Free CISA Practice Test 2026 — 775+ ISACA CISA Practice Questions
Prepare for your Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam with 775+ free CISA practice questions covering all 5 official ISACA domains. Take a quick 10-question CISA mock exam, drill any single domain, or upgrade for the full CISA question bank with detailed AI explanations — no signup required to start.
What to Expect on the ISACA CISA Exam
The ISACA CISA exam is the gold-standard credential for IS auditors. Questions are scenario-based and ask for the BEST, MOST, or FIRST action from an auditor's risk-based perspective. Successful candidates combine free CISA practice questions with the ISACA Review Manual and 2–3 full-length CISA mock exams.
CISA Exam Cost, Pass Rate, and Salary at a Glance
The ISACA CISA exam costs $575 for ISACA members and $760 for non-members. The industry pass rate is approximately 50%, requiring a scaled score of 450/800. Over 200,000 active CISAs work worldwide, with US average salaries between $120,000 and $155,000 depending on role. CISA holders earn approximately a 22% premium over non-certified peers (ISACA 2024 compensation report).
CISA Practice Questions by Domain
Domain 1 — Information Systems Auditing Process (18%)
Free CISA practice questions on planning and executing IS audits per ISACA standards: ITAF, risk-based audit strategy, evidence collection, sampling, and audit reporting. Practice this domain →
Domain 2 — Governance and Management of IT (18%)
CISA exam questions on IT governance frameworks (COBIT), enterprise risk, IT strategy, policies, and organizational structures. Practice this domain →
Domain 3 — Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation (12%)
CISA practice questions on project governance, SDLC controls, system testing, change management, and post-implementation review. Practice this domain →
Domain 4 — Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience (26%)
CISA mock exam questions on IT service management, incident handling, backup and recovery, BCP and DRP testing — the largest weighted domain. Practice this domain →
Domain 5 — Protection of Information Assets (26%)
Free CISA sample questions on identity and access management, data classification, network and endpoint security, cryptography, and security testing. Practice this domain →
5 Sample CISA Practice Questions with Explanations
The following CISA practice questions show the scenario-based, "best-answer" style used on the real ISACA CISA exam. Each is paired with a detailed explanation written from the IS auditor's risk-based perspective.
Q1 — Domain 1 (Auditing Process)
Which of the following is the PRIMARY objective of an information systems audit?
A. To identify all security vulnerabilities. B. To evaluate controls and provide assurance that business objectives are being met. ✓ C. To ensure compliance with laws. D. To recommend technical solutions.
Explanation: The primary objective of an IS audit is to evaluate controls and provide assurance that business objectives are being met. Vulnerability identification, compliance, and recommendations support this broader assurance purpose.
Q2 — Domain 2 (Governance & Management)
What is the PRIMARY responsibility of the board of directors regarding IT governance?
A. Develop technical specifications. B. Oversee day-to-day operations. C. Set strategic direction and ensure IT supports business objectives. ✓ D. Approve every change request.
Explanation: COBIT 2019 separates the board's "evaluate, direct, monitor" governance role from management's "plan, build, run, monitor" responsibilities.
Q3 — Domain 3 (Acquisition, Development & Implementation)
An IS auditor finds that user acceptance testing (UAT) was completed by IT staff rather than business users. What is the GREATEST concern?
A. Documentation will not be archived. B. The system may not meet actual business requirements. ✓ C. Test cases will miss edge conditions. D. Project timelines may slip.
Explanation: UAT exists to confirm the system satisfies business requirements from the end user's perspective. IT-performed UAT violates segregation of duties for SDLC controls.
Q4 — Domain 4 (Operations & Resilience)
An organization's BCP has not been tested in 18 months. What should the IS auditor recommend FIRST?
A. Outsource business continuity. B. Replace the BCP entirely. C. Conduct a tabletop or walkthrough test. ✓ D. Report and close the audit.
Explanation: A low-cost tabletop test validates the existing plan and identifies gaps before recommending more drastic action.
Q5 — Domain 5 (Protection of Assets)
Which of the following is the BEST control to detect unauthorized changes to a production database?
A. Strong DBA password policy. B. Quarterly access reviews. C. Encryption of data at rest. D. Independent review of database transaction logs. ✓
Explanation: The question asks for the BEST detective control. Passwords, access reviews, and encryption are preventive controls; independent log review detects unauthorized activity after the fact and supports segregation of duties.
CISA Exam Cost & Eligibility Requirements
The ISACA CISA exam costs $575 for ISACA members and $760 for non-members. ISACA membership is $135/year and typically pays for itself through the $185 exam discount plus member pricing on the CISA Review Manual and QAE database. Registration is valid for 12 months. Candidates can retake the exam up to 4 times per 12-month period with mandatory 30/60/90-day waiting periods between attempts.
To be certified (separate from passing the exam), candidates need 5 years of professional IS audit, control, or security experience verified by a supervisor. Up to 3 years of experience can be substituted via a bachelor's or master's degree, full-time university teaching in a related field, or other audit experience. You have 5 years after passing the exam to submit verified experience.
CISA Study Plan — 8 to 12 Weeks for Working Professionals
Weeks 1–2 — Foundations: Read the ISACA CISA Review Manual end-to-end. Take a 25-question diagnostic to identify weak domains. Target 50–60%.
Weeks 3–6 — Domain drilling: Spend ~5 days per domain. Complete 30–50 CISA practice questions per domain and review every wrong answer. Target 70%+ per domain.
Weeks 7–9 — Heavy domains: Focus on Domain 4 (Operations & Resilience) and Domain 5 (Protection of Assets) — together 52% of the exam. Use scenario-heavy questions and Smart Practice. Target 75%+.
Weeks 10–12 — Full mocks: Complete 2–3 full-length 150-question CISA mock exams under timed conditions. Target 78%+ on a full timed mock before scheduling your real exam.
Career Outcomes With a CISA Certification
CISA opens doors to senior IS audit, IT risk, and IT GRC roles. Common job titles include IT Auditor, Senior IT Auditor, IS Audit Manager, SOX Compliance Manager, GRC Consultant, and Internal Audit Director. US salary ranges in 2026: IT Auditor $85K–$110K, Senior IT Auditor $110K–$140K, IS Audit Manager $130K–$165K, Audit Director $160K–$210K, GRC Consultant $120K–$180K. Top hiring industries include the Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), banking and financial services, healthcare, federal government, defense contractors, technology, and insurance.
CISA vs CISM vs CRISC — Which ISACA Certification?
CISA is for IT auditors, GRC analysts, and SOX professionals — focused on auditing IT controls and providing assurance. 5 domains, 5 years experience, $120K–$155K average US salary.
CISM is for information security managers and CISOs — focused on designing and managing security programs. 4 domains, 5 years infosec management experience, $135K–$175K average salary.
CRISC is for IT risk managers and control designers — focused on identifying and treating IT risk. 4 domains, 3 years IT risk experience, $130K–$165K average salary. Many GRC professionals earn CISA first, then add CISM or CRISC to broaden their credentials.
Free CISA Quick-Start Mock Exam
Try a free 10-question CISA mock exam covering all 5 ISACA domains for an instant readiness check. Start the free CISA quick-start practice test →
CISA Practice Test FAQs
What is the CISA exam, and why should I take CISA practice tests?
The CISA exam is ISACA's flagship certification for IS auditors — 150 multiple-choice CISA practice questions over 4 hours covering 5 domains. Free CISA practice tests build familiarity with ISACA's best-answer style, improve pacing, and surface weak areas before exam day.
How many questions are on the CISA exam?
The CISA exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions delivered over 4 hours. The passing scaled score is 450 out of 800.
What are the 5 CISA domains and weights?
Information Systems Auditing Process (18%), Governance and Management of IT (18%), IS Acquisition, Development and Implementation (12%), IS Operations and Business Resilience (26%), and Protection of Information Assets (26%).
Are these CISA practice questions free?
Yes. FlashGenius offers free CISA sample tests by domain and a 10-question quick-start CISA mock exam — no signup required. Premium unlocks the full 775+ CISA question bank.
What score do I need to pass the CISA exam?
ISACA uses a scaled score of 200 to 800 with 450 as the passing mark. Aim for 75 to 80 percent or higher consistently on CISA practice tests before scheduling your exam.
Are CISA practice tests timed like the real exam?
The real CISA exam allows 4 hours for 150 questions — about 96 seconds per question. Practicing under timed conditions builds pacing and stamina.
Should I focus on certain CISA domains more than others?
Yes. Domain 4 (Operations & Resilience) and Domain 5 (Protection of Assets) together make up 52% of the CISA exam.
How long should I study for the CISA exam?
Most candidates study 2 to 4 months, combining the ISACA Review Manual, the QAE database, and timed CISA practice exams.
Where can I take high-quality free CISA practice tests?
FlashGenius offers free CISA practice tests by domain plus a 10-question quick start. Premium members get the full 775+ question bank, full-length CISA mock exams, smart practice, and AI-powered explanations.
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