schedule.
Why this is correct
Schedule development is a planning activity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between initiating and planning phase activities, so the trap here is confusing the project charter approval (initiating) with planning activities like risk management and schedule development, or mistaking requirements collection as not being a planning activity when it actually is, but it is not one of the two correct answers in this specific question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
During the planning phase, the project management plan is developed as a comprehensive document that integrates subsidiary plans such as the risk management plan and the schedule management plan. The risk management plan defines how risk identification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, response planning, and monitoring will be structured. The project schedule is built using techniques like critical path method (CPM) and precedence diagramming method (PDM), often with tools like Microsoft Project or Jira, and must account for dependencies, resource availability, and buffers.
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 Life Cycle Phases — This question tests Project Life Cycle Phases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create the risk management plan. — The planning phase involves developing detailed plans to guide project execution. Creating the risk management plan (B) is a key planning activity because it identifies, analyzes, and documents risk response strategies. Developing the project schedule (E) is also a core planning activity, as it sequences tasks, assigns resources, and establishes timelines for project deliverables.
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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