CISM Practice Test

The CISM Practice Test is a free 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests readiness for ISACA CISM — information security governance, information security risk management, information security programme development and management, and incident management — with security-manager scenarios. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable CISM Exam Readiness certificate (SOA-CISM). Every question is based on published standards and research — including CISM certification (ISACA), SP 800-61r3: Incident Response Recommendations (NIST), ISO/IEC 27001: Information security management systems (ISO) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a CISM Exam Readiness certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: CISM certification (ISACA); SP 800-61r3: Incident Response Recommendations (NIST); ISO/IEC 27001: Information security management systems (ISO); Threat Modeling Manifesto (threatmodelingmanifesto.org); ISO 22301: Business continuity management systems (ISO). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Information Security Governance (Strategy and alignment, Roles and responsibilities and Policies and metrics); Information Security Risk Management (Risk assessment, Risk treatment and Ongoing monitoring); Information Security Programme (Programme development, Controls and architecture and Awareness and resources); Incident Management (Incident response planning, Detection and response and Recovery and post-incident review). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

Information security manager, Security programme lead, CISO or deputy CISO, Risk manager and Security consultant. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show CISM skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

CISM questions are written from the viewpoint of an information security manager: align security with business objectives, base decisions on risk, gain senior management support and choose the answer that addresses governance and root causes rather than a narrow technical fix.

No. It is an independent practice test written to the publicly available CISM content outline, for checking your readiness before you book the real exam. Science of Apps is not affiliated with ISACA, and passing earns a Science of Apps certificate rather than the official credential.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Advanced: assumes years in the role or deep specialist knowledge. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.