The CIA exam is graded based on “scaled scoring.” The IIA enacted this system in 2003 to adjust the passing scores of each exam depending on the difficulty of that exam.
The exact number of correct answers required to pass the exam may vary from one exam to another. Therefore, to ensure a common standard, all raw scores are converted into a reporting scale of 250 to 750 points.
A scaled score of 600 points or higher is required to pass the CIA exam. A candidate would need to answer 75% of the questions correctly on an exam with a difficulty equal to what the Board of Regents deems appropriate. However, if an exam is found to be more difficult than the norm, a candidate may only need to answer 70% of the questions correctly to achieve 600 points.
If you receive your grade report and find that you did not pass, don’t be discouraged. Your grade report will contain a performance assessment that will tell you the amount of improvement needed in each topic covered. Use the assessment to pinpoint the areas in which you need the most improvement, then make sure you review each study unit in your Gleim CIA Review System and focus on those areas as you prepare for your next attempt.
