CIA Exam
HOCK Transforms CMA & CIA Study Materials with Revolutionary Subscription Model
We are excited to share that HOCK is taking a revolutionary step in CMA and CIA exam preparation by transitioning all of our CMA and CIA study materials to a subscription! The subscription model offers an affordable and flexible approach to helping more candidates worldwide pass the CMA and CIA exams.
Subscription Model & Price
All HOCK CMA and CIA Exam Reviews are now accessible through 1, 3, or 6-month subscriptions. Depending on the subscription length, prices range from $42 to $59 per month after our current 40% discount.
Every subscription starts with a 7-day free trial, allowing you to experience our comprehensive materials, learning platform, and personal study plan for yourself. Once your subscription starts, you can cancel your subscription anytime. If you need to just take a break, your progress is saved and will be there when you resume your subscription.
Why Choose the Subscription Model
Subscriptions allow you to get what you need for exactly how long you need it. Why overspend for unlimited access when you only need it for a few months? With HOCK's subscription model, you get:
- No big upfront payments
- Access to ALL materials and premium features
- Payment flexibility—only pay while you’re studying
- Freedom to cancel and resume subscriptions at your convenience
With a HOCK subscription, you leverage world-class study materials at an affordable monthly cost, enhancing focus and efficiency in your study process and saving time and money.
Materials Included
The subscriptions include:
- Materials for all exam Parts (CMA or CIA)
- Online textbooks with highlighting and annotation
- Videos by Brian Hock
- Test banks with detailed answer explanations
- Mock exams with unique questions not used elsewhere in the materials
- PassMap™ that guides you through the exam syllabus, one topic at a time
- Personalized Study Planner to keep you on track for your exam date
A Leap into the Future
At HOCK, we believe in staying ahead of the curve and providing the best for our students. This move to a subscription model underlines our commitment to offering quality, accessibility, and affordability in learning.
Special Note for Existing HOCK students
For those who have purchased HOCK CMA or CIA study materials prior to this switch, everything will stay the same! You will continue to have uninterrupted access to your materials without any set expiration.
Happy Studying!
The HOCK Team
Mastering the Pace of Multiple-Choice Questions
If you’ve begun your journey preparing for exams, chances are you have faced the difficulty of time management, especially when tackling Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). Many candidates find it challenging to complete MCQs within the time given for the exam. If you’re one of them, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In this blog post, I will share some ideas on how to efficiently handle MCQs and be ready to complete your exam in the time you have.
Don’t Worry about the Timer – At First
When you initially start studying and practicing MCQs, you may notice that it takes you longer to answer each question than the time you have during the exam. This realization often leads to stress, but it’s important to remember that it’s completely natural at this stage. The first part of your study journey is not about speed; it’s about understanding the content.
Learning vs. Exam-taking
There’s a crucial difference between learning the content phase and the exam phase of your studies. When you’re in the learning phase, it’s naturally going to take you longer to answer MCQs. You’re still getting familiar with the material, figuring out the formulas, and understanding how to interpret the information presented in the questions. Therefore, your initial focus should be solely on comprehending the content, understanding why a particular answer is correct, and why another choice is incorrect.
Speed Comes with Practice
As you attempt more MCQs, you’ll find that you become faster answering them. You’ll start recognizing how questions are framed and learn to sift through the information more efficiently, understanding what’s relevant and what’s not. Your speed will naturally increase as you grow more familiar with the content and question patterns.
Timing Matters, But Later On
As you approach the end of your study schedule and enter the final review stage and start taking mock exams, that’s when you need to be conscious of time. By this point, you should be more comfortable with the subject matter, allowing you to answer questions more quickly. Some MCQs will still take longer to answer, while others will take less time, but that’s perfectly okay. The key is to be ready to answer each question as efficiently as possible.
Focus on Learning First, Speed Will Follow
If you’re at the beginning of your study journey and are anxious about the time it’s taking you to answer the MCQs, take a deep breath and relax. Don’t worry about speed initially; concentrate on learning and understanding the material. As you practice and get deeper into your study material, you’ll naturally become quicker at answering MCQs. In the end, it’s not just about being fast; it’s about being accurate and knowledgeable, and speed will come as a by-product of that understanding.
Happy studying!
The Power of Starting – Maximizing the Impact of Each Study Session
Today, I want to talk about a critical element that could determine the success of your study sessions. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t jump for joy at the thought of opening a textbook. Studying often competes with other activities that are much more appealing. So, what’s the one essential thing that you need to do to make your study session effective? The answer is simple but powerful: just start.
The Hardest Part Is Starting
Believe it or not, the most crucial action in any study session is beginning. Whether it’s a Monday morning or a Tuesday evening, just starting to study is half the battle. The temptation to procrastinate or do something more enjoyable can be overwhelming. However, the key lies in overcoming inertia and just starting to study.
Reframing Your Perspective
It’s easy to get bogged down by thinking about the length of time you’ll have to dedicate to studying. You might dread a two-hour session or even a one-hour session. However, don’t focus on the length of the study session; instead, concentrate on the first minute. Once you’ve conquered that first minute, you’ll find that the remaining time passes much more quickly than anticipated.
Why Starting Is So Important
This principle of starting doesn’t apply only to study sessions; it’s universally applicable to any long-term project or task. The first step may not be glamorous or exciting, but it’s absolutely necessary. You will never get to the end of your goal without taking the first step and once you’re in motion, it’s easier to stay in motion.
The Psychological Boost
Interestingly, once you begin a study session, you often find that it’s not as dreadful as you’d imagined. Your focus sharpens, your energy increases, and before you know it, you’re in a study “zone.” You may even find that you’re enjoying the learning process and the time you’ve allocated for studying goes by quickly.
So, the next time you have a study session planned, and you’re not particularly excited about it, remember that the most crucial part is to start. That simple action of sitting down and opening your book or turning on your computer sets the stage for a successful learning experience. No matter how long your study session is supposed to be, the most important minute is the first one. Make it count, and you’ll find that the rest of the session will unfold more smoothly than you’d think.
Happy studying!
The Bright Future of Women in Accounting
Today, HOCK would like to recognize and celebrate the achievements of female accountants and honor their tireless work in shaping the future of the accounting industry. Accounting has long been a male-dominated field, but that is changing rapidly. The number of women in accounting has been growing, and the trend is expected to continue. Let us look at the trends and predictions for the future of women in accounting.
Increasing Numbers of Women in Accounting
The number of women entering the accounting profession has been steadily increasing in recent years. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), women now represent more than 50% of all accounting graduates in the United States, and other countries report similar growth in the number of women in the profession.
More Women in Leadership Positions
As more women enter the accounting profession, they are also climbing the ranks and taking on leadership positions. According to the AICPA, women now represent nearly 30% of all partners in accounting firms. This is a significant increase from just a decade ago when women made up only about 16% of partners. We can expect to see more women in executive roles such as CEO, CFO, and COO; these roles have typically been held by men, but as more women gain experience and rise through the ranks, we will see more women in these roles too.
The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion have become increasingly important in the business world, and the accounting profession is no exception. Accounting firms are realizing the value of having a diverse workforce and are actively seeking out women and other underrepresented groups to join their teams. This is not just for the sake of diversity but also because a diverse workforce brings different perspectives, which can lead to better decision-making and improved performance.
Greater Flexibility in the Workplace and Focus on Work-Life Balance
Many women are balancing demanding careers with family responsibilities, and accounting firms are recognizing the need for more flexible work arrangements. This could include options such as part-time work, telecommuting, and job-sharing. Accounting firms are recognizing that in order to attract and retain top talent, they need to create a work environment that is supportive of employees’ personal lives as well as their careers.
The Bright Future
We can expect to see increasing numbers of women entering the profession, more women in leadership positions, and a greater focus on diversity, inclusion, flexibility, and work-life balance. These trends are great news for the profession as a whole because a more diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better decision-making and improved performance.
Happy International Women’s Day!
To all the incredible female accountants out there: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. You are an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful for everything you do. Happy International Women’s Day!
Resolution To Pass the Exam – Six Practical Tips
Many people made a resolution to pass a professional exam in 2023. There are plenty of articles on staying motivated and keeping up with your resolutions that recommend:
- Have a "Why" and keep the big picture in mind.
- Develop small habits and do a little bit every day.
- Practice self-care.
- Find an accountability partner.
Forbes also suggests Five Ways To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Based On New Research.
All of these are excellent general recommendations, but we find that the following six steps are the most helpful for keeping your resolution of passing a professional exam:
1 - Sign up for the free trial materials
Our free trial is the best way to see if the HOCK materials are a good fit for you so that you can determine if you like the learning platform, if the textbook is clear to you, and if the videos match your learning style. You don’t have to pay anything to get started, so sign up for CMA Free Trial or CIA Free Trial right away! Don't procrastinate!
2 - Learn how to use PassMap
PassMap is your step-by-step study guide that includes the Personal Study Plan, ExamReady progress bar, study tips, and connects you to the student forum where you can get unlimited CMA and CIA support from HOCK experts. Learn more with our Free PassMap Demo Session.
3 - Choose the materials package that works best for you
The biggest difference between HOCK Standard and HOCK Complete packages is that Complete includes videos and the "You Pass Or We Pay" Guarantee. Compare the HOCK CMA Exam Packages and CIA Exam Packages.
4 - Save money
Once you choose which materials work the best for you, save 50% with our No Excuses sale! That is the best price on the market! Don't miss the deal! Buy CMA materials with 50% off or Buy CIA materials with 50% off.
5 - Set up your personal study plan
Scheduling and planning are the keys to passing a professional exam. We have designed a Personal Study Plan for CMA and CIA exam candidates that shows what to study week by week. The plan automatically adjusts based on the study units you have completed, how many units you have left to study, and how many days you have until your exam.
6 - Ask questions
As the PassMap is leading you through every topic, be sure to understand each unit fully before moving on. Follow the sequence: read textbook and watch the video(s), then practice the MCQs and essays, and use our expert teacher support. If you have any questions, see if it was already answered on the student forum, and if not, you can ask and get an answer from our experts. Check out HOCK CMA and CIA Student Forums.
Use our No Excuses 50% sale to your advantage! HOCK CMA and CIA materials are fully updated to the current syllables and come with unlimited access, unlimited updates, and unlimited teacher support.
We wish you a successful and productive year – the year you become certified!
Time to Become Certified – No Excuses
No Excuses!
It is often difficult to start on ambitious goals. There is always a reason that we can find that allows us to postpone starting something big and meaningful. Exam certifications are one of those ambitious goals that you may be having trouble getting started. How long have you been thinking of becoming a CMA (What is CMA certification?), CIA (What is CIA certification?), or getting another professional certification (Which accounting certification is best for me?)? Getting certified is one of the best investments you can make in your own career. However, you are likely using one or more of these excuses to delay getting started: not enough time, too difficult, or too expensive.
When it comes to the decision to start studying for your professional certification, all of these excuses can be used to procrastinate. Guess what? You no longer have these as your excuses.
Here at HOCK, we have eliminated these excuses for you – all you have to do is to start studying, and you will pass the exams in 2023!
I don’t have enough time
You may think you do not have enough time, but our interactive study system PassMap efficiently guides you through all the content that you need to know. A personalized study planner will take you through the exam syllabus week by week and adjusts accordingly if your study schedule changes.
It is too difficult
You may think studying will be difficult because the syllabus is so large. But, with our comprehensive and easy-to-understand study materials, we make learning the content as straightforward and as structured as possible. Regular review and practice sessions, detailed video explanations, a final 3-week review system with multiple Mock exams, study tips, and ongoing support from the CMA and CIA experts will make studying much easier than you can imagine!
It costs too much
You may think it costs too much, but we have done everything we can to help you with that as well. Right now, all HOCK CMA and CIA study materials are 50% off. This is the biggest discount we offer during the year, and it is for a limited time. If your purchase is $299 or more, you can use our interest-free payment plan.
With the HOCK PassMap, our study materials, unlimited access, expert support, and a 50% discount, you have no excuses left. Take advantage of this limited-time offer to start your exam studies right now. Start studying today! No excuses!
Effective Study Habits for Success on the CIA Exam
How to study for the CIA Exam
Studying for the CIA exam is not an easy task (What is the CIA exam and who is it for?). If you are pursuing this certification, you are most likely a motivated internal audit professional with increasing professional responsibilities. You may be managing a growing team and playing a role on multiple projects, in addition to executing against your typical weekly responsibilities. So as you embark upon the process of preparing for the CIA exam, what are some strategies and tactics to keep in mind to make the study process as efficient as possible and, most importantly, maximize your chances of passing?
In this article, we’ll explore some foundational concepts, strategies, and tactics to apply to the process of preparing for the CIA exam (or really any standardized test, professional exam, or academic endeavor).
Recognizing the Relative Importance of Talent & IQ vs. Practice & Preparation
When it comes to performing well in school or on standardized tests and professional exams, most people place far too much weight on IQ, raw intelligence, or “natural talent.” They assume that others may be easily understanding the material while they struggle.
The fact is, yes, some people may “get it” slightly faster than others when it comes to mathematics, others are more comfortable reading and writing, and some people may be better than others at learning new languages. That said, these differences in natural ability are seldom anywhere close to what you might imagine them to be. No one learns how to do math, read, write well, or understand a new language without a lot of practice and preparation and focus on the task at hand. You often just can’t see how much practice another person is putting in and thus assume it’s easier for them.
Quality of Study vs. Quantity of Study
When preparing for a professional licensing exam, it can be difficult to put your finger on the level of “quality” of the study session you just engaged in. Too many people spend a lot of hours studying, but they aren’t studying the right way. For example, simply reading material for long stretches of time is a very poor way to study (especially for tasks that require problem-solving and critical thinking), even though you might feel like you’ve accomplished a lot.
Many studies show that the key to learning and building skills is a concept called deliberate practice.
What is Deliberate Practice?
Deliberate practice is high-quality practice and done in large quantities, often explains what many people inaccurately perceive as “natural talent” in any given domain. While lots of studying is better than some studying and some studying is better than no practice, the quality of your practice matters a lot. Five hours of good studying for the CIA might be better than simply reading notes and PowerPoint slides for 15 hours. But what makes studying “good?” How do you study using the principles of deliberate practice?
It’s about achieving a high level of focus, full engagement, and immediate feedback. It involves, but requires much more than hard work.
When you study for the CIA exam, try to do so in the following ways, which are consistent with the principles of deliberate practice:
- Shift your focus from completion of readings to true understanding. You aren’t trying to finish, you’re trying to understand fully
- Be incredibly focused (i.e., no cell phones, TV, computers, etc.)
- Build a foundation by striving for complete understanding of basic concepts before moving on to more complex ones.
- Break concepts down to their component pieces, looking for patterns in what makes one question easy, the next a little harder, and the most difficult ones the trickiest
- Receive immediate feedback. Do a lot of “mini-quizzes” along the way. You may not be able to have a personal tutor available. But you can do 10 questions and review what you missed immediately instead of doing 50 problems and forgetting what you were even thinking when you answered a question a certain way.
- Push yourself to the mental limits of what you are currently capable of. This is a key dimension of the skill-building process. You should be mentally tired after an effective study session. Your muscles are tired after lifting weights and your heart is beating fast after running a mile. Attempt to give your brain the same workout.
- Don’t study for more than 1-2 hours. This implies that if you are going to spend, just as an example, six hours studying for the CIA, you should break that down into 3-5 study sessions, not one marathon study session on Sunday morning.
One of the most important elements of deliberate practice is full engagement and ownership over understanding the concepts. Read to truly understand. Test yourself often. You must avoid the temptation to open the book and read how to get to the solution unless you are definitely lost and don’t know what to do.
Who is most likely to engage in Deliberate Practice when studying for the CIA?
Many experts in psychology and education believe strongly that the best way to explain why, for example, person X is able to obtain a Ph.D. in Mathematics when person Y failed, comes down to true interest and passion for the material. These experts surmise that those who enjoy a subject and are passionate about it are far more likely to engage in a large number of hours of deliberate practice to build their skills. They are truly curious and dedicated. The Math Ph.D. must focus with passion on learning more and uncovering the why and how of mathematical reasoning. If they aren’t interested in math, they just are less likely to put in the work.
But you are not getting a Ph.D. in Mathematics, you are studying for the CIA exam. In many regards, this makes things easier. Many people have to take math classes in high school and college as part of their major, even though they’d rather not. But you probably are not required to pursue the CIA designation – it is something that you have chosen to do. If you are not truly interested in building your skills as an audit professional, you probably aren’t interested in the CIA material you are studying. The CIA designation is not rocket science, but you must be truly interested and engage with the material and, in some sense, look forward to your CIA exam prep sessions.
How to build a CIA study plan
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about how to study specifically when you are literally studying. But let’s step back. You don’t want to just jump into studying for any exam. You should always follow the below steps:
- Reflect on the timing of your exam and your personal schedule between now and then
- Plan in advance which days and times of the week you will study
- Review at least a few different types of CIA prep materials to determine what’s best for you. Don’t just go with the first thing that pops up on Google or whatever your friend used. Think about how you learn (text vs. videos, etc.), the amount of content, etc. (Compare the CIA exam study materials providers here).
- Build a detailed study plan taking the above into consideration, and following deliberate practice principles (e.g., don’t try to study for more than two hours in a day).
- Don’t cram your studying into the weeks before the exam. Prepare in advance.
- Take regular practice tests under timed conditions, especially later in your study process
Conclusion
You will be far more likely to pass the CIA on your next attempt if you follow the principles of deliberate practice and recognize that it takes practice and preparation to do well on the exam. You should also be sure to build a detailed study plan that includes regular practice tests to track your progress.
About the Author
Mark Skoskiewicz founded MyGuru in 2010 based on a belief that customized, 1-1 tutoring, following the principles of deliberate practice, was the best way to improve general academic and test prep performance. Today, MyGuru offers a wide range of subject tutoring and test prep. In addition to offering CIA tutoring, MyGuru specializes in GMAT tutoring and private tutoring for many other standardized tests and professional licensing exams. He has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate business degree from Indiana University.
A Second Certification for CMAs
You passed the CMA Exam – what’s next?
Congratulations to everyone who passed the CMA Exam in the most recent exam window! This is a great accomplishment and one that you should celebrate.
A common question I get from recent CMAs is, “What certification should I pursue next?” While this is a question that depends largely on you and what you want to do with your career, there is one certification that I think goes very well with CMA and opens up some additional career opportunities.
The world’s leading certification for internal auditors
The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is the world’s leading certification for internal auditors working in all industries. One of the reasons that CIA pairs well with CMA is that accounting and finance professionals interact with the internal audit activity as it conducts its engagements. Because accounting and financial professionals provide essential work in the management of the company, the internal audit activity will be spending time providing assurance and consulting engagements in these areas. If you are a CMA and are able to demonstrate that you have the knowledge of an internal auditor, you will be in a better position to add value both as an accounting or finance professional and to the internal audit activity. Or, if you decide to look at a career in internal audit, the knowledge that you have as a CMA will provide you with significant benefits as an internal auditor.
What is covered in the CIA Exams?
In addition to the professional connection between CMA and CIA, CIA is an excellent second certification for CMAs because the CMA Exam covers some of the same topics as the CIA Exam. The CIA Exam is made up of three multiple-choice Exams. Part 1 covers the internal audit activity and its operations, and Part 2 covers the performance of an engagement. Part 3 covers some of the same topics that are on the CMA Exam: business operations, IT, managerial and financial accounting, and finance. If you are already a CMA and you decide to take the CIA Exams, I recommend that you start with Part 3 because you have already studied many of those topics.
How long does it take to prepare for the CIA Exams?
While the CIA Exams are not easy (the pass rate per exam is about the same as it is for CMA, roughly 45%), the preparation process is shorter. We recommend about 60 hours for Part 1, 80 hours for Part 2, and 120 hours for Part 3. So even though it is three exams, it won’t take much longer than preparing for the two CMA exams.
For all of these reasons, if you are a CMA looking for a second certification, I recommend you consider the CIA Exams. The best way to start is to download the CIA Exam Guide and sign up for the CIA Free Trial.
As always, if you have any questions, we will be happy to help.
CIA Part 1 Textbook Update April 2022
The CIA Part 1 Textbook has been updated, and the new files are available for current students to download in My Studies. The significant changes are listed below including page numbers in the new April 2022 book.
Section VI
- Additional discussion about Fraud Risk Assessment During Engagement Planning, pages 152-153.
- Added information and examples about common transaction control activities and segregation of duties, pages 158-162.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
You can also learn more about the HOCK CIA Textbooks and other exam prep materials if you are not already a HOCK student.
CIA Part 3 Textbook Update March 2022
The CIA Part 3 Textbook has been updated, and the new files are available for current students to download in My Studies. The significant changes are listed below including page numbers in the new March 2022 book.
Section I
- Added discussion of Competition in Global Industries and International Marketing, pages 10-16.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
You can also learn more about the HOCK CIA Textbooks and other exam prep materials if you are not already a HOCK student.
