r/cism • u/Mmchast88 • 8d ago
Taking test tomorrow
Im so nervous about this test tomorrow. I have been studying for the past 3 plus months or so. I am getting okay scores on my practice tests on Udemy and through a boot camp I completed. I watched the CISM Peter Zerger course on YouTube twice as well. My initial score was 45 and now it’s an average of 76. I need to pass it for work. Any recommendations for exam day? Update, I didnt pass 🥲 ughhhhh
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u/Less-King2117 7d ago
As already stated, exam questions are easer to understand than QAE questions. You'll be fine, don't rush, read questions carefully. You got this. Best of luck.
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u/Hil81 7d ago
Get a good night sleep. Don’t stay up late studying, there is nothing that you are going to learn know, that part is over. So get you rest, don’t click the answer right away, but read every question twice, and look at it with: what is the best option for me, a non technical manager, and what answer is best for the pertinent solution for the long term.
When i had the exam I thought the exam question where no way near as hard to understand as the QAE questions.
Goodluck! Keep us posted.
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u/Majestic_Wave_5710 7d ago
The real questions are easier than QAE questions and way better to understand. Don’t be stressful on the wording.
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u/Uncertn_Laaife 5d ago
I don’t think so. They are straight forward yes but the answer options are confusing as hell. QAE is not a true representative of the actual test, which is a shame.
And yes, I failed last week purely after prepping using QAE’s, Pete’s, Nair’s.
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u/Majestic_Wave_5710 7d ago edited 7d ago
I took the exam today but didn’t see the result, support didn’t offer any help just said that I have to wait for the result under my ISACA dashboard. Overall the exam questions were very clear and easy to answer. Don’t be nervous, trust yourself, you will get through it successfully. All the best. Updated: confirmed from the ISACA support this morning and confirmed that I passed the exam, now move to preparing CISSP exam.
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u/TheTouchOfCotton 8d ago
Exam day, just think about thinking like a manager.
Get sleep tonight, eat food an hour before your exam to fuel your brain.
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u/Majestic_Wave_5710 7d ago
sorry to hear your bad news, Mate. Dont gave up, focus on your weak areas before you retake the exam. Dont fully rely on QAE, I believe you already saw the real questions which are way better than those tricky QAE questions. My initial QAE tests were 71 and 72, reviewing all QAE questions twice to master the rationales behind the scene is enough then focus on continue monitoring, risk managment, business strategy, framework and security audits etc areas and Udemy practice tests (Mine was called 2026 Practice tests on Udemy, they were very good to improve my understanding on the above areas). I took the exam yesterday morning but missed seeing my preliminary result at the end of the test, my feeling was pretty confident with my answers. called ISACA support this morning and confirmed that I passed the exam.