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  • Writer's pictureKaty Morgan

Top 8 Tips to Pass the CISM Certification Exam

Earning a CISM certification demonstrates you have enough skills to understand the relationship between an information security program and broader business objectives. As stated before, this specific skill set is in very high demand and is an excellent choice for career improvement. Here are a few proven tips to help you pass your ISACA CISM exam.

1) Read the ISACA’s Exam Candidate Information Guide


Every year, ISACA publishes an advanced version of its candidate guide. It gives lots of practical information for the CISM exam. It even includes helpful information such as the exam topics, the number of exam questions, time duration, and languages. No applicant should take the CISM exam without reading this guide.


2) Think Like a Manager


Unlike other security certifications, the CISM is emphasized on management. While it is crucial for applicants to have a proper understanding of the technical concepts covered by the exam, it is required to think like a manager. For example, during the exam, what resembles to be the perfect professional solution may not describe the correct answer. It is imperative to take into consideration factors such as company strategy, the costs involved, and how a security control may negatively affect the business process. Developing a manager mindset and practicing a holistic, business-oriented approach is the best way for solving CISM questions.


3) Make Good Use the Right Resources


As with any other ISACA’s top certification, checking the official CISM Exam Resources should be a priority. The CISM Review Manual, available both as a hard copy or in e-book format, is comprehensive and easy-to-navigate, as it is separated according to CISM’s four job practice areas Information Security Governance, Information Security Program Development, Information Risk Management, and Information Security Incident Management.

4) Schedule Practice Tests


Schedule CISM practice test well in advance of your actual exam date. Fixed a deadline for yourself and check what you have studied in between that time. You’ll discover the topics where you most need to concentrate.

5) Make a Study Plan


When creating your study plan, be pragmatic about your work and life obligations. Try to schedule study time during your downtime, or in conjunction with times when you may be practicing some of the material you are learning.


Other factors to think while creating your study plan include:

  • How much can you spend on study material and training courses? Look for official, certified study materials and training to make sure you have a comprehensive understanding of all the CISM Syllabus topic included in the exam.

  • Which learning method is best suited for you? Some people like self-learning, while others think there is no alternative to the classroom. Implement your past learning experiences to help you choose the method to help you prepare best.

  • How well acquainted are you already with the exam topics? Your knowledge can save you some preparation time, but you should take into consideration aspects such as the exam length and question logic. Relying too much on experience alone is a poor strategy that will likely lead to bad results.

6) Participate in the CISM Exam Community


The CISM Exam Study Community is backed by ISACA and is freely available to every applicant. It was built to allow the sharing of questions, tips, and study methods for the exam. It is coordinated by community leaders past top applicants responsible for checking message boards, facilitating and even propelling discussions.


Again, the CISM exam community should not be declined: It is an excellent platform for learning what to expect the day of the exam, it costs zero and enables candidates to ask and answer questions, share experiences, read study tips, find exam resources and get direct contact with other like-minded professionals that are facing the same challenge.


7) Have an Exam-Day Preparation Plan


Address these three essential items at least a week in advance of your exam:

Is your exam kit ready? Check the Exam Candidate Guide to be sure you have everything you require for the day of your CISM exam.


Are you calm and composed? Many candidates fail because of mental and physical exhaustion. Staying up late doing a final round of study may sound good, but last-minute reading is typically not a good job, and may even put you in anxious. If you think it is essential to do a final review, do a careful reading instead. Also, do not focus solely on faults. If you have not studied a specific topic until now, you may prefer to focus on enhancing the areas where you are right. An excellent tool for selective reading is doing glossaries or summaries.


Did you make the required adjustments to be on time at the test site? Applicants may not be admitted to the exam if they are late. If you are using public transportation, ensure the best directions if you are driving to the exam site, make sure you know where to park beforehand.


8) Stay Clear


Use these tips to clear your mind and remain focused during the exam:

Be aware of the time. During the exam, you may obtain a high level of concentration. I like to call “the zone.” This means a greater focus, which is useful for problem-solving but can provoke you to lose track of time. What may seem like moments can be valuable minutes; hours tend to pass at a rapid rate, so make sure you have time to answer every question on the exam.


Take your time reading the questions. Even with limited time, it is essential not to hurry. Take your time, pay attention to each question and answer option, and make sure you understand what is being asked. Watch for distractors in multiple-choice questions that can be quickly eliminated. It is also essential to stay focused on terms such as LEAST, MOST, NOT, ALL, NEVER and ALWAYS, since they can entirely change a sentence.


Try to unwind. A calm mind can help you to answer complex questions.

Remember, there is no reason to panic. Remaining composed will increase your concentration. If you followed your study plan correctly, your results would likely be excellent; if not, you will have a lot more experience during the next attempt!

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