- A
Immediately update the risk register and move on
Why wrong: Updating the register is important, but action must be taken to address the impact.
- B
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for guidance
Why wrong: The PM should first take action within their authority; escalation is appropriate if the response requires resources beyond the PM's control.
- C
Stop work on the affected activity until the risk is resolved
Why wrong: Stopping work may cause further delays; the PM should first try to implement the planned response.
- D
Implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request
The risk response plan may include a contingency plan; if not, the PM should document and create a change request to address the impact.
Quick Answer
The answer is to implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request. This is correct because the risk management process dictates that when a risk response plan fails to fully mitigate an event, you first fall back on any pre-planned contingency reserves or actions already set aside for that specific risk. If no contingency plan exists, the next logical step is to formally document the issue in the issue log and submit a change request to assess the impact and secure approval for a new response. On the PMP exam, this tests your understanding of the sequential flow from risk response execution to issue management, often trapping candidates who jump straight to updating the risk register or escalating without first checking for a contingency. A useful memory tip is “Contingency first, change request next”—if the plan fails, look for the backup before you ask for new resources.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
You are managing a project that involves a high-risk activity that was identified in the risk register. A risk response plan was created to mitigate the risk. During execution, a risk event occurs that was not fully mitigated. The risk impact is now threatening the project schedule. What should you do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request
The first step is to implement the contingency plan if one exists, or else perform a new risk assessment and develop a response. This aligns with the risk management process.
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.
- ✗
Immediately update the risk register and move on
Why it's wrong here
Updating the register is important, but action must be taken to address the impact.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the project sponsor for guidance
Why it's wrong here
The PM should first take action within their authority; escalation is appropriate if the response requires resources beyond the PM's control.
- ✗
Stop work on the affected activity until the risk is resolved
Why it's wrong here
Stopping work may cause further delays; the PM should first try to implement the planned response.
- ✓
Implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request
Why this is correct
The risk response plan may include a contingency plan; if not, the PM should document and create a change request to address the impact.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 PMP 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 PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement the contingency plan if one exists, or document the issue and initiate a change request — The first step is to implement the contingency plan if one exists, or else perform a new risk assessment and develop a response. This aligns with the risk management process.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which PMP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This PMP 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 PMP exam.
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