90-Day CFE Exam Challenge Success Story: Tolulope Adedokun

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Tolulope Adedokun lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. He has been in banking for 15 years. Tolu found that studying for the CFE Exam gave names and concepts to various experiences he’s had in the course of his roles, specifically in risk management, of which fraud poses a key risk. Outside of his career in the banking industry, Tolu loves family time and has a keen interest in IT, mostly in ways that enhance his job. This past April, he joined the 90-Day CFE Exam Challenge to earn his CFE credential and gain valuable insights that would help to further his career and the banking profession in general.

Here are some experiences and advice he’d like to share with other members who will be joining the upcoming challenge.

Why did you join the 90-Day CFE Exam Challenge?

I set a goal about a year ago to attain a certification by the end of 2019. At that point another certification was heavy on my mind, but it was incredibly difficult to achieve it with the way work was. In October, while discussing with a friend, we again talked about the CFE certification and I immediately decided to take action by registering. I paid for membership and set a goal to attain the certification before my membership was due for renewal. While browsing exam tips, I came across the challenge video and knew I was going to take it. I immediately registered to join.

What did your study method look like?

I tried to tackle questions in chunks that wouldn't tire me out, so I usually took 25 questions per study session. This was helpful because it allowed me to catch the concepts without getting interrupted too much. Sometimes, I was able to take 50 questions.

I started with my strongest section from the Pre-Assessment. Since it was my best result in the Pre-Assessment, it gave me the confidence to tackle those questions and I was able to score above 90% in the first Practice Exam I took. I was further motivated. By the time I went through my second section, I was more informed and marked more questions for review. These questions provided good review material as they were on concepts I did not thoroughly understand even if I got the answer right.

The fourth topic, law, was pretty tough at first, but a combination of the guide from the tutorials and the help of a colleague who explained some basic concepts helped me with the subject. After completing all the Practice Exams and achieving over 90% on each one, I then switched my review method to focus on specific areas I wasn't very conversant with. I would also review marked questions to keep a general view of the topics.

This was crucial because I didn't start my exam application early enough. I completed my review earlier than planned, so the extra wait period for the exam application approval was dedicated to further review. I took the exam at a pace of one per day. I would review the material throughout the day, especially marked questions and sections I wasn't too confident about.

How did the challenge help you accomplish your goal of passing the CFE Exam?

The support from the challenge group to answer and be answered, the weekly check-ins, and the topic tutorials all helped to keep me on track whenever I seemed to get stuck. The posts from others on their progress were also motivational.

What did it feel like when you got the email saying you passed? How did you celebrate?

I was elated! I first noticed I couldn't log in to the CFE Exam Prep Course anymore, and from previous comments, it was an indicator that I had passed. Due to the COVID-19 situation, I was indoors through most of the study period, so the email saying I’d passed was such a delight — my time was productive and the certification was the reward.

What advice do you have for challenge participants who are preparing for the CFE Exam?

Stay consistent at practice. The Prep Course is absolutely the best way to prepare. Ask questions, respond to check-ins, maximize your participation in the challenge community. The support is invaluable.

The 90-Day CFE Exam Challenge provides participants with study tips and peer support to help them stay motivated and on track to reach their goal of passing the CFE Exam. The upcoming challenge begins October 1 and ends on December 31.