PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
You are a project manager for a marketing campaign. The project sponsor asks you to provide a high-level report on the project's schedule performance. Which earned value metric should you use to show schedule efficiency?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse cost performance metrics with schedule performance metrics, especially when the sponsor asks for a high-level report.
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
✓
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is the earned value metric that measures schedule efficiency by comparing earned value to planned value. It directly indicates whether the project is ahead, on, or behind schedule. The other metrics are cost-focused and do not address the sponsor's request for schedule performance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Why it's wrong here
CPI measures cost efficiency, not schedule performance. It compares earned value to actual cost. While important, it does not indicate whether the project is ahead or behind schedule. The sponsor specifically asked for schedule performance, so CPI is not the appropriate metric.
- ✓
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Why this is correct
SPI is calculated as Earned Value (EV) divided by Planned Value (PV). It measures schedule efficiency by comparing work performed to work planned. An SPI less than 1 indicates behind schedule, while greater than 1 indicates ahead of schedule. This directly answers the sponsor's request for schedule performance.
- ✗
Estimate at Completion (EAC)
Why it's wrong here
EAC is a forecast of the total cost of the project based on current performance. It does not measure schedule efficiency. While useful for cost forecasting, it does not provide information about whether the project is ahead or behind schedule. Therefore, it is not the right metric for this request.
- ✗
To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI)
Why it's wrong here
TCPI measures the cost performance required to meet a specified budget target. It is a cost-related metric, not a schedule metric. It indicates how efficiently the remaining work must be performed to achieve a financial goal, but does not reflect schedule performance. Hence, it is not suitable here.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 820 original PMP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
This PMP practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 PMP exam.