CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
During a risk assessment, a risk is assigned a likelihood of 'High' and an impact of 'Medium' on a 5×5 heat map. What is the risk rating?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming a specific numerical mapping without considering the organization's matrix; candidates must recognize that High likelihood and Medium impact typically result in High risk, not Medium or Critical.
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
✓
High
On a 5x5 heat map, likelihood and impact are typically rated on a scale of 1 to 5. A likelihood of 'High' (often 4) and impact of 'Medium' (often 3) combine to a risk rating that is usually 'High' in most standard risk matrices. The exact rating depends on the organization's risk matrix, but in common CRISC contexts, High likelihood and Medium impact yield a High risk rating.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Critical
Why it's wrong here
Critical would require both likelihood and impact to be high or very high.
- ✗
Low
Why it's wrong here
Low would require both likelihood and impact to be low.
- ✗
Medium
Why it's wrong here
Medium would require lower values.
- ✓
High
Why this is correct
A combination of High likelihood and Medium impact yields a High risk rating in most 5×5 matrices.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
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.