CISA Information System Auditing Process Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of SMART recommendations in an audit report? (Select three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
CISA often tests whether candidates confuse SMART criteria with general good-writing principles, so the trap is selecting 'Rigid' or 'Vague' as characteristics when they are actually antithetical to SMART recommendations.
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
✓
Measurable
Option A (Measurable) is correct because SMART recommendations must include quantifiable criteria or metrics so that auditors and management can objectively verify whether the recommendation has been implemented and its effect assessed. Option C (Specific) is correct because a SMART recommendation must clearly state the exact action, system, process, or control to be addressed, leaving no ambiguity about what is required. Option E (Time-bound) is correct because SMART recommendations must specify a deadline or target timeframe by which the action should be completed, enabling follow-up and accountability. Option B (Vague) is incorrect because vagueness directly contradicts the Specific and Measurable criteria of SMART, making recommendations unverifiable. Option D (Rigid) is incorrect because SMART recommendations should be achievable and adaptable to the organization's context, not inflexible; rigidity is not one of the SMART attributes (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Measurable
Why this is correct
Measurable means the recommendation states quantifiable criteria or a verifiable outcome, enabling the auditor to objectively assess whether management's corrective action has been implemented. This satisfies the SMART requirement that progress and completion be demonstrable rather than subjective.
- ✗
Vague
Why it's wrong here
SMART criteria require recommendations to be Specific, so a vague statement cannot be measured or assigned to an owner for follow-up. Vagueness is tempting because broad wording avoids confrontation with management, yet it defeats the actionability that Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound wording delivers.
- ✓
Specific
Why this is correct
Specific means the recommendation precisely identifies the condition, the required action and the affected area, leaving no ambiguity about what management must address. This satisfies the SMART criterion that recommendations be clear enough to direct corrective action without interpretation.
- ✗
Rigid
Why it's wrong here
SMART recommendations must be Achievable and adaptable to the auditee's operating constraints, so a rigid one cannot be implemented and is likely rejected. Rigidity appeals when auditors want an unambiguous control, but it conflicts with the Achievable and Relevant criteria that make a recommendation actionable.
- ✓
Time-bound
Why this is correct
Time-bound is one of the SMART criteria: each recommendation must specify a deadline or target date for completion. This gives management a measurable timeframe for remediation, satisfying the SMART requirement that recommendations be actionable and verifiable.
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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 ISACA exam blueprint
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISA exam.