PMI PMI-RMP Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 22,2026- Exam Code: PMI-RMP
- Exam Name: PMI Risk Management Professional
- Certification Provider: PMI
- Latest update: Oct 22,2026
A risk manager recently had to take an unexpected leave of absence. An interim risk manager has been tasked with completing risk planning for a new project. The interim risk manager has been provided with a strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis that was completed during a project kickoff meeting several weeks ago.
What should the interim risk manager do to derive actionable risk responses from the SWOT analysis?
- A . Determine risks from the SWOT analysis and break them down into threats and opportunities.
- B . Work with the project sponsor to understand which items they would prioritize from the SWOT analysis.
- C . Conduct an extensive review with the project team to ensure all SWOT items can be mitigated or eliminated.
- D . Input the items identified on the SWOT analysis into the project’s risk register for consideration as-is.
A project team is concerned about a risk which, if occurs, might add additional complexity to their work. The team will need help from an external vendor, but the contracting process is long .
What should the risk manager do in this case?
- A . Document the risk in the risk register for analysis.
- B . Document the detailed risk consequences,
- C . Immediately start the contracting process.
- D . Proceed with the quantitative risk analysis.
Stakeholder deliverable reviews will start soon and additional work is expected to resolve any issues or required adjustments. Budget overruns during execution have put serious constraints on the remainder of the project’s budget.
What should the project manager do next?
- A . Request a budget relief using the management reserve.
- B . Conduct a risk reassessment and reserve analysis.
- C . Review the consequences of potential changes.
- D . Coach stakeholders on risk identification practices.
B
Explanation:
The project manager should reassess the risks and analyze the reserve to determine if any adjustments can be made to accommodate the expected additional work. This will help in identifying potential budget-saving measures and making informed decisions on how to proceed.
According to the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) Reference Materials, risk reassessment is the process of reanalyzing existing project risks and identifying new risks throughout the project life cycle 1. Reserve analysis is the process of estimating the amount of contingency reserve and management reserve needed to account for the uncertainty and variability of the project2. In this case, the project manager should conduct a risk reassessment and reserve analysis as the next step, because the budget overruns during execution have changed the risk profile of the project and reduced the available funds to handle future risks. By conducting a risk reassessment, the project manager can update the risk register and the risk response plan with the current status of the project risks and the effectiveness of the risk responses. By conducting a reserve analysis, the project manager can determine if the remaining contingency reserve and management reserve are sufficient to cover the potential impact of the project risks, and request additional funds if needed.
Reference: 1: PMI, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Sixth Edition, 2017, p. 442 2: PMI, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), Sixth Edition, 2017, p. 215
A certain risk is identified for a major project, and the risk response is planned. However, the analysis reveals a high probability for a secondary risk which will be tolerated based on the organization’s risk thresholds. The secondary risk is subsequently registered. During project execution, the primary risk occurs, the planned action is taken, and the secondary risk emerges.
What two actions should the risk owner take? (Choose two.)
- A . Implement the secondary risk response and update the project documents.
- B . Conduct meeting with all stakeholder to agree on post impact solutions.
- C . Set the corresponding trigger conditions to the secondary risk.
- D . Engage the project manager to authorize the secondary risk’s response.
- E . Update and communicate assessments of the secondary risk’s impact.
AE
Explanation:
The risk owner should implement the secondary risk response, as it is now being tolerated, and update the project documents accordingly. They should also update and communicate the assessments of the secondary risk’s impact to ensure everyone is aware of the situation.
According to the PMI-RMP Handbook1, the risk owner is responsible for implementing the risk response plan and monitoring the risk and its secondary risks.
Therefore, the risk owner should take the following two actions when the secondary risk emerges:
Implement the secondary risk response and update the project documents. This action is consistent with the risk response strategy of tolerance, which means accepting the risk and its consequences. The risk owner should execute the planned response for the secondary risk, such as contingency plans or fallback plans, and update the relevant project documents, such as the risk register, the risk report, and the lessons learned register, to reflect the current status and impact of the risk.
Update and communicate assessments of the secondary risk’s impact. This action is consistent with the risk monitoring and control process, which involves tracking the identified risks, evaluating their impact and probability, and reporting the risk information to the appropriate stakeholders. The risk owner should reassess the secondary risk’s impact on the project objectives, such as scope, schedule, cost, and quality, and communicate the results to the project manager and other relevant stakeholders, such as the sponsor, the customer, and the team members.
Reference: PMI-RMP Handbook1
PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Chapter 11: Project Risk Management2
A risk management professional is in the process of categorizing risks when a subject matter expert (SME) suggests categorizing the risks by their impact to the project objectives .
Why should the risk management professional use this approach?
- A . To enable the team in identifying the specific causes of risks associated with project objectives.
- B . To ensure that project priorities are being appropriately factored into risk response plans.
- C . To determine there more attentive project leadership and organizational involvement is needed.
- D . To assign risks and risk severities to functional discipline and departments effectively.
C
Explanation:
Categorizing risks by their impact on project objectives ensures that risk response plans are aligned with project priorities. This helps in focusing on the most critical risks and their potential impact on the project’s success.
Categorizing risks by their impact to the project objectives is a way of aligning the risk management process with the project goals and stakeholder expectations. By doing so, the risk management professional can ensure that the risk response plans are focused on the most critical aspects of the project and that the project priorities are being considered in the decision making. This approach can
also help to communicate the value of risk management to the project team and the stakeholders, as they can see how the risk management activities are contributing to the project success. Categorizing risks by their impact to the project objectives does not necessarily help to identify the specific causes of risks, determine the level of project leadership and organizational involvement, or assign risks and risk severities to functional disciplines and departments. These are other possible ways of categorizing risks, but they are not the main purpose of using the impact to the project objectives approach.
Reference: PMI-RMP® Certification Handbook1, page 9; PMBOK® Guide, page 415.
Multiple new risks have come up on a project that were not included on the risk register. The project manager met with the team to explain that risk management is critical for the success of the project, and risk identification is key.
What should the project manager do next?
- A . Review assumptions and constraints around risks.
- B . Develop the risk response plans for identified risks.
- C . Determine the likelihood and impact of the risks.
- D . Apply an iterative approach to risk identification.
D
Explanation:
The project manager should apply an iterative approach to risk identification, which involves continuous risk identification throughout the project lifecycle. This will help to identify and address new risks that may arise during the project.
According to the PMBOK® Guide, risk identification is the process of determining which risks may affect the project and documenting their characteristics. It is an iterative process because new risks may evolve or become known only as the project progresses through its life cycle. There are many techniques available for risk identification and assessment, such as brainstorming, interviews, checklists, SWOT analysis, cause and effect diagrams, etc. The project manager should apply an iterative approach to risk identification to ensure that all relevant risks are captured and updated throughout the project. The project manager should also involve the project team and other stakeholders in the risk identification process to obtain their input and perspectives.
The other options are not valid for the next step after explaining the importance of risk management to the team:
Review assumptions and constraints around risks: This is a technique for risk identification, but it is not the only one. The project manager should use a combination of techniques to identify risks, not just focus on one aspect. Also, reviewing assumptions and constraints is not the same as applying an iterative approach, which implies repeating the risk identification process at regular intervals or when changes occur.
Develop the risk response plans for identified risks: This is a step in the Plan Risk Responses process, which comes after the Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis and Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis processes. The project manager should not develop the risk response plans before identifying and analyzing the risks.
Determine the likelihood and impact of the risks: This is a step in the Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis process, which comes after the Identify Risks process. The project manager should not determine the likelihood and impact of the risks before identifying them.
Reference: PMBOK® Guide1, Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) ® Cert Guide
A project manager is trying to realize benefits from new material on an adaptive project. This is the first time the project team is using the material so the team does not have information to identify and analyze risks. A team member informs the project manager that a local university has recently published a research journal on the same material.
Where should the project manager find this information?
- A . Industrial studies
- B . Commercial risk databases
- C . Organizational process assets (OPAs)
- D . Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs)
D
Explanation:
Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs) are conditions or circumstances that are not under the control of the project team, but may influence, constrain, or direct the project. EEFs include internal and external factors, such as organizational culture, market conditions, industry standards, government regulations, and academic research. In this case, the project manager should find the information about the new material from the research journal published by the local university, which is an example of an external EEF. This information may help the project manager to identify and analyze the risks associated with the new material and plan appropriate risk responses. Industrial studies, commercial risk databases, and organizational process assets (OPAs) are not the correct choices, as they are not relevant to the question. Industrial studies are systematic investigations of a specific industry or sector, which may provide general information about the market trends, opportunities, and challenges, but not specific information about the new material. Commercial risk databases are sources of information about historical or potential risks that may affect projects in different domains or regions, which may help the project manager to identify common or emerging risks, but not the risks related to the new material. OPAs are the plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases specific to and used by the performing organization, which may help the project manager to follow the established guidelines and practices for risk management, but not to obtain new information about the new material.
Reference: PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) C Sixth Edition. Chapter 2: The Environment in Which Projects Operate, pp. 38-39. 5 Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs) include information from external sources, such as academic research, industry studies, and market conditions. this case, the project manager should refer to the research journal published by the local university as an EEF to gather information about the new material and its associated risks.
Several key stakeholders approach the project manager with concerns. The stakeholders have received feedback from local businesses that have reported a reduction in customers because of construction activities at the worksite, and they plan to submit a claim to the municipality to fine the project manager’s company.
How should the project manager address this concern?
- A . Evaluate the risk with the team and update the issueing
- B . Discuss the concern with the local business owners.
- C . Update the key risks and perform a quantitative risk analysis.
- D . Adjust construction work hours to after business hours.
A
Explanation:
The project manager should evaluate the risk with the team and update the issueing to address the concerns of the stakeholders and local businesses.
This concern is a potential risk that could affect the project’s reputation, stakeholder satisfaction, and profitability. The project manager should evaluate the risk with the team and update the issue log, which is a tool for documenting and monitoring the resolution of issues that arise during the project. The issue log should include information such as the issue description, the priority, the owner, the status, and the actions taken. The project manager should also communicate with the stakeholders and the local businesses to address their concerns and seek a mutually beneficial solution. The project manager should not ignore the concern, as it could escalate into a bigger problem. The project manager should not discuss the concern with the local business owners alone, as this could bypass the stakeholders and create more conflicts. The project manager should not update the key risks and perform a quantitative risk analysis, as this is a time-consuming and complex process that may not be necessary for this type of risk. The project manager should not adjust the construction work hours to after business hours, as this could incur additional costs, disrupt the project schedule, and affect the workers’ safety and productivity.
Reference: PMI, 2017. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) C Sixth Edition. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute, Inc., pp. 115-116, 408-4091
Project stakeholders can often be risk averse with little to no knowledge of the risk process .
How should a risk manager increase stakeholder risk appetite?
- A . Exclude risk averse stakeholders from future risk discussions
- B . Explain risk handling and mitigation strategies
- C . Increase the impact of all risks in the risk breakdown structure (RBS)
- D . Develop a generous probabilistic cash flow model
B
Explanation:
The risk manager should increase stakeholder risk appetite by explaining risk handling and mitigation strategies, which will help stakeholders understand how risks can be managed and reduced, making them more comfortable with the risk process.
The best way to increase stakeholder risk appetite is to explain risk handling and mitigation strategies, which are the actions taken to reduce the probability and/or impact of risks, or to enhance the opportunities. By doing so, the risk manager can help the stakeholders understand how the risks can be managed effectively and efficiently, and how the potential benefits can outweigh the potential costs. This can also increase the stakeholder confidence and trust in the risk process and the project outcomes. The other options are not appropriate ways to increase stakeholder risk appetite. Excluding risk averse stakeholders from future risk discussions can alienate them and create conflicts. Increasing the impact of all risks in the risk breakdown structure (RBS) can exaggerate the risk exposure and create unnecessary fear and anxiety. Developing a generous probabilistic cash flow model can create unrealistic expectations and lead to poor decision making.
Reference: PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) Examination Content Outline and Specifications, page 8 1. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) C Sixth Edition, pages 403-4042.
One project in a program needs to be completed in 6 months because there is a large bonus for early completion. Consequently, the program manager transfers all resources to this project and arranges for employees to receive overtime pay.
Which risk response strategy is the program manager using in this scenario?
- A . Escalate
- B . Transfer
- C . Enhance
- D . Exploit