CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Question
A project manager is performing risk response planning for a high-priority risk. The risk has a high probability and high impact. Which response strategy is most appropriate to reduce the probability and/or impact?
⚠ Common exam trap
CAPM often tests the distinction between mitigation and avoidance; candidates incorrectly choose avoidance when the question asks for reducing probability or impact rather than eliminating the risk.
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
✓
Mitigate
Mitigation is the risk response strategy that reduces the probability and/or impact of a risk to an acceptable level. For a high-probability, high-impact risk, mitigation is the most appropriate proactive response because it directly addresses the risk's likelihood or consequences through actions such as testing, redundancy, or process improvements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Mitigate
Why this is correct
Correct: Mitigate reduces probability or impact, appropriate for high-priority risks.
- ✗
Transfer
Why it's wrong here
Transfer shifts financial ownership to a third party, typically via insurance or a fixed-price contract, but the risk's probability and impact remain unchanged for the project. It suits risks whose impact is financial and another party can absorb it.
- ✗
Accept
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance acknowledges the risk and creates no response, so it neither lowers probability nor impact; it suits low-priority risks or residual risk after other strategies. The stem demands reduction of a high-probability, high-impact threat, which acceptance cannot deliver.
- ✗
Avoid
Why it's wrong here
Avoidance eliminates the threat by removing its cause, changing scope or approach entirely, so it does not reduce probability or impact of an existing risk. It fits risks with catastrophic impact where the activity itself can be dropped, not one requiring mitigation.
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CAPM question from scratch — 451 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 PMI exam blueprint
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI 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 CAPM exam.