In 2016 while sitting for part 3 of my CIA exam for the first time, I was under so much stress that I was seconds away from having a panic attack. My heart was racing, I was sweaty and found myself unable to shake the overwhelming pressure and anxiety. Each question read caused me to feel more and more defeated because I felt like I spent the past few months studying for a completely different exam. As the time on my computer screen wound down I realized that I had no time to review any questions. I quickly answered the remaining questions left blank then clicked the “submit” button. Once submitted, I made my way to the Procter to receive a printout my test score…….. “Not Passed”, those were the words displayed on my grade sheet.
I didn’t understand why I underperformed on the exam. I studied extremely hard during the months leading to my exam. I sacrificed my time and even stopped going to the gym four times a week. I devoted all my time to studying. In hind sight my biggest mistake was neglecting myself by not excessing, not socializing and not making time for meaningful breaks. In a nut shellI, I was not in optimal health.
According to Heidi Godman, editor of the Harvard Health Letter, regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills. “The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.” Some other benefits of exercise include reduction in stress levels and anxiety due to an increase in endorphins- a chemical in the brain that acts as natural painkiller and also improves a persons ability to sleep ultimately improving an individuals state of mind (the perfect recipe for becoming a CIA learning machine).
No matter how motivated you are you cannot study all the time. After all obtaining your certification is not about overloading yourself with information just to pass the exam. The goal is to develop an expertise and improve your internal audit skills and knowledge. In order to expand your brain and develop your expertise it is important to schedule downtime to ensure that you maintain sound mental health. Therefore physical activity should be incorporated into your daily lifestyle to increase your overall health.
From personal experience I found that while preparing to retake part three of the CIA exam (which is considered by many the most challenging of three part curriculum) I was not stressed and felt extremely confident. Absorbing the information was much easier and while taking practice quizzes I found that I was able to answer most questions within a reasonable timeframe (usually within 1-2 min). Sitting for the actual exam was a breeze once I was done I had no doubt that I passed with flying colors. My study habits did not change much, but my breaks were more intentional and my overall fitness was not neglected.
I know that making time to study is tough enough with our busy schedules and finding time for other activities may seem impossible. But squeezing in time, at least three days a week, will help you achieve your goals of becoming a CIA and you will look good doing it!!
