TOPIC: Struggling to tell the difference between a risk and an issue

I keep getting stuck trying to figure out whether something is a risk or an issue. Sometimes it feels like they overlap, and I’m not sure how to label it during practice questions.

How do you make the call? Are there any quick tips or examples that helped you remember the difference?

Appreciate any help. Just trying to sharpen this before exam day.

Great question – and you’re definitely not alone, many PMP candidates stumble over this one at first.

The simplest way to draw the line is this:

Risk = uncertainty, something that may or may not happen in the future. It’s a potential event or condition with a positive (opportunity) or harmful (threat) impact.
Example: “The supplier may deliver late.”

Issue = fact, something that is already happening. It’s real and needs to be managed or resolved right now. Example: “The supplier is late.”

A quick test I use with my students: If you can still use the word “may,” it’s a risk. If it’s already impacting you, it’s an issue.

BR,

Markus
One extra exam tip: on the PMP, if a “risk” has materialized, the correct answer usually shifts toward issue management or change requests rather than risk response planning.

Keep practicing with that lens, and the distinction will become second nature before exam day.

Hi Marielle,
Agree with everything in Markus' response.
Sharing some examples to illustrate.
Risk-1: risk of political instability in country XYZ may result to supply chain disruptions, thus delaying project schedule and costs.
Issue-1: Country XYZ is now in a state of civil war, and supply chains have been impacted. The project team needs to re-estimate project costs, schedules, etc.

Risk-2: Risk that the ongoing legal review may result in new regulations which make specifications on the product being developed extremely stringent, therefore impacting the project.
Issue-2: A new regulation has now come into effect mandating that our product needs to comply with very stringent requirements, which will entail additional costs, time, training, manpower, etc.