This week, we’re doing something a little different. Rather than hearing from me, I thought it would be lovely to hear from one of our amazing students, Adetoun Gbadebo-Saba.
Toun is a Level 5 student, progressing to Level 6 in October to achieve her full CIPS qualification with us through the NHS.
We sat down with Toun and asked her some questions…
What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever studied for a CIPS exam?
Probably in my kitchen while making dinner. It wasn’t glamorous but needed to make dinner for my son and I decided I could make the most of every spare minute.
If you could have one superpower to help you pass CIPS, what would it be?
The ability to have a photographic memory to help remember everything I’ve studied and recall it perfectly in the exam.
What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before starting CIPS?
That consistency is more important and understanding that every little detail makes a real difference over time.
What was your biggest “lightbulb moment” during your CIPS journey?
Realising that CIPS isn’t just about memorising theory; it’s about understanding how procurement principles apply in real-life situations. Once I started linking the content to my day-to-day work, everything seemed easier.
Looking back, what made the biggest difference to helping you pass?
Having a study plan, practicing past exam questions (huge help), and staying disciplined. Breaking the syllabus into manageable sections made it much less overwhelming and helped me go into each exam with confidence.
Thanks for answering our questions Toun, we love having you study with us!