- A
Investigate the root cause of the high deficiency rate
Root cause analysis is needed to identify why the control is failing.
- B
Increase the target deficiency rate to 15%
Why wrong: Changing the target does not address the underlying issue.
- C
Report the deficiency to the external auditor
Why wrong: Reporting to the auditor is not the immediate action; internal remediation comes first.
- D
Accept the risk and document the decision
Why wrong: Acceptance is an option, but not immediate without understanding the cause.
Question 185 of 1,000
CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of risk response and reporting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 owner is reviewing a control that has a deficiency rate of 15%. The target deficiency rate is less than 5%. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate immediate action?
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
✓
Investigate the root cause of the high deficiency rate
A deficiency rate of 15% against a target of less than 5% indicates a control failure that requires immediate remediation. Investigating the root cause is the first step in the risk response process to identify why the control is failing and to determine the appropriate corrective action, aligning with the Risk Response and Reporting domain's emphasis on addressing control deficiencies before considering acceptance or reporting.
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.
- ✓
Investigate the root cause of the high deficiency rate
Why this is correct
Root cause analysis is needed to identify why the control is failing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the target deficiency rate to 15%
Why it's wrong here
Changing the target does not address the underlying issue.
- ✗
Report the deficiency to the external auditor
Why it's wrong here
Reporting to the auditor is not the immediate action; internal remediation comes first.
- ✗
Accept the risk and document the decision
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance is an option, but not immediate without understanding the cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose 'Accept the risk and document the decision' (Option D) because they confuse risk acceptance with a standard response to control deficiencies, but CRISC emphasizes that acceptance is only appropriate after a formal risk assessment and when remediation is not feasible or cost-justified.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In control testing, a deficiency rate is often calculated as the number of failed control tests divided by total tests, and a rate of 15% typically indicates a systemic issue rather than random error. Root cause analysis techniques such as the '5 Whys' or fishbone diagrams are used to distinguish between design deficiencies (e.g., control not properly configured) and operating deficiencies (e.g., staff not following procedure), which dictate different remediation paths. For example, in an IT general controls context, a 15% failure in access recertification might reveal a lack of automated reminders, requiring a process change rather than just retraining.
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?
Risk Response and Reporting — This question tests Risk Response and Reporting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Investigate the root cause of the high deficiency rate — A deficiency rate of 15% against a target of less than 5% indicates a control failure that requires immediate remediation. Investigating the root cause is the first step in the risk response process to identify why the control is failing and to determine the appropriate corrective action, aligning with the Risk Response and Reporting domain's emphasis on addressing control deficiencies before considering acceptance or reporting.
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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