HOW TO PREPARE CISA CERTIFICATION EXAM?

 

HOW TO PREPARE CISA CERTIFICATION EXAM?

HOW TO PREPARE CISA CERTIFICATION EXAM?

If you want to clear CISA in 1st attempt, follow this 90-Day Plan .. No need to read 1000 pages.

### CISA Prep - 4 Step Formula

*Step 1: Understand the Exam Pattern First*

- Total 150 Questions, 4 Hours, 450/800 Passing

- 5 Domains - But 73% marks come from only 3 domains:

    - D3 - Acquisition & Development [18%]

    - D4 - Operations & Resilience [26%]

    - D5 - Protection of Assets [29%]

- Negative? No negative marking. Attempt all.

*Step 2: Study in ISACA's Language - Not IT Language*

For every topic ask 3 questions:

1.  What is the RISK?

2.  What is the CONTROL to reduce that risk?

3.  As an AUDITOR, how will I TEST it?

> Example: Firewall

> Don't learn how firewall works. Learn: Risk is unauthorized access. Control is firewall. Auditor will check firewall rules, logs, change management.

Make a notebook of 100 keywords: Preventive/Detective, Inherent/Residual Risk, SDLC phases, BCP vs DRP, Symmetric vs Asymmetric.

*Step 3: 60-30-10 Study Plan*

*First 60 Days - Concept Building [2 hrs daily]:*

- ISACA Official Review Manual is enough. 

- Focus order: Domain 5 -> Domain 4 -> Domain 3 -> Domain 1 -> Domain 2

- Daily 20 MCQs after each chapter.

*Next 20 Days - Q&A Bank:*

- Solve ISACA Official QAE Database - Minimum 600 Questions.

- Don't just check right/wrong. Read _WHY_ the other 3 options are wrong. This is where ISACA traps you.

- Target: 80%+ in QAE before exam.

*Last 10 Days - Mock & Revision:*

- 2 Full-length 150 Qs mocks in exam environment (4 hours).

- Revise only your mistakes notebook + Mindmap.

*Step 4: Exam Hall Strategy*

1.  Read LAST line of question first - "What should auditor do FIRST/NEXT/BEST?"

2.  Eliminate 2 options which are "IT person's work", not "Auditor's work". Auditor NEVER fixes, Auditor only _reviews, evaluates, recommends, ensures_.

3.  Between last 2, choose more Risk-based + Independent + Documented answer.

4.  Flag lengthy questions for 2nd round. Solve easy ones first.

*What NOT to Do:*

- Don't go for multiple books / YouTube videos. One source, multiple revisions.

- Don't memorize technical details. CISA is a Management exam, not a Hacking exam.

- Don't skip ISACA Ethics and Professional Standards (Domain 1) - 5-6 easy questions come from there.

*Eligibility Note:* You can give exam anytime after graduation, but certificate is given only after you prove 5 years experience (3 years waived if you are graduate). Your 1+ year IT/Data experience is a good start.

If you want, I can ✍️:

1. Domain-wise Mindmap guidlines 

2. 150 Most Expected Keywords List

3. Daily 2-hour Timetable for next 90 days

Just say ... Yes