The COVID-19 pandemic is revealing just how important it is for all businesses to have a robust and efficient information technology infrastructure. Consequently, the value of CISA-certified professionals is being further elevated as organizations search for CISAs to take on positions in IT audit, risk management and related fields.
Did you know that IT auditors often earn a higher salary than the others in the auditing field? For example, the average pay for auditors in the United States is USD $68,169, while that figure is USD $97,731 for IT auditors.
Given all this, I decided to give my professional profile an edge by pursuing the CISA certification. I knew that CISA is not easy to pass and that it requires serious preparation. My goal was to be one of the people to pass the exam on the first attempt, which I did! Here was my secret:
Make a study schedule
Make a study schedule and stick to it. You can be ready to sit for the exam in three months’ time. However, this depends on the extent of your familiarity with auditing or IT security, as well as how much time you can devote each day. I personally started studying for the exam several months ahead (about six or seven months) because I often work long hours.
Use the “Study Schedule” option in the CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanation Database, which can help you accurately and clearly assess how ready you are for the exam by tracking your progress and reviewing your ReadyScore. Try to learn the material during the weekend and to constantly review it during the week. Remember, a 30-minute practice on weekdays is better than nothing.
The CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database provides a database of 1,000 questions where you can view your result by job practice domain. Make sure to read all the answer explanations that come with the practice questions, as this will help you in assimilating the information rather than just memorizing the questions. Write down the questions that you did not answer correctly so that you can mark it for further review.
Explore other training options
Are you still stuck in some form of COVID-19 quarantine? Enroll in the ISACA online review course and make it one of your quarantine series. It includes on-demand video training sessions, a practice exam and questions different than the ones in the “CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Database”. The online course is simplified for easy learning. I used to watch it during my lunch break. I’ve earned 28 CPE hours upon completion of the course. Isn’t that awesome?
You can get also a lot of advice and useful information from friends and colleagues who have earned the CISA. I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive former boss (a CISA himself) who was willing to test my knowledge from time to time.
Stop studying before the exam
Yes, you read it right! Make sure to stop studying new material two weeks before your scheduled exam. Dedicate this time for review and making sure that everything you learned, including the CISA glossary, is at the top of your mind. This is a crucial period in you review journey. Complete the practice exam, look at your results and decide whether you need to postpone your exam. The night before your test, visualize your success, and imagine how you will feel once you see “Passed” upon completion of the test. That will boost your confidence and energy level!
So, what’s the right answer?
When exam day arrives, do your best to relax, as anxiety can affect your performance. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that you must answer in four hours. Read every word in each question. If you spend 10 minutes on one multiple choice question, just flag it so you can address it if you have time later, and move on to the next question. Eliminate the wrong answers first so you can best recognize the single right answer. Some multiple-choice questions seem to have two right answers, but you will be able to determine which is the correct answer if you studied hard and practiced regularly.
If you follow these tips, you will have a better chance to pass the exam, keeping in mind Samuel Goldwyn’s famous quote: “The harder I work, the luckier I get!”
Good luck!