what is the pass mark for cima case study exams

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CIMA Exam Results and a Look at the Grading Mechanism

By Stephanie Ng
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Eager to find out when you will get the CIMA exam results, and how to interpret the performance report?

CIMA Exam Results for Objective Tests

Since the implementation of the new format, it is the easiest and fastest to get the CIMA objective test exam results — you get a “pass” or “fall” grade immediately after the computerized exam.

After 48 hours, you will receive an email, confirming that CIMA exam results breakdown is available in the MYCIMA portal.

CIMA Exam Results Breakdown

The results are shown in a table format, listing the subject areas in the objective test.

Each subject area is marked “proficient” or “not proficient”, with more detailed comments on how you can improve.

Here is a sample showing the candidate getting a “not proficient” in Financial Reporting:

Image courtesy of thecimastudent.com

If you’d like to have a glimpse at how the full performance report looks like, check out this official video from the CIMA:

A Note on CIMA Exam Pass Mark

The CIMA states that you need a 70% accuracy to pass each objective test. At the same time, they tell you the CIMA exam pass mark is 100.

Please understand that you are given a scaled score ranging from 0 to 150. The emphasis is that this score is scaled, meaning that you cannot figure out your percentage accuracy by a straight formula. In fact, if you try to divide 100 by 150, you get 66.7% instead of 70%.

The scaling is a way for CIMA to balance the more difficult questions with the easier questions . The system weighs difficult questions slightly more, such that students who got a few more difficult questions wrong would still score the same as those getting more easier questions right.

CIMA Case Study Results

The questions in case study exams are more complex. Human graders instead of computers mark this exam, and therefore, we need to wait for approximately 5 weeks after the end of the testing window to get the results.

Similar to the objective test, the performance report is available on the MyCIMA portal, and is presented in the form of a table. We will see “Strong”, “Moderate” or “Fail” in each of the 5 competencies.

In this example, the table is showing “Moderate” under technical skills is marked “Moderate”, with details on areas of improvement:

For those who would like to know the technical side of grading, here is a detailed explanation by the CIMA:

A Note on CIMA Case Study Pass Mark

The pass mark for case study is 80, out of a scaled score of 0 to 150. The candidate must also score a “Moderate” or “Strong” across all competencies in order to pass the case study exam. This is to ensure that the candidate is not weak in a particular area and that he/she is “business ready”.

Even if you pass, take a look at the performance report for rooms of improvement. This will only help you in the next CIMA case study exam.

Is This helpful?

I hope the discussion on CIMA exam grading and results is helpful in preparing psychologically for this exam. If you have any questions, please drop a note in the comment section. Thank you and good luck!

For Your Further Reading

Frequently asked questions on the CIMA exam
CIMA exam historical pass rates

About the Author Stephanie Ng

I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.

Approved CIMA Exam Calculator (+ My Recommendation)

CIMA Practice Exams and Online Course: A Comparison

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Tips for mastering the CIMA Case Study Exams

what is the pass mark for cima case study exams

The CIMA® Case Study exams are the final capstone exams of each level of the CIMA Professional Qualification, which students must pass to gain the CGMA® designation. We explore four tips to help you prepare for the exams.

1) Understand the three Case Study levels.

Each Case Study exam lasts three hours, with multiple tasks of equal lengths. There is a natural progression to the levels — Operational, Management and Strategic — that simulate how work as a management accountant progresses. To reach the Case Study level, you will have already passed the Objective Tests, which focus on ensuring that you have acquired the knowledge and skills for each pillar. Case Study exams are more about interpreting data and require practical answers to practical questions and simulate real-life business scenarios.

Operational Case Study (OCS)

Focus — The short-term role of the finance officer and the implementation of decisions
Skills you need to convey — How to work with others in the organisation and use appropriate data and technology to translate medium-term decisions into short-term actionable plans
Stats — Three-hour exam containing four tasks related to the enterprise, performance, and financial pillars; allotted 45 minutes per task, each task has two to three sub-tasks

Management Case Study (MCS)

Focus — The role of the finance manager involves translating long-term decisions into medium-term plans
Skills you need to convey — How to use data and relevant technology to manage organisational and individual performance; allocate resources to implement decisions; monitor and report the implementation of decisions; prepare and interpret financial statements to show performance

Strategic Case Study (SCS)

Focus — The role of the senior finance manager entails long-term strategic decision-making
Skills you need to convey — How to support organisational leaders to craft strategy and evaluate and manage risks that might prevent the successful implementation of strategy, including sourcing financial resources; value the organisations
Stats — Three-hour exam containing three tasks related to the enterprise, performance, and financial pillars; allotted 1-hour per task, each task has two to three sub-tasks

2) Understand the Case Study exam cycle.

Preseen — Released seven weeks before Exam 1
Exam 1 — Exam cycle is May and August . The same three to four exam variants are offered both months.
Results — Released seven weeks after the exam
Preseen — Released seven weeks before Exam 2
Exam 2 — Exam cycle is November and February . The same three to four exam variants are offered both months.

C opyright: BPP

3) Understand the pre-seen materials.

Pre-seen materials — known as ‘preseens’ — are background information about the fictitious organisation featured in the Case Study exam. This information forms the basis of the tasks you can expect to see in the exam. The preseen tells the story of the company, including the industry and context in which it operates, its financial statements, management accounts, markets and competitors. Preseens are usually 26 – 30 pages long. Key tips include:

Be ready — Familiarise yourself with the company, industry and current events.
Analyse — Perform an analysis such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) or political, economic, social and technological (PEST); review financial statements and reporting issues. The end of the preseen will contain live issues regarding what is happening in the industry. For instance, a new standard may have come out that will change reporting standards from the current year to the next and that the Case Study exam must address.
Cross-reference with the blueprint — Being able to know what you can do is critical. Can you discuss finance options, dividend policy or evaluate digital strategies?

Tackling “I can” from each of the core activities in each of the sections is necessary for success. For instance:

I can identify relevant costs and benefits.
I can advise on the communication process.
I can recommend a dividend policy.
I can use appropriate technologies to gather data for costing purposes, from digital and other sources.

Have a broad syllabus knowledge and know your company intrinsically. You become the person when you role-play the exam. Avoid prefabricated answers, as the exam will have details not included in the preseens. Your answers have to be relevant to the question.

4) Plan your exam approach.

Manage your time — If you can complete a section early, that time does not get applied to the next section. We suggest spending all of your allotted time within the section.
Keep your answers real and relevant — Remember this is a role-based exam; identify one or more factors that might be relevant, then explain why that approach would be relevant. The more tangible details you provide, the higher you are likely to score. Do not offer irrelevant arguments for the sake of padding your answers. Aim for neat, discreet paragraphs.
Understand the scoring — People mark the exams, and the pass rate is 60%. Even though a scale is scored 80 out of 150, 60% is the pass rate. The sub-tasks will be weighted differently. Each case will contain tasks from all five of the core activities:

Evaluate opportunities to add value.

- Implement senior management decisions.

- Manage performance and costs to aid value creation.

- Measure performance.

- Manage internal and external stakeholder.

Scoring example

“For a 12-mark answer, it might be possible to identify, say, four issues. A candidate who aims to write about four topics only has to score three marks for each to obtain full marks.” – MCS Examiner

You have all the tools you need to do well on the CIMA Case Study exams. From all of us at the Association, we wish you the very best for your next Case Study exam.

The content of this article is based on a Case Study Masterclass webinar delivered by CIMA and BPP in November 2020.

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Mark Foley shares four top tips on mastering the CIMA Case Study Exams The CIMA Case Study exams are the final capstone exams of each level of the CIMA Professional Qualification, which students must pass to gain the CGMA designation. We explore four tips to help you prepare for the exams.

Understand the three Case Study levels

Operational Case Study (OCS)

Focus — The short-term role of the finance officer and the implementation of decisions.

Skills you need to convey — How to work with others in the organisation and use appropriate data and technology to translate medium-term decisions into short-term actionable plans.

Stats — Three-hour exam containing four tasks related to the enterprise, performance, and financial pillars; allotted 45 minutes per task, each task has two to three sub-tasks.

Management Case Study (MCS)

Focus — The role of the finance manager involves translating long-term decisions into medium-term plans.

Skills you need to convey — How to use data and relevant technology to manage organisational and individual performance; allocate resources to implement decisions; monitor and report the implementation of decisions; prepare and interpret financial statements to show performance.

Strategic Case Study (SCS)

Focus — The role of the senior finance manager entails long-term strategic decision-making.

Skills you need to convey — How to support organisational leaders to craft strategy and evaluate and manage risks that might prevent the successful implementation of strategy, including sourcing financial resources; value the organisations.

Stats — Three-hour exam containing three tasks related to the enterprise, performance, and financial pillars; allotted one-hour per task, each task has two to three sub-tasks.

Understand the Case Study exam cycle

Understand the pre-seen materials

• Be ready — Familiarise yourself with the company, industry and current events.

• Analyse — Perform an analysis such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) or political, economic, social and technological (PEST); review financial statements and reporting issues. The end of the preseen will contain live issues regarding what is happening in the industry. For instance, a new standard may have come out that will change reporting standards from the current year to the next and that the Case Study exam must address.

• Cross-reference with the blueprint — Being able to know what you can do is critical. Can you discuss finance options, dividend policy or evaluate digital strategies?

Tackling ‘I can’ from each of the core activities in each of the sections is necessary for success. For instance:

• I can identify relevant costs and benefits. • I can advise on the communication process. • I can recommend a dividend policy. • I can use appropriate technologies to gather data for costing purposes, from digital and other sources.

Have a broad syllabus knowledge and know your company intrinsically.

You become the person when you role-play the exam. Avoid prefabricated answers, as the exam will have details not included in the preseens. Your answers have to be relevant to the question.

Plan your exam approach Manage your time — If you can complete a section early, that time does not get applied to the next section. We suggest spending all of your allotted time within the section.

Keep your answers real and relevant — Remember, this is a role-based exam; identify one or more factors that might be relevant, then explain why that approach would be relevant. The more tangible details you provide, the higher you are likely to score. Do not offer irrelevant arguments for the sake of padding your answers. Aim for neat, discreet paragraphs.

Understand the scoring — People mark the exams, and the pass rate is 60%. Even though a scale is scored 80 out of 150, 60% is the pass rate.

The sub-tasks will be weighted differently. Each case will contain tasks from all five of the core activities:

• Evaluate opportunities to add value. • Implement senior management decisions. • Manage performance and costs to aid value creation. • Measure performance. • Manage internal and external stakeholder.

Scoring example

As the MCS Examiner said: “For a 12-mark answer, it might be possible to identify, say, four issues. A candidate who aims to write about four topics only has to score three marks for each to obtain full marks.”

You have all the tools you need to do well on the CIMA Case Study exams. From all of us at the Association, we wish you the very best for your next Case Study exam.

• The content of this article is based on a Case Study Masterclass webinar delivered by CIMA and BPP in November 2020

CIMA CURRENT ADVICE

Should you sit your case study exam online?

Many students do have a successful experience sitting their case study exams online. However, due to the less controlled environment of the online setting and the need for a continuous and regular internet connection, there are some students who have a disrupted exam experience. Test centres offer a reliable, controlled environment in which to take a test. Where possible, if you feel comfortable travelling to a test centre and feel at ease with the safety and hygiene procedures that have been made available in test centres as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, we recommend that you take your case study in a test centre.

Pearson Vue have more information on the measures that have been put in place.

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CIMA Exams in 2024: The Definitive Guide

Access our free CIMA certificate level courses, containing everything you need to pass the first four CIMA exams!

Why choose CIMA?

Access our free CIMA certificate level courses, containing everything you need to pass the first four CIMA exams!

Now, before we dive too deeply into the depths of the CIMA exams , we need to answer the fundamental question of what CIMA actually is.

What is CIMA and what does it do?

First things first, CIMA is The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – one of the most respected accounting bodies in the world! It has over 115,000 members who are committed to upholding CIMA’s ethical standards, and crucially for us, it offers CIMA qualification s that can be gained through taking CIMA’s exams !

Where will CIMA study lead me?

CIMA qualifications will take you down the route of Management Accountancy.

But what exactly is a Management accountant?

There are many types of accountants, but the two main types are Management Accountants and Financial Accountants.

A Management accountant is generally employed by a company to assess internal information, such as product sales figures, and analyse how it can be used to improve performance in the future. This is in contrast to a financial accountant or auditor who is often external and brought in to ensure the company is complying with financial and accountancy regulations.

You must complete both practice exams and one of the mock exams and send them to your allocated marker by the deadlines set out in the course schedule.

You must not copy the mock exam solutions. If you do so this will invalidate your pass guarantee.

You must achieve an average mark of at least 30% in your submitted practice and mock exams. This is to ensure you are putting in enough effort.

You must attend or watch the recorded versions of the masterclasses and make notes on the pass guarantee form.

Use the pass guarantee form to document your key learning points throughout your studies, submit within 1 week of the final exam.

You must confirm that you have read and understood the pass guarantee terms.

View & Print:

1. Click the “View + Print” link to view the study text.

2. Wait for all of the pages to load , this can sometimes take a couple of minutes depending on the size of the document (scroll to the last page to ensure that every page loads).

3. Click on the print icon within the document viewer (NOT the print icon in the browser menu).

4. Follow the steps to print.

Other things to try:

Please try an alternative browser. Google Chrome and Firefox are recommended, but other browsers may also work. Updating your browser to the latest version can help your document load more quickly.

If you are using Windows XP and a version of Internet Explorer older than 9, we cannot guarantee that printing will be possible. We recommend obtaining access to a computer with at least Windows 7.

Updating to the latest version of flash can help to resolve some people’s printing issues ( download the latest version of flash .)

If your document fails to load, try clearing your cache and browser history. If your documents still do not load it may be due to the network you are on. We suggest trying to print on a different network.

If you still cannot print your document we suggest using a different computer and/or printer in case you are experiencing a hardware issue.

This Content is Locked

To access this resource you will need to purchase it, or join our complete course. Visit our quick purchase page to get the resources you need.

You must complete mock exams 1 to 3 and send them to your allocated marker by the deadlines set out in the course schedule.

You must not copy the mock exam solutions. If you do so this will invalidate your pass guarantee.

You must achieve an average mark of at least 40% in your full mock exams. This is to ensure you are putting in enough effort.

You must attend or watch the recorded versions of masterclasses 1 & 2 and make notes on the pass guarantee form.

Use the pass guarantee form to document your key learning points throughout your studies, submit within 1 week of the final exam.

You must confirm that you have read and understood the pass guarantee terms.

OCS: How I passed

Results email nice and early from @CIMA_News and it’s a pass! Phew. On to the next level, hurrah! #CIMA #cimaresults pic.twitter.com/wMSCnvVyQp — The CIMA Student (@theCIMAstudent) December 17, 2015

The operational case study is a relatively new exam – so I was delighted to pass it first time!

The OCS seemed a bit of a grey area to me when working out how to study for it. Trying to catch up on the all of the P1 theory I missed (I was exempt due to 2015 transition) as well as hearing that only 34% of the students passed the OCS in the previous sitting (May 2015) set a few alarm bells ringing.

I was comfortable enough studying for the P1 and F1 papers using study texts and practice exam kits but, in my opinion, you really need some additional support when tackling the case study.

I purchased the OCS study text from Kaplan earlier in the year but thought it was too generic for me. I needed to put some more meat on the bones.

OCS: First Steps

It’s important to make a note of when the pre-seen material for the case study is released, as soon as that’s out you will need to focus 100% on that.

So the 3-4 weeks before it was released I spent my time going through all three papers E1, F1 and P1 (mainly) and revising the key models, theories and how to apply them.

Don’t get bogged down in working out costing models and drafting financial statements etc in your preparation for case study. YOU WON’T BE ASKED TO CARRY OUT ANY CALCULATIONS – you will need to know the theory behind and how to apply it to the scenario.

I found the OCS study text from Astranti was a brilliant starting point.

The first part focuses on how to plan your answers and what expect in the exam. While the second part is split into three parts (E1, F1, P1) and covers all of the key theory and models in a short, condensed, manageable format.

Make this study text your bible for the weeks leading up to when the pre-seen material is released.

Pre-Seen Materials

As soon as it’s released you should read the whole document without making any notes. Just a get a feel for it. Then I would suggest reading it again and highlight strengths and weaknesses of the company as they could well be tested.

Pay attention to EVERYTHING!

Personally, I used the Astranti pre-seen video analysis package that provided a tutors insight into all of the pre-seen material as well as pin-pointing the top 10 issues that could come up in the exam.

I found it invaluable and it gave me a real focus for revision and exam preparation.

Try and link the key models in P1 and E1 to the pre-seen material. Then brush up on any accounting standards that you feel could be examined.

Mock Exam Practice

After I spent two weeks watching the pre-seen videos, relating it to the pre-seen material and refreshing my syllabus knowledge I moved onto the mock exam practice.

You can find exam practice questions on the official CIMA connect website and Astranti offer a free mini-mock as well. So you have all of this resources available for free and they should be made the most of.

So, for next three weeks I took the Astranti mock exams (one each weekend) and spent the time in between revising the areas I scored low marks on.

If your budget allows, I would thoroughly recommend to get your mock exams marked. You will get detailed feedback on your strengths and weaknesses and an honest appraisal (something I probably wouldn’t have given myself!)

I spent the final week in the run up to the exam going over my notes and making sure I understood how to relate ETHICS to the case study.

Try and squeeze it in where ever you can! ETHICS, ETHICS, ETHICS.

I also used this time to do some real industry research into the floriculture industry so I could link to my answers on exam day.

Good Luck for those sitting the OCS in February 2016. Here are some useful links below that will help you get a head start.

Useful Links and Resources

OCS Course Preseen Videos OCS Mock exams OCS study text OCS masterclasses

CIMA Connect: OCS Pre-Seen Material

16 responses to “OCS: How I passed”

[…] Read how I passed the November 2015 OCS first time with a score of 102 here. […]

Thank you this really helped 🙂

[…] If you’re planning to take the May sitting of the OCS then read how I passed the exam last year here. […]

[…] used Astranti myself to pass CIMA case studies and feedback from other students on this site have also used the above resources to pass first […]

[…] I passed the OCS exam this time last year using Astranti materials and I’d thoroughly recommend them to other students in the same boat. You can read more about how I passed the OCS exam here. […]

[…] I’m a keen user of the Astranti materials as they helped me pass the CIMA operational case study at the first time of asking last year – you can read about that here. […]

[…] I used their pre-seen analysis videos and mock exams to pass my OCS exam last year. […]

[…] passed the OCS exam myself last year – you can read more on that here – I hope I can offer students who are facing the same problems and questions I had, guidance […]

[…] you are struggling for motivation, you can read how I passed the OCS exam in 2015 here. Meanwhile, below are a series of links that will help kick start your preparation for your […]

[…] In my opinion, the Astranti case study courses are unrivalled when it comes to the CIMA case studies as my first hand experience with the OCS exam a couple of years ago. […]

[…] used these materials when I passed the OCS a couple of years ago (and currently using them for the MCS exam next month) – I’ve have found that the […]

[…] I passed the OCS exam myself a few years ago now, but you can read my thoughts on how I passed the Flores Rosa OCS exam here. […]

[…] passing my OCS and MCS exams first time – I used to spend 8-10 minutes reading the question and planning my […]

[…] I used the Astranti OCS materials when passing the OCS exam in 2015, you can read that in more detail here. […]

[…] OCS: How I passed […]

Management Case Study

Exam windows, exam resources.

Resources to help you prepare for your case study exam.

Exam Resource

A Walkthrough of Real Exam Answers

Tables and formulae provided in exam, free exam and question tutorial management case study, case study performance descriptors, calculator guidance, resitters guide - ot and cs exams, learning resources catalogue, what do my exam results mean, further reading.

Exam Technique

Case Study support 1 – preparing for the Case Study exam

Case study support 2 – planning a good answer, case study support 3 – developing a fuller answer.

Study Support

How to use the CGMA Blueprints

CIMA Pass Rates - The Most Recent Numbers

In this guide, we’ll explore the most recently released public data on CIMA exam pass rates.

Becoming a CIMA-qualified accountant can seem like a long journey.

You’ll have to undergo a series of exams that cover several topics and test your skills – from writing business recommendations to interpreting data and calculations.

The entire process can be exhausting, yet, the rewards are well worth it.

‍ A CIMA qualification can open many doors for you . It will help you gain competitive skills to get the job of your dreams and boost your earning potential.

So, in this guide, we’ll explore the most recently released data on CIMA pass rates .

We hope this will inspire you, whether you are about to take your first CIMA exam or are deep into your CIMA studies and want a glimpse of the topic you’ll be tested on.

CIMA Qualification at a Glance

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants.

By studying the CIMA qualification and becoming a member, you can use the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

‍ To earn a CIMA qualification, you must pass a series of tests comprising four levels: certificate, operational, management, and strategic. These degrees are part of the Professional Qualification program. Beginning with the CIMA Certificate to the Strategic level, there are a total of 16 CIMA exams.

However, it’s not as simple as beginning with “CIMA exam 1” and ending it with “CIMA exam 16.” They appear in these levels:

The Four Levels of CIMA Exams

Certificate Level

Also referred to as the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, the Certificate Level exam covers the basics of business and accounting. It is meant to act as a foundation for your CIMA qualifications.

Exams in this level cover:

BA1 (Fundamentals of Business Economics)
BA2 (Fundamentals of Management Accounting)
BA3 (Fundamentals of Financial Accounting)
BA4 (Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law)

All CIMA Certificate exams are two hours long. You may encounter multiple choice questions, number entries, multiple responses, drag-and-drop types of answering, or hotspot (marking the correct spot). ‍

Operational Level

This is a Professional Level in your CIMA studies. It focuses on daily operations and short-term strategy, with a particular emphasis on working as a member of a larger team and on technology.

Exams at the Operational level covers:

CIMA E1 (Organizational Management)
CIMA P1 (Management Accounting)
CIMA F1 (Financial Reporting and Taxation)
Operational Case Study ‍

Management Level

This part of your study turns the monitoring, analysis, and implementation of decisions. Most especially on how you can make medium-term decisions from long-term ones. At this level, the exams you’ll take are

CIMA E2 (Project and Relationship Management)
CIMA P2 (Advanced Management Accounting)
CIMA F2 (Advanced Financial Reporting)
Management Case Study ‍

Passing the "CIMA Gateway" exam is viewed as equal to passing the Operational and Management levels

For those with a Master’s in Accounting degree or an MBA, they can choose to take the CIMA Gateway exam instead. Essentially, this is the same exam as the Management Case Study . If passed, they’ll be seen as equivalent to passing both Operational and Management levels and go straight to the Strategic Level of their CIMA studies.

But make no mistake, this exam is not easy and has the lowest pass rate (only an average of 18% vs 61% on other exams) among all exams. Remember that having a Master’s Degree doesn’t necessarily mean you are familiar with the CIMA Gateway exam structure. You will need to ensure you are familiar with all the theory covered in the previous "Objective Test" exams (i.e. E1 through to F2). Plugging any gaps in your knowledge here will be key.

Don’t worry, though, as it can be achieved with careful preparation and the guidance of a great tuition provider (like VIVA!). ‍

Strategic Level

As you reach this level, you’re almost done with your CIMA study, and you already have extensive accounting knowledge. The Strategic level is where you’ll learn about supporting leaders in a company or group and about long-term strategic decision-making.

Exams at the Strategic level cover:

CIMA E3 (Strategic Management)
CIMA P3 (Risk Management)
CIMA F3 (Financial Strategy)
Strategic Case Study

Be sure to check out our guides on How To Pass CIMA Exams and 6 Tips to Pass CIMA Fast .

CIMA Exam Pass Rates

CIMA Case Study Exams

In every one of the three levels of exams (Operational, Management, and Strategic), there are another three exams from each of the learning pillars. These include the Enterprise Pillar (E) exams, Performance Pillar (P) exams, and the Financial Pillar (F) exams. These are known collectively as the "Objective Test" exams.

Objective Test Exams

In any OT exam, you are provided with 60 questions and 90 minutes to finish answering them. It means it only takes about 90 seconds per question.

Some questions require less reading and consideration, while others require more focus to balance the test. The questions are presented differently for each exam as they use randomisation.

Key Ways To Succeed in Your CIMA Exams (First Time!)

Passing your CIMA exams doesn’t have to be a hard nut to crack. Here are some tips to succeed.

1. Have a plan

Having a robust plan is vital to exam success. Before you even begin studying, sit down and make a feasible plan that fits into your life, ensuring you cover the whole syllabus.

It’s also important to know the type of learner you are. Some people are better at retaining information by reading, others by listening. Some enjoy practical exercises. You can then choose the format that works best for you, whether it’s notes, podcasts, video or a combination.

2. Start early

Don’t wait for the pre-seen material to be released to start studying. Begin early so you’ll have enough time for practice and revision.

‍ The sooner you start, the more you’ll learn and the more confident you’ll become on exam day.

3. Take mock exams

Mock exams simulate the actual exam conditions and provide an opportunity to test your knowledge, identify knowledge gaps, and assess your exam readiness. By taking mock exams, you can practice time management, learn how to approach different types of questions, and improve your exam technique.

Additionally, mock exams can help you develop a deeper understanding of the course content and boost your confidence in tackling the exam.

4. Find practical ways to manage your stress

At some point, you may feel stressed studying for your CIMA exams. Others have been there too!

So, take a moment to pause and breathe when things get too much. Be kind to yourself. Allow time to rest. If you want, you can give yourself mini rewards once in a while once you achieve your study goals.

‍ Combing all these tips, you should be exam ready. Be confident of the amount of preparation and work you’ve put in.

Improve Your Chances of Passing CIMA Exams Today

Pass rates change with each sitting. So, don’t focus too much on one result. Although these pass rates are useful, they don’t necessarily mean that one exam is always going to be harder than another.

Make the most of these numbers by factoring them into how much study time you feel you may need to devote to each subject. But don’t get too distracted from the immediate task at hand – namely, consistent and effective studying and practice.

And please, don’t forget to look after your well-being! Be in your healthiest mindset always makes it easier to achieve your goals.

VIVA is the only tuition provider you need to pass your CIMA exams first time. In 2020, CIMA honoured VIVA with the prestigious CIMA Global Pass Rate Excellence Award due to its outstanding pass rates compared to the average.

‍ But don’t just take our, or CIMA's, word for it! Check out these independent testimonials from our delighted CIMA students.

Accelerate your CIMA journey now. Click here .

Like to explore how VIVA can help you with your CIMA studies?

Be the first to find out when we release new CIMA resources.

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How to Pass the CIMA Strategic Case Study Exam
How To Pass The CIMA Operational Case Study Exam: An Introduction
How to Pass CIMA Case Study Exams: Detailed Guide to Success
How to PASS your CIMA Strategic Case Study
How to Pass Your CIMA Case Study Exams
How to Pass the CIMA Gateway/Management Case Study Exam

COMMENTS

How are CIMA Case Study Exams Marked?
CIMA case study exams marking. The marking of case study exams is done manually. The results are then released 5 weeks after sitting the exam. You get a mark out of 150, where a score of 80 and above is a pass (53.333%). You also need to attain a minimum threshold score across all competencies.
Quick Guide to Passing the CIMA Case Study Exams in 2024
There is no official pass mark for the CIMA case study exams. Instead, CIMA marks scripts out of 100, ranks them in order and then looks down the list to a point where it feels the scripts are not strong enough. Everyone below that level fails and everyone above that level passes. The first passing script is given a score of 80 and the first ...
CIMA Exam Results and a Look at the Grading Mechanism
A Note on CIMA Case Study Pass Mark. The pass mark for case study is 80, out of a scaled score of 0 to 150. The candidate must also score a "Moderate" or "Strong" across all competencies in order to pass the case study exam. This is to ensure that the candidate is not weak in a particular area and that he/she is "business ready".
10 Burning Questions (That Students Ask) About the CIMA Case Study Exams
A: So the pass mark for a CIMA case study exam is 80/150. There is a bit more involvement in the way that the 80/150 is calculated. You see, this is a scaled mark. So the exam itself is out of 100 points. So if you are thinking of it in normal terms, think of it as 100%. There is no exact point as to a pass mark with the 100%.
Exam pass rates
To start the return process, please contact us first. View all products eligible for refunds. Pass rates Certificate in Business Accounting and CIMA's CGMA® Professional Qualification Objective Test and Case Study Exam pass rates.
How to Approach (and pass) the CIMA Case Study Exams
If you're going to be sitting the operational or management case study exam, you need to learn ALL about the exam format and how it's different from the obje...
CIMA Management case study exam explained
As part of the Management case study exam, you'll have 30 to 60 minutes to write a financial report or response to a colleague, manager, or senior executive via email. In the exam you can expect 4 tasks to answer. A good, clear, writing style is very important. Use short, digestible, paragraphs to make it easy for the marker to read, and give ...
Case Study support 1
The purpose of the case study exam. CIMA describes the case study exam as a "role simulation". It requires candidates to "respond to authentic work-based activities presented during the examination, drawing together learning from each of the three subjects to provide solutions to the issues and challenges presented".
How to pass the Operational Case Study
How to pass the Operational Case Study. As you may already know, Operational Case Study (OCS) is the first case study under CIMA's CGMA professional qualification and is designed to test your ability to apply the technical knowledge you've learnt from E1, P1 and F1. The CGMA Study Hub keeps you on track to achieve your personal study goals.
Tips for mastering the CIMA Case Study Exams
The CIMA® Case Study exams are the final capstone exams of each level of the CIMA Professional Qualification, which students must pass to gain the CGMA® designation. We explore four tips to help you prepare for the exams. ... Understand the scoring — People mark the exams, and the pass rate is 60%. Even though a scale is scored 80 out of ...
How to Pass CIMA Case Study Exams: Detailed Guide to Success
How to Pass CIMA Case Study Exams: An Introduction to Our CIMA Exam Experience. In the last five years, we've helped over 10,000 CIMA students from 94 countries prepare for and pass their CIMA exams. ... (a happy examiner is likely to be more generous with marks!). The post-exam reports ALWAYS mention the importance of structure. An orderly ...
Passing the CIMA case study exams
Understand the scoring — People mark the exams, and the pass rate is 60%. Even though a scale is scored 80 out of 150, 60% is the pass rate. The sub-tasks will be weighted differently. Each case will contain tasks from all five of the core activities: • Evaluate opportunities to add value.
Helpful CIMA Case Study Exam Resources.
Find CIMA case study exam resources here, including current and historic case study examiner's reports and pre-seen materials. ... If you do so this will invalidate your pass guarantee. 3. Achieve an average mark of 40% or higher. You must achieve an average mark of at least 40% in your full mock exams. This is to ensure you are putting in ...
Examiner's advice on common mistakes in CIMA's CGMA Case Study exams
If a candidate scores low marks (e.g., score at a level 1 on a given trait), it is likely that they did one or all of the following: Failed to answer the question that was asked. Demonstrated limited technical ability (i.e., gaps in knowledge or understanding). Provided insufficient justification for arguments.
CIMA Exams
There is no official pass mark for the case study exams. Instead, CIMA marks scripts out of 100, ranks them in order and then looks down the list to a point where it feels the scripts are not strong enough. ... And here are the most recent set of CIMA case study exam pass rates: Aug 2023. OCS - 69%. MCS - 58%. SCS - 48%. Nov 2023. OCS ...
OCS: How I passed
The operational case study is a relatively new exam - so I was delighted to pass it first time! The OCS seemed a bit of a grey area to me when working out how to study for it. Trying to catch up on the all of the P1 theory I missed (I was exempt due to 2015 transition) as well as hearing that only 34% of the students passed the OCS in the ...
7 Ways to Pass Your CIMA Case Study Exams
Follow these 7 simple steps to avoid the panic and clear the path ahead to enjoy case study exam success. 1. Follow a Focused Study Plan. Starting your study is often the hardest step to take. In our experience, following a plan increases productivity, cuts time-wasting, tracks progress and allows for personal planning around the study to ...
How to Pass CIMA Operational Case Study Exam
2. Take care of how your answer looks. Whilst this examination is not a test of English, some answers are difficult to read because of poor spelling and grammar. It's important that answers are presented well so that markers can see that you have demonstrated a clear understanding of CIMA of the issues.
Management Case Study
Resources to help you prepare for your case study exam. Exam Resource. A Walkthrough of Real Exam Answers. Exam Resource. Tables and Formulae provided in exam. Exam Resource. Free exam and question tutorial management case study. Exam Resource. Case Study Performance Descriptors. Exam Resource.
Exam timetable
Candidates are recommended to schedule/book and sit their CGMA Case Study (CS) exam in the November 2024 exam window so that they, if they were unsuccessful, may retake the exams in the February 2025 exam window. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all FLP Class of '24 (Season II) candidates after the programme.
Operational level
For the CGMA Professional Qualification, CIMA has published CGMA Examination Blueprints, based on the syllabus, that set out what is examinable in each of the nine Objective Tests and three Case Study Exams. The blueprints are published annually and provide information about the format, structure and weightings of the assessments.
CIMA Pass Rates
Management Case Study ‍ Passing the "CIMA Gateway" exam is viewed as equal to passing the Operational and Management levels. For those with a Master's in Accounting degree or an MBA, they can choose to take the CIMA Gateway exam instead. Essentially, this is the same exam as the Management Case Study.
The CIMA Gateway Exam
The gateway case study exam, also known as the management case study exam, is available four times a year, in Feb, May, Aug and Nov, lasting over a three-day testing window, tested through multiple variants. You will receive one of these variants at random in the exam. Prior to starting the exam, you will be provided with a 15-minute mandatory ...