Posts tagged: Gleim CIA

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.

 

 

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

 

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.

 

 

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!!!

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.

 

CIA Exam Studying On A Friday Night

December 14, 2012, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Mrs. U.

It is Friday night. Normally, I would hire a nanny and head out to the movies or dinner with my hubby. Instead, I am thinking about all the CIA exam studying I have to do. The week has flown by, and I did not get a chance to study as much as I had planned. With the beginning of another audit trimester at hand, I found myself falling behind with my study routine. As a result, I am using Friday night to play catch up. I will start by reviewing the Gleim study unit menu and the results of the Gleim Diagnostic Quiz to really help me hone in on the most important study areas.

For the two areas I plan to tackle, I start by reviewing the audiovisual presentation, taking notes as appropriate. Next, I take the multiple-choice and true/false test questions for each area. I love the fact that each study unit is broken down into manageable sections and there are performance reports that keep track of your scores. My goal is to make 85% or higher on each section, so I take the quizzes repeatedly until I feel comfortable that I have grasped the concepts. Currently, I am in the 70% range, so I know a lot of work lies ahead.

After completing each section, I analyze my answer choices to understand why my results were correct or incorrect. I cross-reference the information in the textbook to the information online to ensure that I have a thorough understanding of the study material. In the Gleim test session, the multiple-choice questions are timed. This feature is excellent, because it helps me pace myself and prepare for the actual exam. I really hope my CIA study strategy pays off because I really do miss my Friday date nights.

 

Competing Priorities: CIA Exam Studying

November 19, 2012, by No comments yet

Written by Guest Blogger Mrs. U

This week, I received my study materials from Gleim.  I was thrilled because I have already scheduled my exam to take Part 1. As a working parent, I am sure you can understand how easy it can be to procrastinate when it comes to studying for the CIA exam.  There are so many competing priorities: work, home, family, laundry, sleep, and work. The list goes on and on. And, yes, I mentioned work twice for a reason! Here is where the Gleim CIA study system comes in handy.  I really appreciate the fact that Gleim structured their CIA material to really focus on the key concepts and content needed to pass the CIA exam.  I like the way the online modules have different question types (multiple-choice, true/false) and that they provide explanations to the answers for each question.

 

I also like reviewing the online learning sections because they can be accessed from any computer at any time, and I have found them to be very interactive and helpful. I want to share with you some key things that I have found useful in staying motivated to study.

 

1. Book 30 mins on your calendar each day for CIA. For me, during lunch and before or after work hours are best.

2. Commit to reviewing at least 50-100 Gleim practice questions each week.

3. Jot down any questions or comments in the notes section so you can go back and review as needed.

4. Pick a date and schedule your exam.

I really look forward to sharing my studying journey with everyone, and I hope that some of you can relate and benefit from my posts.

Thanks. Success . . . lies ahead.

 

 

Beginning CIA Part 3!

November 12, 2012, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Chris.

Hi, folks. I hope I find you well. Let us carry on with the journey until we come out victorious. The CIA journey is never meant for the faint hearted. It requires hard work and dedication. You also need to have the right study material, which can only be supplied by Gleim. All those who aspire to be Certified Internal Auditors, I urge you to go for the Gleim study material as it is tried and tested. I myself have used the material.

I am still on Study Unit 1, Business Processes. Statistics play a dominant role in this study unit. I dread math, but it plays a crucial role in the CIA course. I have come to the realization that as an internal auditor, one should have an appreciation of Statistics. I urge you all to hone your skills on Statistics.

You should be able to understand the information shown on various types of diagrams. Interpretation of the information is the most important thing for the internal auditor. The diagrams play an important role in the CIA examination as one is expected to interpret the information shown on the pie charts, histograms, bar graphs, etc.

I have also realized that I should be able to perform some mathematical calculations and be able to plot graphs. I have engaged myself in some extra lessons in order to understand what regression and correlation is all about.

Total quality management is also covered under this study unit. As internal auditors, we have to ensure that quality is attained in every aspect of the organization. This gives the firm the much needed competitive advantage over its competitors.

Until, next time. Ciao!

 

CIA Part 3 – Ongoing Journey of Chris

October 1, 2012, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Chris.

Hello folks. I hope I find you in high spirits. I myself am doing quite well. With my completion of CIA Part 2, I was over the moon. I only have one part to complete before I become a Certified Internal Auditor.

The excitement of passing CIA Part 2 is now over as I embark on another serious journey of study. I am going to read Study Units 1 through 10 for the first time to get a general overview of what is required. I will then re-read all the topics a second time in order to grasp all the concepts. Hopefully, I am not going to get a topic that is going to be a nemesis, as was the case with Information Technology in CIA Part 2.

After I have read all the study units for the second time, I will embark on the practice questions provided in the Gleim Test Prep Software. I urge all aspiring certified internal auditors to never neglect this part in their studies.

I would like to thank Gleim for producing such great study material for CIA Part 3. You really made my life easier. Words cannot express my gratitude to you.

I can assure you that I am definitely going to utilize the material so I can pass the CIA exam.
Until next time, ciao.

 

Starting Over With CIA Exam Studying

September 20, 2012, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger MBM.

After a very long and difficult past couple of months, I’ve hit the “life gets in the way” wall for my CIA Exam studying. You’ll recall me first talking about my studies here. I am not letting the events of the past couple of months keep me from finishing studying and taking this exam. So, since it’s been so long and I was studying during a time where I was definitely studying ineffectively, I have started again at square one. I got through Study Unit 8 originally, but I wasn’t remembering very much and I had a lot of trouble in particular with one or two of the study units. I would read and answer the questions; however, the scores in my quizzes were very low. The concepts were not difficult exactly, but my studying was so ineffective that I might as well have been reading a novel and trying to answer unrelated CIA Exam questions.

Now, I know it’s not spectacularly motivating to let you all know I had to start over. But I want you to know that if your life starts to get overwhelming, you can go back to square one and get this exam taken care of. For me, getting back on track with studying involved cutting out the things in my life that were making me unhappy or at least working on what I could (some things of course are difficult or impossible to change). I know that some of you are going through some difficult times and I applaud you for continuing on. What a great community of support and help this has come to be!

So friends, I hope your studying is going well and that you are making progress on getting these designations. I know some of you are taking these exams for work, other reasons, or even just for yourself. For whatever reason, you may also hit the “life gets in the way” wall, but know you don’t have to quit, and there is no shame in starting over.

Take care everyone.