CIA Blog Posts & Updates

CIA Exam Day Approaching

May 9, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Tracy C.

Exam day is quickly approaching. I have 2 weeks until the big day. I have made a good dent in my studying this week. I wanted to complete all of the study units by the end of this week and have almost made it. I will spend extra time studying this weekend. Next week will be a challenge for me to fit in studying because I am going on vacation. I planned my vacation long before I started studying for the CIA exam, so when I scheduled my exam, I tried to give myself plenty of time in between. I get back from vacation with a week and a few days left before I take the exam, so that will give me plenty of time to review. I scheduled my exam for a Monday afternoon. This should give me the whole weekend before my exam as well as the morning of to finish reviewing and prepare myself in the final stages.

My study plan while I’m on vacation is to spend time in the mornings or evenings fitting in some review. This way I can relax in between our daily activities and dinner and use that time to go over my notes. Hopefully, I can stick to this plan and get some reviewing accomplished. I’m looking forward to having a week off work and getting to relax. For me, having a plan and sticking to it is an important factor in studying for the exam. I may try to go back and answer some more multiple-choice questions this week while I am on vacation. This is a good review for me this week because it won’t take a lot of time, but I will still accomplish an important part of my review plan. Check back next week to see how my study plans for vacation went; we will see how much I can accomplish.

 

 

Three Weeks Until Exam Day!

May 8, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By CIA Exam Blogger Tracy C.

Three weeks to go until exam day! This week I’m going to ramp up my studying and devote more time to it. I just finished a busy few weeks of work, but things should be a little slower now. This will give me more time to study in the evenings. I hope to finish the last few study units this week so I can move on to reviewing for my exam.

While studying, I’ve found it to be helpful to write down the key points that I want to emphasize in my review. I’m not a big proponent of highlighting things in my study book. I think if I started highlighting, the entire book would end up highlighted. For me, it is easiest to go through the entire lesson’s materials and make a list of the areas I need to work on. I learn much better from my own handwritten notes. I tend to write things out for myself in ways that are easy to remember as well. I like to write my notes so that someone who knows nothing about internal auditing could understand them. I have a pretty short attention span, so I need to keep things succinct for my review. However, I think the Gleim CIA study system does a great job of that to begin with. The format is easy to study and there isn’t a lot of unnecessary and overly complicated content.

I think the most important tool in the Gleim CIA study system is the audiovisual presentation. I gain a much better understanding of the concept when someone explains it to me out loud, as opposed to strictly reading the written materials. With the combination of audiovisuals and writing down important points, I should be able to easily review for the CIA exam. So by next weekend, I should be finished with the study units and ready to move on to my review.

Thanks,

Tracy

 

Last Days of Studying

May 8, 2013, by 1 comment

 

Written By Gleim CIA Guest Blogger Bev M.

I am now getting to the end of my studying for Part 1 of the CIA exam. My exam is in the next 24 hours. I spent the weekend studying and worked questions until I was blue in the face. I also rewrote all of the standards and read through them over the weekend. I must say that the 10 Study Units were a little daunting at first because it seemed like a lot of stuff to go through. However, I must say the Gleim study units were short. This made them a lot easier to read through before I reviewed the questions. My attention span is not the greatest. After a long day of work, who really wants to sit down and try to read through pages and pages of material? I think having more study units to cover this material was definitely a plus in using Gleim. I really learned a lot of information during this review, which I can apply during future audits.

All I have done in the last few days is work through questions, over and over. I have also been taking notes on the ones I get wrong. I am so glad that I get my score right after I am done. I cannot imagine what it would be like if I had to wait for my practice test scores like I have to wait for my actual CPA exam scores. I fell in love with Gleim so much during my review of the CIA material. I am going to purchase the Audit materials from Gleim as well. I have that exam scheduled for May 28th. One of my coworkers is also using Gleim, thanks to me of course. We will be studying for Part 2 of the CIA exam together. I hope to take that part in June. Hopefully, I can take it before my year-end performance evaluation at work. Hopefully my passing scores will have some influence on my raise. A girl can only dream.

Until next time.

Bev

 

Getting Down to the Wire

May 7, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By CIA Exam Guest Blogger Bev M.

I was planning on completing CIA Part 1 Study Units 7 and 8 last week, but it was a short work week for me, so I decided to complete Study Unit 9 instead. I worked until Wednesday and then flew to Tampa with my boyfriend to visit his grandparents. I did not bring my laptop, but I did have my book with me just in case I got the urge to study. It was definitely a very relaxing weekend. I got lots of rest and got to go to the beach one of the days. Their house is only 3 miles away from one of the local beaches. I feel recharged and ready to tackle the rest of the study units before I take my exam at the end of April.

The main reason I chose Study Unit 9 during my short study week was because I had completed the engagement planning section when I was studying for the Audit part of the CPA exam. I took the quiz online and scored a 75%. I was quite excited about that. The last few times I took that quiz, I scored 50% each time. One area that gave me a little trouble was the preliminary survey. After going through the material, I realized that the preliminary survey is the same as our pre-planning activities where we review past audits, personnel interviews, and discussions with management. It’s all the activities we do during the planning phase of an audit to come up with the objectives. I also had to keep reminding myself that the working program was similar to our audit program. Study Unit 9 also came in handy because I have been working on two projects where I have taken on the role of a senior and have had to be involved in all the planning activities and coming up with the initial draft of the audit program (working program).

I plan on going through Study Units 7 and 8 this week and then tackling Study Unit 10 by Saturday at the latest. That should give me at least three full days of final review before I take the CIA exam. I plan on staying in this weekend and studying both days.

Happy studying!

Bev

 

 

Getting Into A Routine: CIA Exam Studying

May 7, 2013, by No comments yet

One thing that works well for me when I’m studying is to create a routine and stick to it.”

Written By CIA Exam Guest Blogger Tracy C.

Well, I’m another week closer to exam day. I’m at four weeks and counting until the big day for Part One. I’m a little behind on my studying because the past few weeks of work have been so busy. I need to get back to the grind this week and make up for lost time. I have a lot more free time coming up, so I should easily be able to get back on track with my study plan.

One thing that works well for me when I’m studying is to create a routine and stick to it. I can focus more on studying when I have things laid out for me. I think a really important part of my routine is to eat healthy and exercise while studying. I have not had time over the past few months to go to the gym, but now that I’m back in study mode, I’m hitting the gym more regularly. This definitely helps reduce stress and it keeps me focused on what I’m studying. I do a lot of yoga, which keeps me from getting too stressed out.

Eating healthy is another major part of my plan for exam success. I’m not always the healthiest eater, but during exam time, I make much more of an effort to be conscious of what I’m eating. I know that healthy eating is important, but as things come up during the week, I don’t always make it a priority. Eating healthier and working out gives me much more energy, and that is something I certainly need. It also keeps my head clear and helps keep me focused. My routine during exam time is to do yoga in the mornings, go to work, maybe run after work, and study after that. I know that these things may seem obvious to some people, but it’s something that people may forget contributes to successfully passing the CIA exam and is worth the extra effort.

 

 

CIA Exam Studying Update

April 29, 2013, by No comments yet

I spent most of Saturday going over Study Unit 6. For some reason, studying controls is always a struggle for me. I can never seem to grasp the whole concept. This week has been very interesting. We finally moved and are settled in our new place. The new house has a fenced-in backyard, which is great for our little basset hound, Brutus. The weather was nice on Saturday, so I studied outside for some time. While I was studying my books and drinking coffee, Brutus was sun bathing. He loves basking in the sun.

I tend to be a visual learner. I know this about myself, yet I sometimes forget. I have been relying heavily on the audios lately. However, for Study Unit 6, I watched the audiovisual presentation and jotted down some notes. This helped tremendously when it came time for me to answer the first set of questions. On one of my attempts though, I scored a 50% and was very disappointed in myself. This is material that I know, or at least should know and at some point in my career have been exposed to, so scoring in the a 50% is definitely not acceptable.

One area I really enjoyed studying was the “Business Continuity Management (BCM)” subunit. This is something that my team was exposed to last year, and I never really had a full understanding of what BCM was all about. I have really been enjoying studying for the CIA exam, mostly because I can apply a lot of what I am learning. It’s always discouraging when you find yourself studying for something that you will probably never use during your career.

I will be leaving for Florida this week and will be packing my Gleim CIA exam textbook for some reading by the beach. I plan on getting through Study Unit 7 and part of Study Unit 8 this week. I have my exam scheduled for the end of April, so I need to finish all of the study units by the end of this week. This should give me a good week to final review and answer questions over and over.

Happy Studying.

Bev

 

Another Hectic Week of CIA Studying

April 29, 2013, by No comments yet

 

It’s been another crazy week for me at work. I have been trying to stay on top of my studying, and it hasn’t been easy. I only have about 5 weeks left until test day. Now that I’ve gotten my schedule down, I’m in study mode, staying in on weeknights and weekends to study. This week I’ve been trying to get my study routine perfected. I’ve never been one to drag out studying over several weeks, so it takes effort for me to plan out a study schedule. Even in college, I was the type of student who would cram around exam time. I’m actively trying to get away from this mindset.

I realize that it’s typical to say “I’m a procrastinator,” but I truly believe that procrastination is a science. The longer you procrastinate, the more dopamine your brain releases, and it gives you this rush. In turn, it gives me the feeling that I can do this, no problem. When I do this, it drives people around me nuts, but I feel like I work best this way. I also have a lot going on, so I have to prioritize. Sometimes, I can’t get to things until the last minute, but I always seem to accomplish what needs to be done.

I plan on sticking to my study schedule for the CIA exam. I realize now that the more I have going on, the more important it is for me to follow a set schedule. Studying sometimes gets put aside because of other responsibilities. For me, the important thing is to make a strict schedule. If I have the plan laid out in front of me, then I am more likely to follow it. So, for now, I’m going to follow the plan and I’m not going to procrastinate. But maybe I’ll start that tomorrow . . . .

Thanks,

Tracy

 

CIA Studying Week 3

April 23, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Bev. M.

Greetings everyone!

Last week was not a very productive week for me, but I am hoping to change that this week. I got an offer on my house two weeks ago and all the paperwork finally went through. It was tough because I could not commit to a place to live until everything was finalized. I only had one week after everything was finalized to move out. Let’s just say that it was a stressful week. With all the chaos going on with work and my personal life, I was only able to get through Study Unit 5. My goal of getting through two study units per week was derailed; however, I plan on getting caught up this week.

Study Unit 5 has been very interesting. As always, I answered multiple-choice questions prior to reading the book. I learned a few things about internal auditing in Study Unit 5 that helped me understand the differences between Assurance Services and Consulting Services. I have decided that Consulting is the area in which I want to work. That will definitely be my next career move.

Another thing that I noticed while I was going through the online material was the section that pops up after you review the questions. I really like how Gleim pinpoints any problem areas. It’s a reminder not only to read the questions carefully but to also pay attention to the answers. I plan on answering all the questions and then moving on Study Units 6 and 7.

This weekend, I will be home alone, which means I can pull all-night study sessions if necessary. I am thinking about sitting for the exam on April 10th, but that could be a little too ambitious. We will see how this week goes with studying, and then I will schedule my CIA exam accordingly.

Happy studying.

Bev

 

Challenging Week For CIA Review

April 11, 2013, by No comments yet

 

 

Written By Tracy C. For the Gleim CIA Blog

Studying this week has been a real challenge. It’s been an extremely hectic week, and I haven’t made as much progress as I would have liked. I have had a lot going on at work and it has forced me to shift my focus somewhat. I only managed to get through Study Unit 1 this week. I should be able to get back on track this weekend and next week. I just need to regroup over the weekend and get my focus back. One of the biggest issues I have had over the last year and a half is figuring out how to juggle client work, non-client work, studying, and a personal life. It seems to be the biggest issue most young professionals face now. I think I’m still in the process of figuring out how to make it all work. However, I am surely getting there.

Even with my hectic schedule and time limitations this week, I’ve been able to squeeze in studying wherever I can with Gleim’s easy-to-use format. This is my first experience using Gleim to study for an exam, and it is by far one of the most user-friendly study formats available. I like that my study content is accessible online as opposed to being software based. I have a work laptop and a personal laptop, so being able to access my study content from either computer is very helpful. This also allows me to do a little studying while eating lunch at work. I also like the fact that everything is clearly laid out for me. My life can get very crazy sometimes, so it’s great that I can log in and see right where I left off and where I need to pick back up. My goal for this weekend is to wrap up what I need to on Study Unit 1 and to get through Study Units 2 and 3. My exam is scheduled for mid-May so I am at about the six week mark for study time. I think that I have given myself enough time to study and I have complete faith that the Gleim CIA Review System will prepare me for the exam.

 

Week 2 of Studying CIA

April 8, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Bev. M for the Gleim CIA Blog.

This week has been a little crazy. Who am I kidding? Every week for me is crazy. I was in the process of selling my house, and of course, it took some time to finalize the deal. Everything went through last week, and I had a week to find a place to live since they take possession of the house on Saturday at 6pm. I could not commit to a place until after everything went through so I would not lose my deposit.

Anyway, CIA studying has been going well. I went through Study Units 3 (Internal Audit Ethics) and 4 (Managing the Internal Audit Activity). I follow Gleim’s suggestion of taking the quiz first to see what areas I am strong in and what areas I need to work on before reading the book. I listen to the audios during work and scribble my little notes. It did take me a while to realize that I needed to work the extra questions that I had downloaded on my laptop instead of constantly working the online quizzes because I was starting to be familiar with the questions. I had to call my Personal Counselor because it just was not clicking at the time.

This week, I am going to work on some cumulative questions from Study Units 1 through 4 and see what areas I still need to focus on before moving on to Study Units 5 and 6. With the move to my new place, I probably will not get as much new material covered this week as I would like. I also got a summons to appear for jury duty this week. My time management is really being tested.