- A
Industry standards for similar risks
Why wrong: Standards may inform but are not a direct prioritization factor.
- B
The inherent risk score of each risk
Higher inherent risks typically get higher priority.
- C
Cost-benefit analysis of potential controls
Treatment actions should provide value relative to cost.
- D
Residual risk after existing controls
Residual risk indicates the remaining exposure and helps prioritize further treatment.
- E
The risk owner's personal preference
Why wrong: Prioritization should be based on objective factors, not personal preference.
Question 116 of 1,000
CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. 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.
A risk assessment team is prioritizing IT risks for treatment. Which THREE factors should be considered when prioritizing risks? (Select THREE)
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
✓
The inherent risk score of each risk
Option B is correct because the inherent risk score provides a baseline measure of risk without considering controls, which is essential for prioritizing which risks require immediate attention. This score is typically calculated as a product of likelihood and impact, and it helps the team focus on the most severe potential threats first.
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.
- ✗
Industry standards for similar risks
Why it's wrong here
Standards may inform but are not a direct prioritization factor.
- ✓
The inherent risk score of each risk
Why this is correct
Higher inherent risks typically get higher priority.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Cost-benefit analysis of potential controls
Why this is correct
Treatment actions should provide value relative to cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Residual risk after existing controls
Why this is correct
Residual risk indicates the remaining exposure and helps prioritize further treatment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The risk owner's personal preference
Why it's wrong here
Prioritization should be based on objective factors, not personal preference.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'factors to consider when prioritizing risks' with 'inputs to risk assessment' and incorrectly select industry standards (Option A) as a direct prioritization factor, when in fact they are used for benchmarking or compliance, not for ranking treatment urgency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, risk prioritization often uses a risk matrix where inherent risk scores are plotted against residual risk after controls, enabling a cost-benefit analysis to determine the most efficient control investments. For example, a risk with high inherent impact but low likelihood might be deprioritized if controls already reduce residual risk to an acceptable level, while a medium inherent risk with high residual risk due to weak controls could become a top priority.
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 CRISC 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The inherent risk score of each risk — Option B is correct because the inherent risk score provides a baseline measure of risk without considering controls, which is essential for prioritizing which risks require immediate attention. This score is typically calculated as a product of likelihood and impact, and it helps the team focus on the most severe potential threats first.
What should I do if I get this CRISC 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CRISC 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 CRISC exam.
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