Posts tagged: Becoming a CIA!

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

 

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.

 

Focusing on CIA Exam Studying

April 8, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Gleim CIA Exam Blogger Tracy C.

Hello fellow CIA Exam candidates! It’s been a busy week trying to get my study plan together. I finally registered to take my first part of the exam this week. I’m going to be taking it at the end of April, so I need to make the most of my study time. My goal is to do the bulk of my studying on the weekends. I want to get through at least two to three study units on the weekends and one study unit during the week. I have a busy few weeks coming up since I will be working on another new client. It will be important for me to devote as much time as possible to studying over the upcoming weekends.

I have been working on Study Units 1 and 2. It has been hard to get back into studying mode after being out of it for so long. I have been focusing solely on work for the past several months, so it has been a while since I’ve had to spread my attention between work and studying. I tried, unsuccessfully, to take the CPA when I first started working. I graduated with my MBA two weeks before I began working, so I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on the CPA between graduation and work. I tried to manage my time, but I was traveling non-stop for work. I found out that I couldn’t devote as much time to studying as I wanted, and I chose to focus on work. I’m now ready to get back to studying. I am not traveling for work and the busy season is over, so I will have more time. I have chosen to take the CIA now to focus on something more specialized. It is also specific to what I am currently working on. After I pass the CIA exam, I will go back to studying for the CPA exam, but for now I want to focus on CIA.

 

Welcome CIA Blogger Bev M.!

March 18, 2013, by 1 comment

 

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

Hello, fellow CIA exam candidates. My name is Bev and I plan on sitting for Part 1 of the CIA exam in April. I filled out my application last Friday and sent it off. Now I just need to gather my transcripts and get my experience signed off. I have been an internal auditor for almost six years. Never in a million years did I think I would be an auditor, but I accidentally found my niche and plan on making a career out of the internal audit profession. I worked for a Fortune 500 company for the last five years and then decided I wanted to get into public accounting.

I started working for one of the Big 4 accounting firms in April of 2012. I worked in their internal audit department, and one of the things we are pushed to get is a certification. I studied for the auditing part of the CPA exam and realized that the material is somewhat similar to what is tested on the CIA exam. I decided last week that I was going to pursue a CIA designation and see what happens. After all, the correspondence from the IIA states that you can increase your salary by 40%. Who doesn’t want an increase in salary? I plan on staying at work at least 2 hours after everyone leaves to study. I have too many distractions (television and a cute basset hound) at home. I will be using Gleim materials during my journey, hence my being on this blog. This blog is my way of keeping myself accountable and on task.

 

 

CIA Exam Studying Off Track

February 20, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Chris.

I had intended to read the study material over my study break, but guests were visiting my home like never before. I had to put the books aside and entertain them. I am now back on track and am really committed to the completion of the CIA course.  To make up for the lost time, I am going to study for at least four hours a day. I want to make it a policy to complete at least one study unit each and every day.

After going through the whole outline, I will go for the test prep software. This is where it matters most. I hope to answer more than two hundred questions per day. I will continue doing this until I achieve a score of about 95%. Questions in the test prep software give a good measure of one’s performance. At least you know where you stand. It is a must that these questions be done. A friend of mine once attempted the CIA examination without going through the questions in the test prep software, and it was a disaster. Actually, the test prep software tells whether you are ready for the examination or not.

The test prep software kit also helps one to identify areas in which they are strong or weak. In other words one becomes aware of areas in which he needs to concentrate on. Your studying becomes more effective by using the Gleim Test Prep Software.

Until next time, ciao!!!

CIA Studying – Thanks for all the support, fellow bloggers!

January 17, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Chris M.

Hi, folks. I hope you are all doing well.

I regularly read blogs written by contributors to the CIA blog section. To say the least, I have been inspired. When I feel like giving up, these blogs encourage me to keep going. I would like to express my gratitude to the Gleim team for giving us such a platform to share notes on the CIA study course. I have learned a lot just by reading what has been published in the Gleim blog. I have gained valuable techniques on how to study, as well as how to tackle tough CIA exam questions.

I am in the homestretch myself. I am close to being a Certified Internal Auditor, an authority on my own. I am about to achieve this with the Gleim study material, which I have also recommended to some other aspiring CIAs. The Gleim course can prepare you for the test in the shortest possible time. However, having the Gleim study material does not absolve you from hard work. The material will help you to pass, but you will need to play your part. You will often need to burn the midnight oil in order to achieve success.

The Test Prep software will also play an important role in your studies. After mastering the concepts in the study material, you need to practice answering the test prep questions. I have passed Parts 1 and 2 using the Gleim review system. The Gleim system gives you insight on where you stand in terms of the exam preparation. Your shortcomings are revealed when you practice by answering these questions.

Until next time, ciao!

 

CIA Exam Studying – Now More Proficient In My Auditing Career

January 4, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Chrispen M.

Hello, fellow CIA candidates. I hope I find you in high spirits. Your aspirations will be turned into reality. The key is to work hard. Be dedicated to your studies and you will come out as a victor.

The CIA course will make you a well accomplished auditor. By completing the entire course, your discipline will be changed for the better. As an internal auditor, your ethical climate will improve because of the CIA course.

I myself have greatly improved by studying the Gleim study material. I can now speak with confidence. Even my boss now sends me to represent the audit department at various symposiums. Just some few years back, I couldn’t imagine myself speaking in front of six hundred delegates. Now, I can easily do this with the aplomb of a veteran. At one of the symposiums, I even surprised myself by expertly answering questions posed by the delegates. I could see the delegates nodding their heads in agreement. Some organizations are even contemplating hiring me to train their staff in audit matters. I would not hesitate to recommend Gleim study materials to anyone who aspires to pass the CIA exam.

Until next time, ciao!

 

Review, Review, Review for the CIA Exam

January 3, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Mrs. U.

Hello everyone,

The key to learning is in the review. This week was a total blur for me. I had so many meetings, projects, and after-school activities, that I had to take a break from studying to get myself in order. After a two-day CIA studying hiatus, I resumed my study routine by tackling a new quiz. I wanted to see where my learning gaps were and determine what material I needed to review. Initially, when I do well, I am tempted to go straight to the questions I got incorrect and skip the review of the questions I got correct. This time, however, because I did not do well on the quiz, I was anxious to review all the material. I reviewed each question, the ones I got correct and the ones I got incorrect. I read each answer to understand the rationale behind the answer. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the review. I felt the gaps getting smaller and my understanding of the material getting bigger. I completed two sections of material. It took a bit longer than I planned because I took notes and took the quiz again after my final review.

I really recommend reviewing all of the CIA exam material, even the questions you get correct. Review, review, review. Reviewing the material really helped me remember the important auditing concepts and terminology. I am now very familiar with the concepts. We all know the saying “knowledge is power,” and I feel that reviewing is strength. Reviewing is very important, and it gives you the strength needed to master a concept. My plan is to review all of the material. I hope you will join me. Remember . . . success lies ahead.

 

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

December 26, 2012, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Mrs. U.

Hello everyone,

After a very hectic work week, I felt as if I had fallen behind on my CIA studying. My original plan involved studying for at least 2-3 hours each day; that did not happen. I started to beat myself up about it. Then, I realized that although I had not met my 2-3 hour goal, I had reviewed the material for at least 30 minutes each day. My 2-3 hour goal was unrealistic based on my current work/life situation. I reflected about my daily schedule and my study goals. I realized that I still made progress toward my study goals by staying on track with just 30 minutes a day. I was connected to the material each day and had not fallen significantly behind. I definitely did not feel as if I was having to “start over” with each study session. The fact that the multiple-choice quizzes default to 25 minutes study sessions is fantastic. I ended up taking one quiz each day and reviewing the questions afterward. By just committing to taking a quiz each day, I am moving closer to my overall goal, which is to take and pass Part 1 of the CIA exam. I understand that the longer I go without reviewing any material, the more likely I am to forget it. Therefore, focusing on 30 minutes or more a day of studying is great for me.

I make a daily commitment to myself to review the material now at least 30 minutes a day. If I do more than that, I feel really good. Each time I take a quiz or true/false and my score significantly improves, I am motivated to do more and stay on track.

I hope this post reminds everyone not to get frustrated when they don’t have a lot of time to commit to studying. With a firm commitment to studying the Gleim materials, you will find that a little bit can go a long way.

Remember . . . success lies ahead.