CompTIA Project+ (PK0‑005) Practice Exams
About the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam
Exam at a glance
CompTIA's vendor-neutral project management credential at the intermediate tier, released November 2022.
Who it's for
Project+ PK0-005 targets IT project leads, business analysts, junior project managers, and IT professionals who manage project workstreams without formally holding a PM title. It's intentionally lighter than PMP — no 36+ months of project management experience required — making it a strong fit for IT generalists who run projects today and a faster on-ramp for anyone planning to pursue PMP later.
Domain weighting
- Project Management Concepts: 33%
- Project Lifecycle Phases: 30%
- Tools and Documentation: 19%
- Basics of IT and Governance: 18%
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites. CompTIA recommends 6-12 months of hands-on experience managing projects in a tech environment. Project participants in any role (developers who've owned features, sysadmins who've led migrations, analysts who've run requirements gathering) are well-positioned to study for Project+ without needing a PM title first.
Why take this certification
- No experience gate. Unlike PMP's 36+ month requirement, Project+ is exam-only — you can earn it before you have years of project leadership on your resume, then use it to step into more formal project roles.
- Vendor-neutral framework coverage. The exam covers predictive (waterfall), iterative, agile (Scrum), and hybrid methodologies, so the knowledge transfers across organizations regardless of which approach they favor.
- IT-specific governance content. The 18% IT and governance domain covers compliance, security, and data-handling concerns in a project context — areas generic PM credentials don't address.
- Strong precursor to PMP. Project+ shares vocabulary (charter, WBS, RACI, critical path, risk register) and lifecycle phases with PMP and CAPM, so the study time directly compounds if you later pursue PMI's project management credentials.
What you'll learn in the PK0-005 exam
Project+ validates that you can run an IT project end-to-end using the artifacts and frameworks professional PMs reach for daily — without requiring you to hold the PM title formally. The exam is scenario-driven, with questions describing a project situation (a stakeholder change, a missed deadline, a scope creep request) and asking which artifact, framework, or escalation path applies.
Project management frameworks
- Predictive (waterfall): sequential phases, fixed scope, suited to well-understood deliverables.
- Iterative: repeating cycles, refining requirements as understanding grows.
- Agile / Scrum: sprints, backlogs, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, product owner / scrum master roles.
- Hybrid: blending predictive planning with agile execution, common in regulated IT environments.
Project lifecycle phases
- Initiating: business case, project charter, stakeholder identification, initial scope.
- Planning: scope statement, WBS, schedule (Gantt, critical path, milestones), budget, risk register, communications plan, RACI.
- Executing: resource coordination, vendor management, team development, status reporting.
- Monitoring and Controlling: earned value basics, change control, scope verification, quality assurance.
- Closing: deliverable acceptance, contract closure, lessons learned, project archive.
Communication and resource management
- Stakeholder identification and analysis (interest vs influence grids).
- RACI matrices and escalation paths.
- Resource breakdown structure (RBS), capacity planning, and budgeting basics.
- Common meeting cadences (kickoffs, status, change control board, retros).
Scope, schedule, quality, and risk
- Scope: WBS construction, scope statement, formal change control process.
- Schedule: Gantt charts, critical path, milestones, dependencies (FS, SS, FF, SF).
- Quality: acceptance criteria, QA (process) vs QC (output) distinction.
- Risk: risk register, qualitative + quantitative analysis at the concept level, response strategies (avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept).
- Procurement: contract types (fixed-price, T&M, cost-reimbursable), vendor evaluation basics.
IT and governance
- Common IT project artifacts (charter, scope statement, risk register, RACI, communications plan, lessons learned).
- Compliance and security considerations in projects (regulated data, access controls).
- Change management in IT environments (CAB, change windows, rollback planning).
- Data handling and privacy concerns specific to technology projects.
How the practice exams help
Each free question and every premium exam mirrors the scenario-style format CompTIA uses — a short situation with four to six plausible options, one correct. Detailed explanations cover not just why the right answer is right but why the distractors are wrong, so you learn the trade-offs and judgment calls rather than memorizing flashcards.
How to prepare for the PK0-005 exam
A successful Project+ preparation strategy combines vocabulary mastery, framework recognition, and scenario practice. Recommended approach:
- Study the official blueprint (1 week). Download the PK0-005 exam objectives and map them to your existing project experience. Identify which artifacts (charter, WBS, RACI, risk register) you've actually used and which are gaps.
- CertMaster Learn + Practice (3-4 weeks). CompTIA's official CertMaster Learn covers all four domains with interactive lessons; CertMaster Practice drills you on the vocabulary with adaptive questions. Bundles with the exam voucher are usually cheaper than buying the voucher alone.
- Read the official Study Guide (2 weeks). The Sybex CompTIA Project+ Study Guide (PK0-005) is the most thorough text. CAPM/PMP study materials also cover overlapping ground if you have them on hand from previous study cycles.
- Practice exams (1-2 weeks). Take timed practice tests to identify weak domains. Detailed explanations on every answer option help you learn the reasoning, not just memorize answers. Aim for consistent 80%+ scores before scheduling your exam.
Recommended timeline
6-10 weeks of focused study (8-12 hours per week). Candidates with prior project participation in any role can compress this; first-time learners with no project exposure should allow the full 10 weeks.
Official resources
Download the official PK0-005 exam objectives from CompTIA. The CertMaster Learn + Practice bundle is the canonical CompTIA self-study path. For broader project management context, PMI's PMBOK Guide is the industry-standard reference even though it's PMI-issued, since the underlying frameworks are shared.
Frequently asked questions
Are these actual exam questions?
No. All Nex Arc CompTIA Project+ practice questions are original content based on the provider's published exam blueprint, official documentation, and real-world scenarios across every topic the exam covers. We do not offer brain dumps, leaked questions, or actual exam content. Using or distributing real exam questions violates certification provider agreements and can result in certification revocation.
How many questions are in the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam?
The CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam contains a maximum of 90 questions that you need to complete in 90 minutes. Questions are a mix of multiple choice (single and multiple response) formats.
What's the PK0-005 passing score?
The passing score is 710 on a scale of 100-900. CompTIA uses a scaled scoring model, so the raw number of questions you need to answer correctly varies. Focus on understanding project management concepts and applying them to IT scenarios rather than memorizing definitions.
How do I access the full PK0-005 practice exam?
Click on the Buy Now button in the sidebar to purchase the complete CompTIA Project+ course. After payment, you'll have instant access to 12 practice exams with detailed explanations and lifetime access.
What are the prerequisites for the PK0-005 exam?
There are no formal prerequisites for CompTIA Project+. CompTIA recommends 6-12 months of hands-on experience managing projects in a tech environment, but candidates with strong IT backgrounds can succeed without holding a formal project manager title. Project+ is intentionally designed as an entry point for IT professionals who lead projects without the 36+ months of project management experience PMP requires.
How long is the PK0-005 certification valid?
CompTIA Project+ is valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. You can renew by earning CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) credits during the three-year cycle, by completing approved training and activities, or by retaking the current version of the exam. The CE renewal path is the more common option since it lets you maintain certification while continuing to grow in your role.
What's the exam cost and can I retake it if I fail?
The PK0-005 exam costs $369 USD at list price through Pearson VUE testing centers or via online proctoring. CompTIA's first-attempt retake policy allows an immediate retake with no waiting period; subsequent attempts require a 14-day wait between tries. Each attempt requires a new exam voucher payment. CompTIA bundles (exam voucher + CertMaster Learn + Practice) and CompTIA Academy partnerships often discount the list price significantly.
What topics are most heavily tested on PK0-005?
Based on the four exam domains, the heaviest weighting is on Project Management Concepts (33%) — frameworks (predictive, iterative, agile, hybrid), roles, stakeholder management, and communication. Project Lifecycle Phases (30%) covers initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing activities. Tools and Documentation (19%) covers the charter, scope statement, WBS, RACI, risk register, Gantt charts, and lessons-learned artifacts. Basics of IT and Governance (18%) covers IT-specific concerns like security, compliance, data handling, and change management in a technology context.
How does Project+ compare to CAPM and PMP?
Project+ (CompTIA, vendor-neutral) requires no formal experience and is exam-only, making it the easiest entry point. CAPM (PMI, Certified Associate in Project Management) is at a similar level — exam-only with a 23-hour project management education requirement — but is issued by PMI and explicitly maps to the PMBOK Guide. PMP (PMI, Project Management Professional) is the senior credential, requiring 36+ months of project management experience (or 24 with a four-year degree) plus 35 hours of PM education. A common path is Project+ or CAPM first while building experience, then PMP once the experience threshold is met.
Is Project+ worth it if I already do project work in IT?
Yes, for two reasons. First, it formalizes a vocabulary (charter, WBS, RACI, critical path, risk register) that lets you communicate with PMs and PMOs in shared terms — important when projects involve cross-functional stakeholders. Second, the IT and governance domain (18%) covers compliance, security, and data handling specifically in a project context, which generic PM credentials skip. For IT generalists who run projects without the title, Project+ is a faster on-ramp than PMP and a strong precursor if you plan to pursue PMP later.