Enterprises worldwide now recognize the importance of risk management experts due to a massive surge in cyber threats and data breach cases. Qualified and experienced professionals are in huge demand.
ISACA’s CRISC certification is an internationally recognized certification program that equips IT professionals with the knowledge to understand the impact of risks and how they affect the working and reputation of an organization. They can create a better plan to minimize the occurrence of such risks.
But clearing ISACA’s exam is not a child’s play. You must create an exam preparation strategy if you want to crack the exam successfully.
We will walk you through the top five study tips and online resources to help you prepare for the CRISC certification exam and pass it with flying colors.
About CRISC Certification Exam
CRISC is one of the most prestigious and in-demand ISACA certifications. It prepares the candidate to gain more profound knowledge of risk management techniques. After getting certified, you can analyze the possible risks and their impact on an organization and create a strategy to minimize their occurrence and protect its digital assets and market value.
Who can Take CRISC Exam?
- IT professionals
- Business analysts
- Compliance professionals
- Project managers
- Risk professionals
- Control professionals
CRISC Exam Domains
IT Risk Identification (27%): You learn about the elements and principles of risks and ways to identify them.
IT Risk Assessment (28%): You learn to analyze current risk scenarios and create an assessment plan to identify possible threats.
Risk Response and Reporting (23%): You learn how to implement and monitor risk responses and controls to lessen or eliminate threats for streamline business operations.
Information Technology and Security (22%): You learn how to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the risk management strategy after its implementation. You can read the complete CRISC exam guide to know more about the exam pattern, job opportunities, eligibility criteria, and various formalities associated with it.
Top Five Study Tips to Crack CRISC Certification Exam
The first step before referring to any study tip is to read ISACA Certification Exam Guide. It will equip you with all the necessary exam-related information, such as registration, eligibility criteria, application submission deadline, current exam pattern, and several other exam-related queries.
1. Join CRISC Community Forum
ISACA community forum is one of the best places to interact with fellow students, ask your queries, share study material, and several tips and tricks to help you prepare smoothly for the exam. However, it is recommended to double-check whatever information you come across in the community with reliable resources. You must refer to review materials, books, manuals, and study material offered by ISACA to avoid mistakes.
You can also check the authenticity of the study material by analyzing post-exam success stories. These are uploaded by candidates with a technical background and who have successfully cleared the CRISC exam. They include numerous practical tips and tested exam preparation strategies. It will help you view the exam from different angles, and this knowledge, combined with your expertise, can help you prepare for the exam in a much better way.
2. Create a Personalized Study Plan
Getting inspired by others’ success stories is good, but everyone has a different study style. So you must create a customized study plan according to your requirements. The CRISC exam covers four domains. It might not be necessary to allocate equal preparation time to all of them. You can focus on weak areas more.
Here are a few tips for creating a personalized study plan:
i) Decide when you want to take the exam. It will help you to analyze how much time you have to prepare for it.
ii) Decide the amount of time you can devote to preparation. If you are a working professional, you first focus on getting your basics clear about each exam topic, take mock tests, and review exam guidelines to be aware of any last-minute changes.
iii) Decide how much money you are ready to spend on training courses and study material. You can refer to the ISACA review manual, CRISC review questions, answers, and explanations, or join a reputed training course backed by real-time success stories.
iv) Select the training method. Some people prefer self-learning over group or classroom coaching, while others prefer online coaching to study anytime. Pick the way that best suits your personality without getting influenced by what others are doing.
v) Do not rely on your personal experience or knowledge about the exam topics. Take into account exam length and weightage given to each domain and prepare accordingly.
vi) Take practice tests regularly. Mock tests will help you analyze your strengths and weaknesses. You will get an overview of your preparation level and areas to focus upon.
3. Enroll in an Exam Preparation Training Course
Though opting for the self-learning route is not a bad idea, to prepare and pass an exam that tests your knowledge according to the international industry standards, you need to look beyond your comfort zone. Learning at your own pace is not the best strategy. Even ISACA’s entry-level certification exams require in-depth know-how of several topics.
What does this mean?
It means that even if you have enough practical working experience about a topic, it might not comply with ISACA’s viewpoint.
Getting enrolled in CRISC Certification Course from a reputed institute can equip you with the right and practical knowledge. You get mentored by an expert under whose guidance you know numerous hidden tips and tricks to crack the exam effectively. You can share your experiences, get your questions answered, and even build a strong network of like-minded professionals. All these increase the success rate of clearing the examination.
4. Join Social Media Groups, Forums, and Q&A Sites
Social media groups like Facebook and LinkedIn, forums like Reddit, and Q&A sites like Quora allow you to find, engage, and develop a long-term relationship with like-minded people and, at the same time, get solutions for your queries. This networking will help you network with professionals in your field and help you to stay up-to-date with current happenings in your area.
You have to search for CRISC exam study and preparation groups and join the groups with at least 1K followers and active comments on recent posts.
5. Exam Day Preparation Plan
Before exam day, do not get exhausted by trying to revise the entire study material.
Here are a few things you should take care of before and on the exam day:
Get your exam kit ready. The most important being your government verified ID card bearing your name, photograph, and signature.
Avoid last-minute reading to avoid anxiety. Do selective reading by referring to summaries or glossaries. It will help you to recall what you have prepared.
Do not study a topic you have not prepared well for. Instead, focus on what you know and give it a quick revision.
If appearing for an offline exam, reach the center before time. A margin of only 15 minutes is allowed from the exam start time. After this, you are not allowed to enter.
You cannot carry reference material, digital gadgets, food items, or weapons with you to the test center.
You can use the restroom in case of an emergency. But no extra time is given to complete the exam.
Violating the prescribed policies will lead to the cancellation of the exam. Read the questions carefully. You must focus on words, such as NEVER, MOST, LEAST, ALWAYS, NOT, ALL, etc. The final answer choice is based on them. You may come across several MCQs that ask you to select the best answer. These might have more than one correct choice.
Make sure to relax during the exam. Take a minute’s break and stretch your muscles. It will refresh your mind, and you can concentrate better.
Stay calm. Do not panic even if things don’t turn out the way you want. Appearing for the exam is an experience in itself, and there is always a chance for you to give it the next try.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we have featured the top five study tips to prepare for the CRISC certification exam and pass it easily. With complete dedication and a solid exam preparation strategy, any candidate stands a bright chance to clear the examination.
If you wish to advance your career and set yourself apart from your competitors, nothing can be more valuable than getting CRISC certified. Also, if you have ever appeared for this exam, you might have some valuable tips to share with future exam aspirants.
We would love to know about your experiences. So please share the strategy you followed to prepare for the exam and do’s and don’ts of CRISC exam preparation in the comment box.
