Certified: The ISACA CISA Prepcast

Welcome to The Bare Metal Cyber CISA Prepcast. This series helps you prepare for the exam with focused explanations and practical context.
Many people think of the CISA exam as a test of memorization, but that view can be misleading. While knowledge of key terms and frameworks is essential, passing the exam requires more than just remembering facts. The exam focuses on your ability to understand context, interpret risk, and make decisions based on a professional audit mindset. You are expected to demonstrate how you would apply your knowledge, not just recall it.
The exam is designed to reflect real-world decision-making. Questions often describe a scenario, present several options, and ask you to choose the most appropriate response. The goal is to assess how well you can reason through complex situations using control and governance principles. Thinking like an auditor is far more valuable than memorizing a list of definitions.
ISACA intentionally builds questions that test how you apply concepts, not how many facts you can repeat. That means the most successful candidates are those who understand the intent behind the questions. You need to read carefully, interpret what is being asked, and apply your judgment. The exam rewards logical reasoning that aligns with accepted audit practices.
Many questions will ask for the “best” answer. This wording is important. It means that more than one answer may appear correct, but only one reflects the most appropriate course of action based on audit objectives. You must identify the option that aligns best with ISACA’s methodologies, not necessarily what seems quickest or most practical from a technical perspective.
To succeed, you must adjust your mindset to match the expectations of the exam. This means thinking like a control assessor, not like a technician or administrator. You are being tested on your ability to recognize risks, evaluate controls, and prioritize audit goals. This shift in perspective will help you understand how questions are structured and why certain answers are preferred.
Setting a specific test date is one of the most important steps in building your study plan. Without a deadline, it is easy to drift or delay. Once you choose a date, you can create a timeline that works backward to determine how much time you have to prepare. This gives structure to your preparation and helps you stay focused.
After setting your exam date, calculate how many hours per week you can realistically commit to studying. This depends on your work schedule, personal obligations, and energy levels. Whether you can study five hours per week or fifteen, being honest about your availability ensures your plan will be manageable and sustainable.
Next, consider how the exam domains are weighted. Some domains cover more of the exam and require more time. Others are smaller and less demanding. Segment your study time accordingly. Allocate more time to the areas with the greatest weight or those you find most difficult.
Your study modes should match your learning style. If you learn best by reading, focus on the CRM. If you are an auditory learner, listen to episodes like this one. If you prefer visual aids, use diagrams, charts, and visual frameworks. Mixing modes can also help reinforce concepts and keep you engaged.
No study plan is perfect, so build in some flexibility. Plan for occasional days off or unexpected delays. Include buffer periods in your schedule to catch up on missed topics or spend extra time on difficult areas. A plan that includes breathing room is easier to follow and less likely to cause stress.
Understanding the relative weight of each domain helps you make informed choices about how to use your time. The exam is not evenly distributed. Some domains carry more weight and appear more frequently in the questions. Prioritize these domains to maximize your score potential.
Within each domain, some topics matter more than others. These high-impact topics often relate to risk assessment, audit planning, and control evaluation. Identify them early and give them extra attention during your study sessions. Mastering core topics gives you a strong foundation for the rest of the domain.
Use the domain outlines to create specific learning goals. For example, you might focus on understanding how access controls are evaluated or how audit objectives are developed. Setting clear goals keeps your study sessions purposeful and ensures you are covering what matters most.
It is easy to fall into the trap of spending too much time on lower-weight sections. While it is good to be thorough, avoid letting less critical material consume more time than it deserves. Review these areas but prioritize your effort where it will have the greatest impact.
The task and knowledge statements provided by ISACA are your compass. These statements describe what you are expected to know and do in each domain. Use them to guide your review, check your understanding, and assess your readiness.
Practice questions are a powerful tool, but only if used correctly. Treat each question as an opportunity to learn, not just a way to check your score. Focus on understanding why an answer is correct and how the other choices relate to the scenario. This approach deepens your understanding and builds decision-making skills.
When you answer a question, take time to analyze your reasoning. Why did you choose that option? What made you eliminate the others? This reflection helps uncover faulty logic or gaps in understanding, which you can correct before the exam.
Group your practice questions by domain or topic. This helps you focus your review and reinforce key concepts. For example, if you struggle with risk assessment, isolate those questions and revisit the related material in the CRM.
Create an error log to track the questions you miss. For each mistake, write down what went wrong. Was it a misunderstanding of the concept, a reading error, or a timing issue? Understanding the root cause of errors helps prevent them from happening again.
Pay attention to how long you spend on each question. Use the QAE data or a timer to track your speed. If you consistently run out of time, practice working more efficiently. If you rush and make careless errors, practice slowing down and focusing.
Active recall is one of the most effective ways to retain information. This means pulling knowledge from memory rather than just rereading notes. Flashcards, quizzes, and self-created questions all help trigger this kind of thinking. It trains your brain to retrieve concepts more quickly.
Spaced repetition involves reviewing material over increasing intervals. This technique strengthens memory and reduces the need to relearn topics. Instead of cramming, space your reviews out across several days or weeks. This keeps the information fresh and builds long-term retention.
Combine old material with new content during your reviews. This mixed practice keeps your brain engaged and helps you integrate different topics. For example, review earlier domain content alongside newer material to reinforce connections between ideas.
Turn your notes into quick-recall tools. Create short questions or prompts based on what you have studied. Challenge yourself to answer without looking. This turns passive notes into active learning tools and helps identify weak areas.
Several tools can help with spaced repetition, such as Anki or Quizlet. These platforms allow you to create digital flashcards that are reviewed on a schedule. You can build your own deck or use existing ones, as long as they align with current exam content.
Timeboxing is a technique that limits how long you spend on a task. By setting a timer, you give yourself a clear start and stop point. This reduces procrastination and creates a sense of urgency. Use this approach to keep study sessions focused and efficient.
Try using Pomodoro sprints—twenty-five minutes of focused work followed by a five-minute break. Alternatively, use ninety-minute deep work sessions with longer breaks. Experiment to see what rhythm works best for your attention span and energy levels.
Separate passive activities like reading or listening from focused concept work. Reserve your most alert times for deep work. Use passive times for review, such as listening to audio while commuting or doing chores.
Track how focused you feel during each study block. If you notice certain times of day produce better results, prioritize those windows for your most challenging material. Over time, this builds a more effective study routine.
Create a study environment that minimizes distractions. Turn off notifications, clear your desk, and let others know you are unavailable. A quiet, organized space helps you concentrate and stay in the zone.
Mixing modalities helps reinforce content through different senses. Read the CRM, watch videos, listen to podcasts, and draw diagrams. Each mode activates different parts of your brain and deepens understanding.
Know when to switch modes. If reading becomes tiring, switch to audio. If you feel stuck, try drawing a chart or explaining the concept aloud. These changes can refresh your thinking and help with retention.
Use this Prepcast to review content during passive time. Listening during your commute or while exercising helps you stay engaged without adding extra study hours. Just be sure to revisit key points with active methods later.
Visual tools like charts, workflows, and diagrams help make abstract ideas concrete. These tools are especially useful for understanding audit processes, risk models, and control hierarchies. Repetition through visual aids reinforces structure and logic.
Create one-page cheat sheets that summarize important ideas. These quick-reference tools help consolidate information and provide an efficient way to review before the exam. You can also use them to quiz yourself or others.
Identifying knowledge gaps requires more than tracking wrong answers. Sometimes you guess correctly or misunderstand the reasoning. Look for patterns in your thinking and evaluate whether your understanding is consistent and confident.
When you miss questions repeatedly in a certain area, that points to a concept-level gap. Go back to the CRM and reread the relevant sections. Take notes, ask questions, and test your knowledge until the gap is closed.
Use the CRM with a purpose. Do not just read for volume. Read with a goal to understand the concept that is giving you trouble. Take notes, create questions, and revisit your error log for connections.
Try the “learn it, test it, explain it” method. First, study the topic. Then test yourself with questions. Finally, explain it in your own words as if teaching someone else. This loop strengthens understanding and builds clarity.
Create micro-study sessions for specific topics. Ten to fifteen minutes of focused review on a weak point can be more effective than a full hour spent passively reading. Use small time blocks for targeted learning.
Staying consistent is key to exam success. Build daily or weekly rituals around your study plan. Even short sessions each day help reinforce habits and reduce last-minute stress.
Take strategic breaks to avoid burnout. Allow yourself rest days. Use those breaks to recharge, not to feel guilty. Rest is part of the process and helps improve long-term retention.
Create accountability by telling someone your study plan. Join a forum, form a study partnership, or post your goals in a visible place. Knowing that others are aware of your plan can help you stay on track.
Celebrate small wins. Finished a domain? Completed a week of practice? Scored higher on a quiz? Take a moment to recognize progress. These milestones build confidence and keep motivation alive.
Struggles are part of learning. When you encounter difficulty, see it as a signal of growth. Challenges show you where to focus. Overcoming them builds resilience and prepares you for the exam and beyond.
As your exam date approaches, shift from learning to review mode. Focus on reinforcing what you already know and fine-tuning your exam strategy. This transition helps consolidate your knowledge and builds confidence.
Simulate full-length exams in real conditions. Use a quiet space, set a timer, and answer all one hundred and fifty questions in one sitting. This builds stamina and helps you practice pacing under pressure.
Use these mock exams to adjust your timing. Learn where you are spending too much time and where you can move faster. Being familiar with the test rhythm helps reduce anxiety on the actual day.
In the final two weeks, avoid cramming. Instead, review your notes, revisit flashcards, and work on any remaining weak areas. Light, consistent review is more effective than high-pressure study marathons.
Prepare mentally with confidence exercises. Visualize success. Recall past achievements. Use affirmations if they help. Approach the exam with the belief that you are prepared and capable.
Thanks for joining us for this episode of The Bare Metal Cyber CISA Prepcast. For more episodes, tools, and study support, visit us at Baremetalcyber.com.