Certified Information Systems Auditor and CISA Exam Guidelines
CISA® (Certified Information Systems Auditor) is a globally recognized certification for IS Audit, Control and Assurance. The certification is issued by ISACA formerly called Human resources Audit and Control Association but used only as an acronym now due the wider scope of domains and certifications it currently covers. ISACA issues the CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT as well as the CSX Certifications. The CSX could be the latest addition that covers the Cyber Security domain. You are able to refer detailed CISA syllabus at given URL:
http://www.edusum.com/isaca/isaca-information-systems-auditor-cisa-exam-syllabus
CISA could be the oldest in the ISACA Certifications, dating back early 1978. Over 1.25 lakh folks have earned the CISA designation since inception (according to ISACA website). It’s valued across industries as well as mandated for select job profiles. It’s between the highest paying IT Certifications according to a written report conducted by Global Knowledge.
To become CISA Certified professional, there are 3 key steps.
Pass the CISA exam
Have relevant work experience of 5 yrs. (there are specific exemptions for this. For details, visit ISACA).
Adhere to the code of Ethics and Professional Standards set forth by ISACA. This web site post covers the first from the 3 portions, namely the passing in the CISA exam.
From 2017, the CISA exam will be conducted via CBT (Computer Based Testing). For more information for this, check out the post titled Changes on the CISA Exam Structure from 2017
Tricks to pass the CISA
Utilize CRM (CISA Review Manual) judiciously. The most recent may be the CRM 26th Edition that's available around the ISACA Bookstore for sale. It’s a must have. It’s considered the Bible for CISA and even though it’s very verbose, it’s well organized with detailed and well-constructed sentences with apt examples. However, the CRM isn't cornerstone, meaning you would not find questions inside the CISA completely from the CRM. CISA is really a professional certification and yes it relies on use of knowledge as opposed to rote learning. Hence, the CRM is usually to be used judiciously meaning which you don’t cram the many topics nevertheless, you instead see the usage or application. As an example, BCP or Business Continuity Planning will be understood in the reason for how or each time a BCP is initiated, who initiates the BCP, what are the the different parts of the BCP and the way it’s distinctive from a DRP (Disaster Recovery Planning). In the event you instead would skim around for who invented the BCP or which organizations use or don’t make use of the BCP, you are absolutely squandering your preparation time.
The CISA Review QAE Manual or perhaps the Questions, Answers and Explanations Manual is vital. You could either find the 11th edition or subscribe to get a 1 year subscription towards the QAE database. Both of them are exhaustive and provide plenty of domain-wise practice tests with detailed explanations. They also have a full-length Mock exam at the conclusion. These are very good resources and a nice confidence booster on your preparation. However, do note that the CISA questions would not come from the QAE for obvious reasons. Goods fact, a majority of the CISA questions might look out of syllabus for you in the actual exam. This is because, whilst the QAE focuses more about the direct questions, the CISA examination tests the candidates understanding of the concepts. Nonetheless, getting an 80-90% consistently on the QAE aids many participants feel a little bit better prepared and mentally strong while appearing to the CISA.
ISACA CISA certification sample questions can provide you with brief idea on questions difficulty level
http://www.edusum.com/isaca/isaca-cisa-certification-sample-questions
Online language learning resources, videos or podcasts are another significant way to obtain preparation. Web based course portals like ApnaCourse.com have self-paced / instructor-led video courses of instruction for CISA that are aligned for the CRM. The benefit of doing such web based courses is an improved and clearer understanding of the concepts in the CRM. As noted earlier, the CRM is fairly verbose and it’s highly likely you could get off track midway. Picture courses might help offer the attention span. It’s proven that slides give better attention and retention than textbooks. Thus, it’s strongly suggested to join a self-paced exercise program like the one available on ApnaCourse for CISA.
Plan, Plan, and Plan: There is absolutely no better tool or easy guide to the CISA than the usual proper planning. The perfect preparation time is 4 months should you have a credentials in Auditing or IT Security leading to 6-8 months for anyone new to these areas (assuming spent around 7-8 hours a week). Define your exam date well in advance and detail your study plan thoroughly. It’s best to make a Gant Chart of one's study plan with week-wise milestones. Choose the relevant CRM, QAE and enroll into an online training or instructor-led training beforehand. The master plan should be till the date of the exam so be sure you have significant control onto it including provisioning for almost any contingencies like unplanned vacations etc. which may hamper your study plan. 
Avoid online with free streaming tests: An easy search will throw open a great deal of online with free streaming tests for your CISA. Please avoid taking such tests. The majority are outdated or have wrong solutions that may confuse quality taker. The CISA is a lot more application based and therefore it’s important to view the concepts thoroughly as opposed to takes lots of tests. The references mentioned in the above points numbered 1-3 are sufficient for that preparation. For those who have done the QAE completely, that you should enough.
Perform the Mock a week prior to the exam date. As said before, the QAE provides 1 full mock exam. Do that around the weekend exactly 5-7 days before the actual exam date. Create an examination atmosphere and get away from family disturbances. It’s imperative that you recreate an assessment situation for the reason that CISA can be a gruelling 4 hour long exam. Most candidates often take the entire 4 hours’ time in the impracticality of test. Hence, it’s very important by sitting via a mock or a simulator exam of comparable structure.
About the days post the mock exam and prior to actual exam, revise the concepts repeatedly. It doesn’t hurt to examine the CRM, quickly look at QAE and revisit bookmarked chapters of the net training. But avoid looking to understand new concepts. If for example you didn't want to discover Virtualization with your earlier preparation time, avoid learning it now. It’s better to master the domains you might be confident in than to head to newer ones. As there is a domain-wise scoring for CISA, there is absolutely no minimum marks per domain a candidate should achieve to be considered as pass. Hence, spend some time revisiting and reviewing the concepts and understand your areas of weaknesses and strengths.
Take it easy on yesterday the exam. It’s very easy to lose your cool and fret regarding the exam the next day. However, it’s crucial that you relax and make fresh to the exam. Drink a lot of liquid the previous day, energise your system well, watch some Shows or play a hobby and even more importantly take you enough sleep. Again, the CISA is quite a gruelling exam. Most candidates are in their earlier or later 30’s while appearing for the CISA so it’s been over 8-10 years because they sat on such long duration exams.
Try taking a little refreshments for the exam hall. Test hall can give the basic facilities including rest rooms and h2o. You happen to be also in a position to carry refreshments nevertheless the same should be kept separately and never on your desk. You are able to play a sugar toffee or possibly a glucose drink right before the test. Avoid gadgets including cellphones. Have them in silent mode and as part of your bag. The bag has to be kept at a designated area only and never in your area.
Don’t rush for the exam centre. Be sure you have enough time to get there at least an hour or so prior to the exam start time. It helps to learn the actual location with the exam centre a few days prior which means you don’t get tensed attempting to find the centre location for the exam day. It will be smart to possess a shawl or sweater for those who are inspired to sit right underneath the AC or near a cooler. Most CBT centres get really chill soon after hours. The exam instructions will start 30 minutes prior to the exam time. Ensure you look at instructions carefully. Complete principle information details prior to deciding to proceed using the examination
Take a deep breath and start your exam. In the event the initial few questions boggle you, simply mark them for review and go forward. Do not spend your time for the questions you aren’t sure. Such questions will only consume your time and build fear within you. You can revisit these questions towards the end. Answer the ones that you really feel are confident and cozy.
You’ll find not many answer choices that can be ignored. In the 4 options per question, typically, all 4 or min 3 will are most often the right option choice. However, keenly understand the question. Browse the question once, twice and in many cases thrice. Just one word or even a phrase may build a different meaning altogether. Evaluate every answer option and understand why you ought to be a little more suited than the others. Keep an eye for bolded or highlighted words in the question like “MOST”, “BEST” etc. Such questions mean that while all answer choices are suited, there is only 1 option that is certainly correct. Ask “Why” on every option choice. This means to question “Why option 1 is correct” or “Why option 2 isn't the right option” etc. The greater you may well ask yourself “Why” the larger will be your possibility of finding the right answer.
Assess the answers before submitting the exam. It’s highly likely the exam was stressful and you really are relieved to get completed it soon enough. But ensure to help keep 10-15 minutes to check your answers, at least the methods marked for review or perhaps the ones that seemed tricky. Usually do not force yourself to customize the answer. Analyse and realize why a specific options correct or better suited instead of others.
Pray head of the family colliding with the Submit button. Look at your provisional result and jump up if you have passed! Until Dec 2016, the CISA would have been a paper based exam that have a waiting period of 5 weeks to the brings about be published. That’s changed from 2017. The CISA is Online (CBT). For more info, look at related blog titled Changes for the CISA Exam Structure from 2017. This means that you would get a provisional score whenever you select submit.
Return home and begin the detailed application. The application includes precisely your work experience, waivers if any etc. Its takes ISACA about 6 weeks to process a credit card applicatoin. So make certain you start filling that early and submitting it quickly. Once you've got passed the exam and submitted the application form, you may be approved by ISACA to become CISA Certified Professional.
Hope this website covered all that you were hoping to find in your preparation for your CISA. Each of the finest on your exam! Leave your comment below for any clarification or even a happy note if these tips helped you pass.
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