The answer is R001, because it has the highest risk level. Risk prioritization by risk level is determined by multiplying likelihood and impact, and in the exhibit R001 yields the highest product (e.g., 16), making it the most critical to treat first. This directly applies the CRISC principle that treatment priority follows residual risk rating, not just individual factors like impact alone. On the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control exam, this concept tests your ability to read a risk matrix and apply the formula correctly—a common trap is choosing a risk with high impact but low likelihood, which yields a lower overall risk level. Remember the memory tip: “Multiply, don’t guess—highest product gets addressed first.”
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
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Risk Register Extract:
Risk ID | Asset | Vulnerability | Threat | Current Control | Likelihood | Impact | Risk Level
R001 | WebApp | SQLi in login | Attacker | WAF | 3 | 5 | 15
R002 | DB Server | Weak password | Insider | Password policy | 2 | 4 | 8
R003 | Firewall | Misconfigured rule | External | Change management | 4 | 3 | 12
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Risk Rating Matrix:
Likelihood (1-5) x Impact (1-5) = Risk Level (1-25). Thresholds: Low (1-6), Medium (7-12), High (13-25).
Based on the exhibit, which risk should be treated first according to the risk rating?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
R001, because it has the highest risk level
Option D is correct because risk treatment priority is determined by the risk level, which is a function of both likelihood and impact. In the exhibit, R001 has the highest risk level (e.g., 16), calculated as likelihood × impact, making it the most critical to address first. This aligns with the CRISC principle of prioritizing risks with the highest residual risk rating.
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.
✗
R003, because the likelihood is highest
Why it's wrong here
Risk level is the product of likelihood and impact; R003 has level 12.
✗
R002, because the impact is highest
Why it's wrong here
Impact alone does not determine priority; risk level is used.
✗
All three should be treated simultaneously
Why it's wrong here
Resources are typically allocated to highest risk first.
✓
R001, because it has the highest risk level
Why this is correct
R001 has level 15, the highest.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'highest likelihood' or 'highest impact' with 'highest risk level,' but CRISC emphasizes that risk level is the product of both factors, not any single component.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Risk level is typically computed as likelihood × impact, often using ordinal scales (e.g., 1-5) to produce a risk matrix. In practice, organizations may use qualitative or quantitative methods, but the core concept remains: the product of these two factors determines priority. For example, a risk with likelihood 4 and impact 4 yields a risk level of 16, which would be treated before a risk with likelihood 5 and impact 3 (level 15), even though the latter has higher likelihood.
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.
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: R001, because it has the highest risk level — Option D is correct because risk treatment priority is determined by the risk level, which is a function of both likelihood and impact. In the exhibit, R001 has the highest risk level (e.g., 16), calculated as likelihood × impact, making it the most critical to address first. This aligns with the CRISC principle of prioritizing risks with the highest residual risk rating.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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