- A
Low
Why wrong: Low would correspond to lower scores (e.g., 1-4).
- B
Medium
Why wrong: Medium typically covers scores around 5-9.
- C
High
Why wrong: High may cover 10-14, but 20 is Critical.
- D
Critical
Correct. 4x5=20 is in the critical range (15-25).
Question 957 of 1,000
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.
In a qualitative risk assessment using a 5x5 heat map, an IT risk is rated with likelihood 4 and impact 5. According to typical heat map conventions (5=Critical, 4=High, 3=Medium, 2=Low, 1=Informational), what is the overall risk rating?
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
✓
Critical
In a typical 5x5 risk heat map, the overall risk rating is determined by the intersection of likelihood and impact values. With likelihood 4 and impact 5, the cell falls in the 'Critical' zone (commonly defined as likelihood 4-5 and impact 4-5). This aligns with the convention where 5=Critical, 4=High, 3=Medium, 2=Low, 1=Informational, making D the correct answer.
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.
- ✗
Low
Why it's wrong here
Low would correspond to lower scores (e.g., 1-4).
- ✗
Medium
Why it's wrong here
Medium typically covers scores around 5-9.
- ✗
High
Why it's wrong here
High may cover 10-14, but 20 is Critical.
- ✓
Critical
Why this is correct
Correct. 4x5=20 is in the critical range (15-25).
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 may incorrectly multiply likelihood and impact (4 x 5 = 20) and then try to map that product to a rating, rather than using the heat map's intersection logic, leading them to choose 'High' instead of 'Critical'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 5x5 heat map is a qualitative risk assessment tool where each axis (likelihood and impact) is scored from 1 to 5. The product or intersection of these scores determines the risk rating, often using predefined thresholds: Critical (4-5 on both axes), High (3-4 on one axis and 4-5 on the other, but not both), Medium (2-3), Low (1-2). In practice, organizations may customize these thresholds, but the CRISC exam follows the standard ISACA convention where likelihood 4 and impact 5 yield a Critical rating, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation.
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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IT Risk Assessment — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
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: Critical — In a typical 5x5 risk heat map, the overall risk rating is determined by the intersection of likelihood and impact values. With likelihood 4 and impact 5, the cell falls in the 'Critical' zone (commonly defined as likelihood 4-5 and impact 4-5). This aligns with the convention where 5=Critical, 4=High, 3=Medium, 2=Low, 1=Informational, making D the correct answer.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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