How to prepare for the M_o_R Practitioner exam

The exam contains one fictitious scenario set in an organization where you have to apply your risk management knowledge. The questions throughout the exam are based on the same scenario and they can cover any of the following by topic covered in the manual:

• Management of risk principles
• Management of risk approach
• Management of risk process
• Embedding and reviewing management of risk
• Common techniques
• Risk specialisms.

So, when you are preparing for the exam, you need to make sure you have read – and can navigate – the whole manual.

M_o_R is a three-hour open book exam, which includes reading the scenario and additional information.

At the beginning of the exam, allow a maximum of 15 minutes to read the scenario but don’t read the additional information at this point. Do that only when answering a specific question. If you are doing the exam online, the additional information will be available only when you reach the relevant question anyway.

Allow about 35 minutes to answer each question (all parts), including reading any additional information.

Flag questions that you are unsure about and would like to look at again. Online, do this by using the “flag” functionality. In a paper-based exam turn the corner of the page down. Put an answer down and move on – don’t waste time staring at questions that you don’t know the answer to. Your perception of the question might change when you come back to it!

You will have about 25 minutes for checking any questions that you want to go back to.

There are several question types in the exam:

• Standard classic (Choose one answer from 4) – e.g. “which action addresses this issue?”
• Multiple response – selecting two answers per question line. Both must be right to get a mark, e.g. “which two reasons explain why…?”
• Matching questions – “match” the statements in the left-hand column with the descriptions in the right-hand column. Typically, each selection from column 2 (the right-hand column) may be used once, more than once or not at all.
• Assertion-reason – these questions have three columns:
  • An assertion on the left
  • The word “because” in the middle
  • A reason on the right.
  • Always, answer the right hand “reason” column first by choosing true/false. Then do the same with the left-hand “assertion” column. In the box at the top there is a key which tells you what letter to select.

There is one sample paper which you can complete before you sit the live exam. A second sample paper is available if you book your exam through an Accredited Training Organization.

Each sample paper includes:

• Scenario booklet (similar to the one you will see in your live exam – but the scenario will be different)
• Question booklet
• Rationale – which tells you which option is correct and why.

Complete the paper(s) – maybe in timed chunks if you find that easier – and mark them using the rationale, reflecting carefully on the questions you get wrong. Make notes in your manual in case you get a similar question in the exam. If you score particularly low in a particular area, re-read the chapter.