Quick Answer
The answer is High. In a standard qualitative risk matrix, the resulting risk level is determined by the intersection of the likelihood and impact ratings; when a risk owner rates the likelihood as 'high' and the impact as 'medium', the matrix cell where these two values meet consistently falls into the high-risk category. This occurs because the qualitative risk matrix level is designed to prioritize threats where even a moderate consequence, when paired with a high probability, demands management attention. On the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control CRISC exam, this concept tests your ability to read a standard 3x3 or 5x5 matrix correctly, and a common trap is assuming that a 'medium' impact automatically lowers the overall risk—it does not when the likelihood is high. A useful memory tip is to think of the matrix as a traffic light: if either axis is red (high), the intersection is almost always red, so "high plus medium equals high."
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.
During a qualitative risk assessment, the risk owner rates the likelihood of a threat as 'high' and the impact as 'medium'. According to standard risk matrices, what is the resulting risk level?
Low
Why wrong: Low risk requires both low likelihood and low impact.
High
High likelihood and medium impact yields high risk.
Medium
Why wrong: Medium risk typically results from medium likelihood and medium impact.
Critical
Why wrong: Critical risk requires both high likelihood and high impact.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
High
In a standard 3x3 or 5x5 risk matrix, a 'high' likelihood combined with a 'medium' impact typically maps to a 'high' risk level. This is because the risk level is determined by the intersection of likelihood and impact, and the product or matrix cell for these two ratings falls into the high category, indicating a significant risk that requires management attention.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Low
Why it's wrong here
Low risk requires both low likelihood and low impact.
High
Why this is correct
High likelihood and medium impact yields high risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Medium
Why it's wrong here
Medium risk typically results from medium likelihood and medium impact.
Critical
Why it's wrong here
Critical risk requires both high likelihood and high impact.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'medium' impact with a 'medium' overall risk level, failing to account for the multiplicative or matrix-based escalation when likelihood is high.
Detailed technical explanation
Risk matrices are often based on ordinal scales where the risk score is derived from a lookup table (e.g., likelihood 3 x impact 2 = 6, which maps to 'high' in a 5x5 matrix). In qualitative assessments, the risk owner's subjective ratings are mapped to predefined thresholds; for instance, ISACA's guidance suggests that a high likelihood with medium impact results in a high risk level, not critical, because critical is reserved for scenarios where both dimensions are at their maximum. Real-world scenarios, such as a high-probability vulnerability with moderate data exposure, would be treated as high risk, requiring prompt remediation but not necessarily immediate executive escalation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: High — In a standard 3x3 or 5x5 risk matrix, a 'high' likelihood combined with a 'medium' impact typically maps to a 'high' risk level. This is because the risk level is determined by the intersection of likelihood and impact, and the product or matrix cell for these two ratings falls into the high category, indicating a significant risk that requires management attention.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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