PRINCE2F PRINCE2 Practices Practice Question
A risk has been identified that offers potential upside for the project. Which response should the project team consider to maximize the probability and impact of the risk?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates often confuse threat and opportunity responses, applying a threat response like 'avoid' or 'transfer' to an upside risk because they focus on the word 'risk' rather than its positive nature.
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
✓
Exploit
An exploit response is the correct choice for a risk with potential upside (an opportunity) because it seeks to maximize both the probability and the impact of the opportunity. In PRINCE2, the exploit response is specifically designed to ensure the opportunity is realized by taking proactive steps to make it happen, such as allocating additional resources or changing the project plan to capture the benefit. This aligns with the goal of turning an uncertain positive event into a definite gain.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Exploit
Why this is correct
Exploiting targets opportunities by removing uncertainty so the upside is realised, directly maximising both probability and impact as the stem requires. Unlike enhance, which only raises likelihood or size, exploit commits resources to guarantee the beneficial outcome occurs, making it the appropriate PRINCE2 response for this positive risk.
- ✗
Accept
Why it's wrong here
Accept involves acknowledging the opportunity and taking no proactive action, leaving its probability and impact unchanged. It is appropriate for low-priority opportunities where the cost of any response outweighs the potential benefit, not where the team must actively maximise the chance and size of the gain.
- ✗
Avoid
Why it's wrong here
Avoid eliminates the activity or condition giving rise to the risk, which removes the opportunity entirely rather than maximising it. Avoidance is the right response for unacceptable threats, whereas an upside risk requires an exploit response that increases its probability and impact.
- ✗
Transfer
Why it's wrong here
Transfer shifts ownership of an opportunity to a third party, typically for a fee, which reduces the project's exposure rather than increasing the likelihood or magnitude of the upside. It suits threats where another party can manage the risk, not opportunities the team wants to exploit and amplify.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PRINCE2F
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 risk has been identified that, if it occurs, could improve the project's likelihood of achieving its objectives. What type of risk is this, and which response is appropriate?
hard- A.Threat; Transfer
- B.Opportunity; Reject
- C.Threat; Avoid
- ✓ D.Opportunity; Exploit
Why D: The question describes a risk that could improve the project's likelihood of achieving its objectives, which is the definition of an opportunity (not a threat). The PRINCE2 guidance recommends the 'Exploit' response for opportunities when the project wants to ensure the opportunity is realized, making Option D correct.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PRINCE2F practice question is part of Courseiva's free PeopleCert 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 PRINCE2F exam.