Internal auditors who are looking to set themselves apart from their peers and attain a globally accepted certification often seek to pass the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam. By passing this exam, you can demonstrate your competency and professionalism in the internal auditing field while validating your professional work experience. Passing the CIA exam requires complete dedication and determination, and that is why the benefits are so rewarding. However, the CIA exam is a demanding test that requires significant preparation. Before you begin, you might want to know more about the CIA exam difficulty so that you can gauge the level of preparation you will need. Which part of the CIA exam is the hardest? Our research provides an answer.
CIA Exam Difficulty: The Hardest Part of the CIA Exam
We’ve found, and frequently hear from candidates around the world, that Part 3 tends to pose the biggest challenge for a number of reasons.
Remember, the total exam is 6.5 hours of testing and is divided into three parts:
- Part 1 – Internal Audit Basics
- Part 2 – Internal Audit Practice
- Part 3 – Internal Audit Knowledge Elements
More Topics
According to The IIA’s exam syllabus, Part 3 encompasses eight different topic areas. These equate to 20 Study Units of material in the Gleim CIA Review. This is a large amount of information to cover and retain! In comparison, while Parts 1 and 2 are still difficult, each only covers three topic areas.
Greater Range of Topics
The range of covered topics also contributes to the difficulty of Part 3. Risk Management, IT, Financial Management, and a variety of other areas are tested. Some problems will require a candidate to complete complex calculations, while others are conceptual in nature. All 100 questions must be completed within the 2-hour time limit. Since there are different forms of the exam, you must be prepared to answer a question on any one of those topics even though some topics may not even be tested on your particular exam.
CIA Exam Difficulty: The Best CIA Review to Overcome
Though the CIA exam can certainly be challenging, Gleim CIA Review is ready to help you tackle any and all parts! Our material is aligned according to the tested topics, and we continually adjust the content of our materials to reflect any changes in The IIA’s exam syllabus. With our comprehensive content coverage, you can master every testable topic on every CIA exam part. Start studying today and get the help of Gleim CIA Review to identify and focus on your weak areas for the most efficient and effective studying.
