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CRISC Practice Question: During a risk assessment, a control…
During a risk assessment, a control self-assessment (CSA) indicates that a key control is operating effectively. However, an independent audit finds multiple control failures. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for this discrepancy?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates choose 'The audit tested different samples' because they focus on sampling variability, but the real issue is the lack of objectivity in the self-assessment process, which is a core CRISC concept in risk and control monitoring.
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 CSA participants lacked objectivity
The most likely reason for the discrepancy is that the CSA participants lacked objectivity. Control self-assessments are performed by process owners or staff who may have a vested interest in reporting favorable results, leading to biased or incomplete evaluations. In contrast, an independent audit applies objective testing procedures, which are more likely to uncover actual control failures that the CSA missed or downplayed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The audit tested different samples
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this is less likely to cause multiple failures across the board.
- ✗
The control environment changed
Why it's wrong here
A change might affect results, but the CSA would have captured it if recent.
- ✓
The CSA participants lacked objectivity
Why this is correct
Self-assessments can be biased, leading to overestimation of effectiveness.
- ✗
The CSA was conducted too recently
Why it's wrong here
Timing alone does not explain a fundamental disagreement.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.