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Notice to CIA Candidates
In the fall of 2011, The IIA announced the following changes to the CIA exam, effective
January 1, 2012:
1. The reduction of the amount of pre-test questions for each part from 20 to 10 (which reduces the total amount of questions from 100 to 90)
2. The removal of the Pearson VUE tutorial from the beginning of the exam and the subsequent availability of the tutorial on The IIA’s website
3. The reduction of total seat time for each part from 3 hours (2 hours and 45 minutes for 100 questions plus 15 minutes for tutorial and survey) to 2 hours and 30 minutes (2 hours and
25 minutes for 90 questions plus 5 minutes for survey)
NOTE: There is no change to the total number of scored questions per part (80), nor does the time allocable to each question change.
The online version of the Gleim CIA Review: A System for Success now reflects the information about the CIA exam as it is offered beginning January 1, 2012. Updates are available at www.gleim.com/updates for the printed version of this booklet, which will reflect pre-2012 information until the next printing.
The purpose of this study unit is to introduce you to the CIA examination, including content, eligibility requirements, fees, how to register for the exam, and where and how it is administered. We also provide background information about The Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA) and the CIA examination. Much of this study unit is taken from the Certification Candidate Handbook , which is published by The IIA and can be downloaded from www.theiia.org/certification/certified-internalauditor.
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CIA is the acronym for Certified Internal Auditor. The CIA designation is international, with the examination administered in numerous countries. The CIA exam has been administered by The IIA since 1974. The exam consists of four 3-hour 2.5-hour parts that are given on demand throughout the year. Each part consists of 100 90 four-answer multiple-choice questions.
2. Scan this Gleim CIA Review: A System for Success booklet and note where to revisit later in your studying process to obtain a deeper understanding of the CIA exam. a. CIA Review: A System for Success has six study units:
Study Unit 1: The CIA Examination: An Overview and Preparation Introduction
Study Unit 2: CIA Exam Content Outlines
Study Unit 3: Content Preparation, Test Administration, and Performance Grading
Study Unit 4: Multiple-Choice Questions
Study Unit 5: Preparing to Pass the CIA Exam
Study Unit 6: How to Take the CIA Exam b. If you feel that you need even more details on the test-taking experience, access
Pearson VUE’s Testing Tutorial and Practice Exam at www.vue.com/athena or on
The IIA’s website.
1) This tutorial is most useful to candidates who have little or no experience with computerized exams and have anxiety about performing well in unfamiliar circumstances.
2) International candidates should access the tutorial from The IIA’s website, where it is available in all the languages in which the exam is offered.
1.5 OVERVIEW OF THE CIA EXAMINATION
The total exam is 11 10 hours of testing (12 hours total seat time to include tutorials and including 5 minutes per part for a surveys). It is divided into four parts, as follows:
Part I – The Internal Audit Activity’s Role in Governance, Risk, and Control
Part II – Conducting the Internal Audit Engagement
Part III – Business Analysis and Information Technology
Part IV – Business Management Skills
Each part consists of 100 90 questions, and testing lasts 2 hours and 45 25 minutes with 15 plus 5 minutes given for tutorials and a survey. The exam is offered continually throughout the year.
The CIA exam is computerized to facilitate easier testing. Pearson VUE, the testing company that The IIA contracts to proctor the exams, has over 400 testing centers worldwide. The
Gleim Test Prep Software and Gleim Online provide tutorials and exact exam emulations of the
Pearson VUE computer screens and procedures to prepare you to PASS.
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3.6 GRADING
Your score is based on the number of scored questions out of 80 total that you answer correctly, with each scored question contributing equally to your total score. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so be sure to choose an answer for every question, even those you are unsure of.
The IIA pretests 10 multiple-choice questions that do not count toward your final score on each exam part. You will not know which are “pretest” questions and thus must answer each question as if it will be graded.
4.1 CIA EXAM PARTS
There are four parts to the CIA exam:
Part I: The Internal Audit Activity’s Role in Governance, Risk, and Control
Part II: Conducting the Internal Audit Engagement
Part III: Business Analysis and Information Technology
Part IV: Business Management Skills
Each part consists of 100 90 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 2 hours and 45 25 minutes (165 145 minutes). If you complete your 100 90 multiple-choice questions by allocating 1.25 minutes per question, you will have 40 about 33 minutes for review.
See the rest of this study unit for more information on time budgeting, control, and questionanswering techniques for the multiple-choice questions.
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4.4 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTION-ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
The following suggestions are to assist you in maximizing your score on each part of the CIA exam. Remember, knowing how to take the exam and how to answer individual questions is as important as studying/reviewing the subject matter tested on the exam.
1. Budget your time.
a. We make this point with emphasis. Just as you would fill up your gas tank prior to reaching empty, so too should you finish your exam before time expires. b. You have 165 145 minutes to answer 100 90 questions, i.e., 1.65 1.61 minutes per question. We suggest you attempt to answer eight questions every 10 minutes, which is 1.25 minutes per question. This would result in completing 100 90 questions in 125
112.5 minutes to give you almost 40 just over 30 minutes to review questions that you have flagged.
c. Use the wipeboard provided by Pearson VUE for your Gleim Time Management System at the exam. List the question numbers for every 20 15 questions (i.e., 1, 21 16, 41 31, etc.) in a column on the left side of the wipeboard. The right side of the wipeboard will have your start time at the top and will be used for you to fill in the time you have remaining at each question checkpoint. Stay consistent with 1.25 minutes per question.
4. After you have answered all 100 90 questions, return to the questions that you flagged.
3. Question Number: The question number you are currently working on is displayed in contrast to how many total there are on the exam. You can choose to minimize this reminder during the exam by clicking on its icon. Remember that on the exam, there are
100 90 multiple-choice questions in each part.
4.10 REVIEW SCREEN
When you have flagged for review or answered all 100 90 questions, the Review Screen will be displayed. Each question is displayed with the status of that question: answered, flagged for review, or incomplete (unanswered).
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4.12 RECAP OF MULTIPLE-CHOICE TECHNIQUES
1. On the CIA exam, your largest potential problem and your greatest potential advantage is
time management.
a. We recommend budgeting 1.25 minutes per multiple-choice question, which has you complete your initial pass in 125 112.5 minutes (100 90 questions × 1.25 minutes).
b. The CIA exam allows 165 145 minutes to answer questions: 3 2.5-hour exam less
15 5 minutes for administrative matters.
c. The extra 40 32.5 minutes (165 145 - 125 112.5) is a safety cushion to review questions.
d. Use the Gleim Time Management System (see item 1.c. in Subunit 4.4) to keep yourself on track.
2. Using the Gleim Study System for multiple-choice questions, we want you to live by and
thrive on 20-question practice tests.
a. We use 20-question tests because they are of sufficient length to work you but are not too long. Based on decades of experience helping hundreds of thousands of CIA candidates, we are very confident recommending and using 20-question practice tests.
b. You will have no trouble doing 100 90 questions in 165 145 minutes on the CIA exam after extensive practice with the Gleim 20-question test method.
6.2 EXAM SITES
The CIA examinations are administered on computers at Pearson VUE testing centers, which are located in more than 160 countries. A complete list of these test centers, addresses, and driving directions can be found at www.pearsonvue.com/iia. Click on the “Locate a Test Center” link at the top of the screen, and then choose the country and region in which you would like to take your exam.
You do not need any computer experience or typing skills to take your examination. Before you start the examination, you will be able to take a tutorial on the testing system if you wish. If you have used the Gleim CIA Test Prep Software Download and Gleim Online, you will be completely familiar and comfortable with the CBT computer-based testing format. You can also access a tutorial/demo on the CBT testing experience at Pearson VUE on their website
(www.vue.com/athena) or at The IIA’s website, where it is available in every language in which the exam is offered.
If you require testing accommodations because of a special need, call a Pearson VUE agent at the time of registration for assistance.
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14. After you are logged into your exam, proceed through the introductory screens without delay. You will have the opportunity to view a tutorial that shows you how to navigate through the exam. It is recommended that you review the tutorial, but you will have the option to skip it. (There is a time limit on the initial screens, and if that time limit is exceeded, the exam session will automatically begin.)
4. Read the exam instructions carefully. View the tutorial to ensure that you are familiar with how to navigate through the exam.
5. Answer the 100 90 questions in chronological order. Flag any questions that you are leaving for later or you wish to review.
6. You have 165 145 minutes (2 hours 45 25 minutes) to answer 100 90 questions. If you allocate 1.25 minutes per question, you will use only 125 112.5 minutes, leaving 40 about
30 minutes to complete Step 7. If you use the Gleim Time Management System (see
Study Unit 4, Subunit 4) to pace yourself during the exam, you will have adequate time to complete each part.
7. After you worked through all 100 90 questions, you should return to the questions you flagged and make a final selection, i.e., your best answer. a. Review each question carefully. If you made an obvious mistake, e.g., misread the question, make the correction. Do not , however, begin changing answers and second-guessing yourself. Your first answer to each question should be based on the systematic question-answering technique that you have practiced throughout your preparation program.
Copyright © 2011 Gleim Publications, Inc. and/or Gleim Internet, Inc. All rights reserved. Duplication prohibited. www.gleim.com