SSCP Access Controls Practice Question
In a biometric system, the point at which the false rejection rate (FRR) equals the false acceptance rate (FAR) is known as the:
⚠ Common exam trap
SSCP often tests biometric metrics by describing the FRR=FAR intersection — candidates who confuse CER with FAR or FRR, or who don't recognize the 'crossover' terminology, pick the wrong rate instead of the crossover point.
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
✓
Crossover error rate (CER)
The crossover error rate (CER), also called the equal error rate (EER), is the point on the biometric operating curve where the false rejection rate equals the false acceptance rate. It is the standard metric for comparing the accuracy of different biometric systems — a lower CER indicates a more accurate system. The other options name individual rates or a different concept, not the crossover point.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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False acceptance rate (FAR)
Why it's wrong here
The equal-error rate is the crossover point where FRR and FAR coincide; FAR alone is only one of the two curves, so it cannot denote their intersection. FAR is tempting because it is the metric attackers exploit, and it would be the answer if the question asked which rate measures unauthorised users being wrongly accepted.
- ✓
Crossover error rate (CER)
Why this is correct
The crossover error rate is the threshold where false rejection rate and false acceptance rate intersect, giving a single comparable accuracy metric. A lower CER indicates a more accurate biometric system, useful when selecting between devices.
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Failure to enroll rate
Why it's wrong here
Failure to enroll rate measures the proportion of users whose biometric samples cannot be registered at all, unrelated to the FAR/FRR crossover. It is tempting because it is a genuine biometric performance metric, and is the correct answer when a question asks about rejected enrolment attempts rather than threshold tuning.
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False rejection rate (FRR)
Why it's wrong here
FRR is one of the two error rates plotted against each other; it is not the point where they intersect. It is tempting because FRR measures the proportion of legitimate users wrongly rejected, which is the metric adjusted when tuning sensitivity, but the crossover point itself carries the distinct name.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SSCP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A biometric system has a high false rejection rate (FRR). Which of the following is a likely consequence?
medium- A.The system will require less frequent calibration
- B.Unauthorized users are more likely to gain access
- ✓ C.Legitimate users may be denied access, leading to frustration
- D.The system's crossover error rate (CER) will be very low
Why C: A high false rejection rate (FRR) means the biometric system incorrectly rejects legitimate users. This leads to frustration and potential productivity loss as authorized individuals are denied access. FRR is a key performance metric; a high FRR indicates the system is too strict.
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 ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.