Ahmad1212003
Posts: 7
Joined: Sep 2012
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Sunday September 02, 2012 7:53 PM
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Hi PEDISTRIAN,
Originally I am from Palestine, and recently I came to the states to continue my MBA at akron university in Ohio, and I am living in akron now. Do you recommend that I have to buy new materials  and discard the one that I have.
I already have all the 4 text books from my friend ( 2009 14th edition) and I bought the sofware for the 14th edition long time ago but I could not work on the certification due to my work. I registered for the CIA on Jan,2010 and now I have only about a year to finish the exams. I don't know how to start?? I am so confused I don't know if the 4 years passed without finish all the exams, what will happen? I mean if I passed only 2 parts and the 4 years frame finished, can I continue? or I will lose everything and have to start all over.
please let me know and I appreciate any help you can give. by the way I did not start yet, but planning to start studying this week and willing to take the 1st exam very soon depend on my study and my progress.
for your interest and any help this is my email address is : ahmad_1212003@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Ahmad
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Thanks in Advance 
Edited: Sunday September 02, 2012 at 8:08 PM by Ahmad1212003
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wderek13
Posts: 5
Joined: Sep 2012
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Thursday September 13, 2012 3:06 PM
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I used the IIA's Learning System books and practice questions as well as Gleim 12th edition questions (I know it's old but I inherited on my PC from the previous auditor).
The IIA books were great. The practice questions were very good but like a previous poster said there aren't enough. After a couple of times through you start to memorize the questions. But this is where it's important to understand what they are asking.
As others have said, understand the concepts in the practice questions. For example, in the practice question they will lay out some variables and have you solve for or answer how the last variable is impacted. In the actual exam it might be the same situation but you will be solving for a different variable (i.e. they will give you the variable you solved for the in practice test and you have to solve for a variable that was given in the practice test, kind of like working the problem in reverse...I hope this makes sense it helped me big time!)
I felt the exam more closely resembled the IIA practice questions. I felt the Gleim questions were sometimes more complex than what actually ended up on the exam (again I was using 12th edition so I can't speak for newer editions). However, it's better to study and understand more complex questions and have the exam be simpler than the other way around.
I was able to pass Parts I, II and III all on the first try by reading the IIA books, doing the IIA practice questions then supplementing with Gleim practice questions.
For each part I would study approximately 6-8 weeks (probably 10 for Part III) at approximately 2-4 hours a week. (I've been out of college over 10 years now and can't handle the cram sessions, I prefer to take my time with this so I didn't burn out)
Also, I personally felt each Part built on the next one. For example for Part II I had a question I remembered from Part I. I know in other threads I've seen it suggested taking the exams out of order but I personally woldn't recommend that.
Lastly, when taking the exam be calm, read the whole question. I almost got tripped up with questions like which is NOT the best example of something.
Best of luck to everyone!!!
Edited: Thursday September 13, 2012 at 3:09 PM by wderek13
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Ian Graves
Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2004
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Monday December 17, 2012 2:35 AM
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Pedestrian, After taking and passing just Part I, I agree with your concepts of preparation. Here is some information to add for those wanting tips:
a. Study Materials: I used Gleim 11th edition, so the concepts are still consistent among the various editions.
b. Preparation times: I studied at least 40 hours (closer to 60 hours).
c. Study Methodology: study the materials theory, do sample, questions, REPEAT. I reviewed everything more than once. Lastly, never underestimate the value why wrong answers are wrong in the practice questions.
d. Final Prep: 48 hours prior to the exam, reviewed questions & answers for the parts that I had the most trouble learning.
Now preparing for part III using the same approach, but using a newer edition of the Gleim materials (mostly due to revisions to the IT section topic related to technologies that change over time (as compared to concepts and theories that wouldn't change much).
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ian graves
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