CIA Part 2 exam: format, syllabus, cost and passing score
CIA Part 2 — Internal Audit Engagement — is the second of the three exams for the IIA’s Certified Internal Auditor. It has 100 questions in 120 minutes, and you need a scaled score of 600 on a 250–750 scale to pass. The exam costs US$280 for IIA members and US$415 for non-members, on top of the one-time CIA application fee, and is taken at Pearson VUE test centers.
- Exam
- CIA Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement (2025 syllabus), from The IIAIIA CIA Part 2 syllabus, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam fee
- US$280 for IIA members, US$415 for non-membersIIA CIA page, checked 10 October 2026
- CIA application fee
- US$120 for members, US$240 for non-members (one-time, for the whole programme)IIA CIA page, checked 10 October 2026
- Questions
- 100IIA, CIA Exam: Why and How It’s Changing, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 120 minutesIIA, CIA Exam: Why and How It’s Changing, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 600 on a scaled 250–750 reporting scaleIIA Certification Candidate Handbook, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centersIIA Candidate Handbook and CIA page, checked 10 October 2026
- Retakes
- Earliest 30 days after a failed attempt; at most 8 attempts in the eligibility windowIIA Certification Candidate Handbook, checked 10 October 2026
- Programme window
- Three years from acceptance to pass all three partsIIA CIA page and Candidate Handbook, checked 10 October 2026
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What is the CIA Part 2 exam?
Within the three-part CIA exam, Part 2 is the middle step of the Certified Internal Auditor programme run by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Its title under the 2025 syllabus is Internal Audit Engagement, and it tests whether you can plan an audit engagement, gather and evaluate evidence, and supervise and communicate the work.
The three CIA parts follow the life of the function: Part 1 covers internal audit fundamentals, Part 2 the individual engagement, and Part 3 the internal audit function. You need all three, passed within three years of being accepted into the programme, to become certified.
The IIA introduced the revised exam no sooner than May 2025, initially in English only. A few languages are still moving across: Arabic stays on the 2019 syllabus until 27 December 2026 and switches on 28 December 2026, and Simplified Chinese transitions during the December test window. If you test in one of those languages, check which syllabus applies to your appointment date.
Source: The IIA — Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CIA Part 2 exam cost?
The IIA lists the CIA Part 2 exam at US$280 for members and US$415 for non-members — a member saving of US$135 on this part alone. Part 3 carries the same prices; Part 1 is US$310 for members and US$445 for non-members.
Before you can book any part you pay the CIA application fee once: US$120 for members and US$240 for non-members. Every retake is charged again at the exam price, so a realistic budget covers the application, three exam parts and a possible retake.
Source: The IIA — Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Checked 10 October 2026.
CIA Part 2 exam format: questions and time
CIA Part 2 has 100 questions and a time limit of 120 minutes, which gives you a little over a minute per question. The IIA kept the question count and time unchanged when it moved to the 2025 syllabus; Part 3 has the same format, while Part 1 is longer at 125 questions in 150 minutes.
The exam is computer-based and delivered at Pearson VUE test centers around the world. The IIA’s CIA page and Candidate Handbook describe test-center delivery only and do not mention online proctoring for the CIA exam.
The exam is offered in many languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and both forms of Chinese, with Vietnamese registrations opening from 28 August 2026.
Source: The IIA — CIA Exam: Why and How It’s Changing. Checked 10 October 2026.
What score do you need to pass CIA Part 2?
To pass CIA Part 2 you need a scaled score of 600 or higher. The IIA’s Candidate Handbook states that raw results are converted to a reporting scale from 250 to 750 points and that a score of 600 or higher is required to pass an IIA exam.
Because the score is scaled, 600 does not translate into a fixed number of correct answers out of 100. The safer target is consistency across all three syllabus sections, with extra weight on planning, which carries half the exam.
Source: The IIA — Certification Candidate Handbook (March 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
CIA Part 2 syllabus
The IIA publishes the CIA Part 2 syllabus as expanded test specifications with three sections and fixed weightings. Engagement planning alone is 50% of the exam, so planning topics — objectives and scope, evaluation criteria, risk assessment, the engagement approach, the work program and the resources needed — deserve the largest share of your study time.
Information gathering, analysis and evaluation is 40%. It covers sources of information, the relevance, sufficiency and reliability of evidence, technology options for auditors, analytical approaches and process mapping, analytical review, comparing criteria with conditions, workpapers and engagement conclusions. Supervision and communication — applying supervision throughout the engagement and communicating with stakeholders — is the remaining 10%.
- Section A. Engagement Planning — 50%
- Section B. Information Gathering, Analysis, and Evaluation — 40%
- Section C. Engagement Supervision and Communication — 10%
Source: The IIA — CIA Part 2 Syllabus (2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
CIA eligibility requirements for Part 2
Eligibility is set for the CIA programme as a whole, not per part. The IIA links the experience requirement to your education: with a master’s degree you need one year of internal audit experience, with a bachelor’s degree two years. Holders of an active Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP) designation need five years of experience, receive a Part 1 waiver and must pass Parts 2 and 3 within three years of applying.
Students and candidates without a degree start with the IAP exam. Qualified accountants (CPA/CA) and CISA holders have a separate one-part route, the CIA Challenge Exam, instead of the three-part exam.
Source: The IIA — Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Checked 10 October 2026.
CIA Part 2 retake rules and programme deadline
If you fail CIA Part 2, the earliest you can sit it again is 30 days after the failed attempt. The Handbook also caps attempts at eight during your programme eligibility window.
That window is three years: once approved into the programme, you have three years to complete all exit requirements, including passing all three exam parts. Plan Part 2 so that a retake would still fit comfortably inside the deadline.
Source: The IIA — Certification Candidate Handbook (March 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
How to study for the CIA Part 2 exam
Start with the official CIA Part 2 syllabus. It lists every topic the exam can test and is the only reliable scope document; study material built on the 2019 syllabus covers a different structure and should be cross-checked before you rely on it.
The IIA offers two official practice resources. Its free sample exam questions cover Parts 1 through 3. Its paid CIA Practice Questions use retired questions from past CIA exams, are based on the 2025 syllabus, and give detailed rationales for both correct and incorrect answers; for Part 2 a session has 100 questions in four hours, and candidates receive two practice sessions per part.
A workable plan: work through Section A until you can plan an engagement from a short scenario, then Section B with real workpaper examples, and finish with Section C. Use the official practice sessions as a final check rather than a first look.
Source: The IIA — CIA Practice Questions (2025 syllabus). Checked 10 October 2026.
Are CIA Part 2 dumps allowed?
No. The IIA’s Candidate Handbook states that reproducing, sharing, discussing, posting or uploading any exam content, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited, and it lists using a brain dump source with fraudulently obtained materials as prohibited preparation.
Apart from the sanctions, dumps are a poor way to prepare for an exam built on scenarios: Part 2 asks you to apply planning and evidence judgement to situations you have not seen before, which memorised answers do not train.
Source: The IIA — Certification Candidate Handbook (March 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
CIA Part 2 practice questions
Certsqill’s CIA Part 2 practice questions come with an explanation for every option, and readiness is scored per syllabus section — 50% planning, 40% information gathering and evaluation, 10% supervision and communication — so your practice time matches the exam.
CIA Part 2 questions people ask
What is CIA Part 2?
The second of three CIA exams: Internal Audit Engagement, covering engagement planning, information gathering and evaluation, and supervision and communication. Source: IIA, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the CIA Part 2 exam?
100 questions in 120 minutes. Source: IIA, CIA Exam: Why and How It’s Changing, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CIA Part 2 exam cost?
US$280 for IIA members and US$415 for non-members, plus the one-time CIA application fee. Source: IIA CIA page, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the passing score for CIA Part 2?
A scaled score of 600 on a 250–750 scale. Source: IIA Certification Candidate Handbook, checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the CIA Part 2 syllabus?
Engagement Planning (50%), Information Gathering, Analysis, and Evaluation (40%), and Engagement Supervision and Communication (10%). Source: IIA CIA Part 2 syllabus, checked 10 October 2026.
Can I take CIA Part 2 online?
The IIA describes computer-based testing at Pearson VUE test centers and does not mention online proctoring for the CIA. Checked 10 October 2026.
How soon can I retake CIA Part 2?
The earliest retake is 30 days after a failed attempt, with at most eight attempts in your eligibility window. Source: IIA Candidate Handbook, checked 10 October 2026.
Do I have to pass the CIA parts in order?
The IIA requires all three parts to be passed within three years of acceptance; active IAP holders are exempt from Part 1 and take Parts 2 and 3. Checked 10 October 2026.
How many CPE hours do CIA holders need?
Practising CIA holders report 40 CPE hours a year, with renewal open from 1 October to 31 December. Source: IIA CPE Requirements, checked 10 October 2026.
