Given a set of test cases ordered by risk, which sequence prioritizes the most critical tests?

The correct sequence for prioritizing the most critical tests is one that starts with the highest risk and moves toward lower risk, thus ensuring that the most important functionalities are tested first, which can effectively mitigate potential failures.

In the chosen sequence, starting with test case 2 and moving through 4, 5, and 6 before concluding with 1 and 3 demonstrates a clear prioritization where the most significant risks are addressed initially. This approach aligns with risk-based testing principles, which focus on identifying and testing the areas of highest risk to the project or system first. The earlier tests tackle the potential for significant failures, allowing the testing team to discover critical issues sooner rather than later in the testing cycle, ultimately improving the quality of the software and reducing costs associated with fixing defects later in the process.

The other sequences do not adequately follow this principle of prioritizing higher risk tests first, which could lead to situations where critical issues remain undetected for longer durations, increasing the risk of negative outcomes during later stages of development or in production environments.