cima case study questions

How to Pass CIMA Case Study Exams: Detailed Guide to Success

This CIMA case study article shows you how to write an answer that puts you ahead of 90% of candidates, offers expert preparation tips, and increases your chances of obtaining your qualification.

1. 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. In that time, VIVA’s tutors have seen every kind of exam answer you can imagine.

As an official CIMA tuition provider, we've seen everything; the good, the bad, and the downright baffling! But more importantly, we’ve also seen what works, and what definitely does not work.

In this article, we’ve compiled all of the key DOs and DON’Ts our CIMA tutors have gleaned from their years marking VIVA students’ CIMA mock exam answers. We see the same kinds of mistakes made over and over again. And the great news for you is — these mistakes can be very quickly rectified to help you pass your CIMA exams the first time around.

The Starting Point: What to Be Aware of before Learning More about CIMA Exam Strategies

The first step is being aware of what to avoid in CIMA exams.

This sets the foundation for you to go on refining and perfecting your approach. As in any other walk of life, perhaps the most important thing is to avoid doing foolish things rather than seeking perfection.

In the words of the very wise Charlie Munger: “It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.”

All the advice below comes directly from our CIMA case study professional tutors, who mark thousands of student scripts throughout the year.

If you wish to get your VIVA mock exam answers corrected, check out our CIMA course pages , where you can obtain professional marking services as part of the Elite Course.

2. What to Expect on Exam Day

Before we get into the meat of the matter, let’s just review what exactly you can expect to be presented with on exam day. (Feel free to skip on to the next section if you are already well acquainted with the Case Study exam format):

You will be faced with 1 of 3 CIMA exam variants during any specific exam window (that's a total of 6 variants per pre-seen document under the 2019 CIMA syllabus)
Each variant is broken down into timed sections (maximum of 5, minimum of 3)
Each section will include either emails, records of conversations, schedules of information or combinations of all 3
These give new information that leads on from the pre-seen document information
Within each section, there will be a task or tasks for the candidate to complete (e.g. write a report, write sections of a report, write an email)
These tasks might be embedded in the body of the email or conversation
The task or tasks might include several different elements that pull from different pillars and competencies
Candidates are NOT expected to perform any detailed calculations
Each section will move through time (you cannot go back to a previous section once you move on to a subsequent section)

Of course, the best way to familiarise yourself with the real-life experience of a CIMA case study exam is to practice as many different mock exams as possible.

VIVA's OCS, MCS and SCS courses come with up to 5 different professionally prepared CIMA mock exams based on the current pre-seen, which you can practice online under timed exam conditions.

You’ll also want to review past CIMA exam variants to familiarise yourself with the different question styles that can come up.

However, there’s no substitute for timed practice based on the current pre-seen material – and that’s what you’ll get with us.

Source: Pexels

3. Reading the Question: Establishing the Case Study Exam Tasks and Requirements

One common error that our tutors' report is that students do not answer all the requirements included in the task.

In some cases, of course, this is simply down to the student not knowing how to answer the particular requirement. However, we have seen many scenarios in which students have simply missed the requirement due to not having read the question carefully enough!

Consider the sample below taken from a case study exam:

Here we have examples of what is sometimes called “triggers”. These are the places in the question where the requirements are explicitly stated.

Triggers are sometimes in the form of questions, sometimes not. Look out for phrases like “I need you to”, “I would welcome your suggestions for”, “Please draft”, and “Can you please include in your report”.

These are the sections that you really need to pay close attention to because it is there that you will be presented with the requirements.

As you can see in the screenshot above, there is one “task”, i.e., the report that you must draft. But the task has two requirements.

One is a comparison of financial performance and the other deals with the introduction of the balanced scorecard.

However, notice that each requirement contains several sub-requirements.

In the case of the first requirement, notice the “and.” You have to both “compare” and “analyse the implications.” Too many students will simply read the “Compare” part and completely pass over the analysis of the implications:

Likewise, in the case of the second requirement. There’s even more going on here, so you must pay close attention as you read through these “triggers.”

Not only do you have to offer your “suggestions for the other three quadrants,” but you also have to “explain why we have chosen the measures for each quadrant” and “ how they will influence behaviours in the company.”

All of these elements must be addressed to gain full marks.

But too often, students only pay attention to the first one or two. It is not necessarily the case that the first thing asked is the most important or even carries the most weight in terms of marks!

So, it’s essential that you carefully read these trigger sections thoroughly, making a note of each requirement as you go.

Another crucial point: answer the questions that have been asked!

This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many students fail to do this. There are two main reasons students fail to answer the question asked:

(i) because they answer a question they wish they had been asked instead;

(ii) They don't read the trigger verbs carefully enough and misinterpret what is being asked.

The first reason has to do with the fact that sometimes, students will carefully prepare for particular kinds of questions during their exam preparation or practice. They will feel much more confident about some particular question types than others and will have prepared very effectively for those question types.

So strong is their hope that this kind of question will come up on exam day that when they read a question that is superficially similar, they will "shoehorn" their prepared answer into that question.

The result is an answer that is either only partly relevant or, in the worst case, utterly irrelevant to the question being asked!

So remember: don't let your hopes/preferences/strengths influence the kind of answer that you give. Allow the question to dictate what kind of answer you write.

The second reason students fail to answer the question asked is that they misinterpret a key term or phrase or forget what they were asked after they start writing. Consider the example below: ‍

In this example, an incorrect interpretation of the question might be to think about identifying the "limitations" or "drawbacks" of TQM, instead of the "obstacles" that might be encountered when implementing TQM.

The second part of the requirement is about how to overcome those obstacles. An incorrect interpretation might be "what the benefits of TQM would be, after implementing."

You can see that these are "similar" kinds of questions, but strictly speaking, they are different. So be very careful when reading the requirements or trigger sections that you identify the key verbs and key terms so you are certain that you are answering what is being asked.

A final point: ensure that your answers are in alignment with the question asked.

This is essentially about ensuring that you do not go off task as you write your answer - that your answer tracks the requirement and corresponds to each part of the requirement.

Too often, students go off task, padding or filling out their answers with irrelevant information. While writing each new paragraph, the key is to briefly refer back to the question and quickly ask yourself: "Is this relevant and contributing to answering the question?".

This is a good "check" to ensure you align your answers with the question.

4. Good Structure and Planning Can Help You Pass Your CIMA Case Study Exam

We really can’t overemphasize the importance of proper structure for your answers when it comes to achieving the required CIMA pass rates.

There are three main reasons why structure and careful planning is essential for getting your CIMA certificate:

1. It helps to ensure you have enough points raised to obtain top marks

2. It helps to prevent the duplication of content

3. It makes life easier for the marker – more precisely, it makes it easier for the marker to see that you have indeed addressed each requirement adequately, where you have done so, and how much you have written for each requirement. Consider good structure as being key to a more positive examiner experience.

If you clearly signal where each task starts and ends with headings and sub-headings and give each relevant point a full, separate paragraph, you will be making the examiner’s life easier (a happy examiner is likely to be more generous with marks!).

The post-exam reports ALWAYS mention the importance of structure. An orderly answer indicates an orderly and clear thought process behind your answer and shows evidence of planning.

5. Our Top Tips for CIMA Case Study Exam Structure and Planning

Firstly, a common question from students is: how do I know how many paragraphs to write for each task?

Now sometimes, we get lucky and a task or requirement will say something like: "Identify five risks..." or "Give three benefits...". In such questions, it's obvious how many paragraphs there should be!

For five risks, we will write five paragraphs, one for each risk. For the three benefits, we will write three paragraphs, one for each benefit.

Unfortunately, CIMA isn't always so generous! We are not always given the specific number of points explicitly. And so the question then becomes: how do we decide on the number of paragraphs to write?

The key is to look at the percentage of marks allocated for that particular task. CIMA now includes a percentage allocation for each task.

A good rule of thumb here is that for every 10% allocated to a particular task, you add one paragraph. So if a task is worth, say, 33%, you will write approximately three paragraphs. If a task is worth 60%, you will write about six paragraphs.

Note that this is a "rule of thumb." This, of course, isn't supposed to be a perfect formula, but rather a guideline to get you started.

There may be cases where four paragraphs are sufficient for a 60% task, if the paragraphs are long and substantial enough in terms of content . Nevertheless, this is a useful general guideline.

We recommend that you plan and structure your answers before you begin writing.

However, many people lose valuable time at the beginning of each section planning their answers elaborately on the separate whiteboard provided on exam day. Instead, we recommend planning your answer within the answer box itself, not on the whiteboard or outside of the answer box.

A great way to plan on the fly is to work up a structure and fill in the gaps as you proceed. This forces you to get writing immediately, and by the time your structure is "filled out" the answer pretty much writes itself as you just go back and flesh out each heading and sub-heading:

Requirement A (this would correspond to the first requirement, so use an appropriate title, e.g., “Financial Performance”)

- Paragraph 1 (relates to first major point): idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 (If you have time, it’s worth emphasising the title of this key point by underlining it or putting it in bold, for example)

- Paragraph 2 (relates to second major point): idea 1, idea 2, idea 3

- Paragraph 3 (relates to third major point) etc etc: idea 1, idea 2, idea 3

Requirement B (this would correspond to the second requirement, e.g., "Balanced Scorecard")

…repeat as per above

TASK 2…repeat as per above

Remember, get straight to the point.

Write a 1-2 line introduction at the beginning of your answer, restating briefly what you were asked and the order in which you will address each point in the body of your answer.

Too many students waste time in their opening remarks repeating information we already know or rehearsing irrelevant information.

(You will see in VIVA’s model answers how short the introductions are -> you want to give yourself as much time and space as possible to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding! No marks are given for pleasantries).

It's also a good idea to have a "time plan" for each section of the exam. Now some students worry when they hear this: "ANOTHER PLAN!? Isn't that just going to waste even more of my time!?"

But there is no need to worry here because a time plan is really very simple - but also crucially important! You need to know roughly how much time you can spend on each task so you don't run out of time!

The first thing to do is, note the length of time allocated per section. In the case of the OCS and MCS, that will typically be 45 minutes per section (with 4 sections in total).

In the case of the SCS, it will typically be 60 minutes per section (with 3 sections in total). The next thing to note is that not all of that time will be or can be spent literally answering the question.

Because, of course, some of that time will be needed for reading the question! So it's a good idea to deduct a short amount of time from the total allocated to a section and consider this your "reading time."

A good target is around 5 or 6 minutes maximum for reading the question. The amount left over after you deduct the reading time is the amount that you can allocate to actually writing your answer.

Now, remember: writing your answer should include the planning process. So you don't need to allocate a separate portion of time to the "planning." Consider planning and writing part of the whole answering process.

So after you deduct the reading time, you now need to decide how to allocate the "answer time."

And this is a relatively simple process. Note the percentages allocated to each task/subtask. Then use that to calculate that percentage of the answer time.

So, for example, let's say you have a section of 45 minutes. You deduct 5 minutes for reading time, which leaves 40 minutes.

Let's say there are two tasks: the first one is worth 60%, and the second one is worth 40%.

60% of 40 minutes is 24 minutes. 40% of 40 minutes is 16 minutes.

And there you have it! You would have 24 minutes to write your answer for the first task, and 16 minutes to write your answer for the second task.

7. A Quick Word on CIMA Case Study Answer Length

I'm sure you've all heard the cliche, "it's about quality, not quantity"!

Of course, there's a kernel of truth to that. But let's be realistic: you're not going to pass your exam if you write 2 lines of text, even if they're the best lines ever written by a CIMA student!

So the cliche only gets us so far. The reality is that markers consistently report that longer answers do tend to score higher marks. And that shouldn't be surprising.

Other things being equal, the longer an answer is, the more likely it will contain more points - or more detailed points.

When it comes to the OCS and MCS exams, you should be aiming for a minimum of 2 pages, but ideally, 3 pages in a typical 45-minute section would be best if you want to score well.

Each relevant point you make should get a separate paragraph and be supported by examples, reference to the pre-seen and perhaps the real-life industry if applicable, and relevant theories from the Enterprise, Performance and Financial pillars.

In the case of the SCS exam , you should aim for a minimum of 2.5 pages, but ideally, 3.5 pages + in a typical 60-minute section if you want to score well.

8. What about the Content of Your CIMA Exam Answers?

Of course, we can’t tell you exactly what to write – that depends on the questions asked on the day! But there are some fundamental rules of thumb and principles that you should bear in mind.

(i) Justify and Explain

One very simple but crucial point is the following: you have to justify all your arguments and should explain technical terms.

Now that might appear obvious. But you’d be surprised how frequently students fail to do these basic things. And our tutors believe they know why.

This is the error of assuming that the marker will already know what you are talking about. The thing is, they probably will! But that’s not the point.

The point of the exam is to demonstrate your understanding!

So even if you think your marker will probably know what you mean, you should act as if they might not. Show them that you understand, and leave no room for doubt.

A good tip here is to try to really adopt the role that you have been assigned - and correspondingly, speak to the character whom you are addressing in the scenario as if they really are that person!

That way, you are more likely to consider terms they may not fully understand and give more comprehensive explanations of your arguments and conclusions.

Consider the following passage, which is taken verbatim from a past student’s mock exam answer for the Strategic Case Study of May 2018:

“Mr. Winston, however, may not understand the online streaming industry, where consumers just want to watch movies and tv series without interruptions of advertisements in between. His presence may also de-motivate other employees looking to grow within the business. The cultures may be different and it will take him a long time to get used to the streaming business.”

The student left it at that and then moved on to the following requirement. You should be able to see clearly what is wrong here, even without knowing what question was asked.

Each of the three sentences above could (and should have) been explained. Take the first. The obvious question is: why may Mr. Winston not understand the streaming industry?

Consider then the second sentence. The obvious question here is, why might his presence de-motivate other employees?

There’s a hint when he mentions other employees have been willing to “grow within the business,” but the student still fails to make his argument explicit.

What he might be trying to say is that, given that existing employees have grown with the business and have been loyal to the company for a long time, they might feel some resentment towards an external person being given a high-ranking position – instead of hiring from within the company.

But this is not what the student wrote. And so, he lost potential marks by not spelling it out. In the case of the final sentence, there are two more key points left undeveloped: in what way exactly may the cultures be different? And why might it take Mr. Winston a long time to get used to the business?

It’s clear that these points seemed obvious to the student, but he ultimately lost marks because he did not demonstrate understanding.

What you’ll often find is that, once you begin to explain something that seems to “go without saying,” you actually think of interesting points that you hadn’t considered before or that you had forgotten. You want to give yourself as much opportunity to make as many points as possible in support of your answer.

(ii) Give Specific Examples in Terms of the Pre-seen Company

It is not enough to simply define a theory or principle or even to explain a theory or principle in the abstract.

You have to apply it as well. What does that mean?

Basically, you have to be able to say why or how a particular theory/principle/method is relevant to the specifics of the unseen and pre-seen information.

Ask yourself: How can this theory be applied to the current case? What are some concrete examples of the abstract concepts I am using here in terms of the current company?

To follow my own advice, let’s look at another example from another real student’s answer. In this case, the student is asked to give examples for each category in a cost of quality report (OCS May 2018). The student’s answer to this requirement is as follows:

“A) Examples of costs to be included in each category of the report are as below:

1. Wastage of materials when errors are found.

2. Duplication of workload when errors are found

3. Damage to morale when work has to be repeated

1. Loss of consumer confidence

2. Damage to reputation

3. Cost of replacing the product

1. Invest in better-trained staff to ensure fewer errors in production.

2. Invest in higher quality materials to ensure the material doesn't fail.

3. investment in automating processes to reduce human error

1. Inspection of raw materials on arrival

2. Inspection of completed goods before they leave the factory

Notice that this segment of the answer is quite well-structured. The student uses headings and sub-headings and orders the answer logically.

However, the problem is that the student doesn’t actually give specific examples for each category that are derived from the company in question (a luxury bag manufacturer in this case).

Instead, she gives generic examples that could come from almost any company that manufactures any product. In this case, the student would need to provide specific examples.

So instead of simply saying “wastage of materials when errors are found,” the student should give concrete examples of errors that could occur in the context of this company, a luxury bag manufacturer. What kinds of materials are likely to be wasted? What kinds of errors might be found?

These are the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself when applying a particular theory or model to the current case. The marker needs to see that you can actually use the theories and models you have learned during your objective studies in a real-world scenario and in a realistic way.

This shows you’re ready for the real world as a management accountant! Simply giving generic examples that could equally well apply to any number of companies or scenarios is not sufficient to score full marks.

(iii) Avoid List-style Answers

Another common error is that students will give their answers in the form of bullet points.

Unfortunately, this is not what markers are looking for. It might seem neat and tidy and concise to you, but to a marker, it will simply give the impression of superficial engagement. Lists also give the impression that you are rushing through the answer.

Try to write your answers in prose style. It should be conversational but professional. You are trying to engage with and guide the fictional person who has asked for your assistance. Throwing a list of bullet points without elaboration will not be acceptable!

Now that’s not to say that you can’t use bullet points to structure your answers. But this is different from simply having a list of one-liners alongside bullet points.

You may organize your sub-headings in a bullet-point style, but what follows should be in prose style, with full sentences, explanations, examples and justifications.

9. Managing Technical CIMA Questions That Appear in Exams

Many students mistakenly believe that when it comes to more technical questions involving financial statements and “the numbers,” a different approach is necessary.

Students feel they need to spend much of their time performing calculations and showing off their ability to use various formulae from their objective studies.

However, this is not the case. In fact, you are not expected to perform lengthy calculations when it comes to technical components in the case study exam. Instead, the extent to which you will be expected to demonstrate your technical capacities corresponds to the following:

You will need to be able to:

- explain how the content of a schedule/table/financial statement has been prepared

- interpret the solution from a schedule/table/financial statement

- interpret the information within the schedule/table/financial statement

- explain the accounting treatment for a certain type of transaction and the impact on the financial statements

The occasional basic calculation can be made to illustrate a point or to support your interpretation, but that interpretation should be written in prose form.

Markers do not want to see long strings of calculations and formulae without any written explanation or justification. If you do include calculations, keep them short, and focus instead on demonstrating your understanding through written means.

When it comes to a general approach to technical components, we recommend that you follow the order of operations indicated in the diagram below:

We've already dealt with structure above.

In terms of content, it's a good idea to start with the general theoretical and technical concepts/principles that you are going to be using in the requirement. You don't need to spend too long on this phase - you're not expected to give a complete, exhaustive abstract explanation of a model or theory.

Rather, give a short but jargon-free summary of the model or theory that you are making use of. You want to spend as much time on the application phase as possible. This is where you will demonstrate your deep theoretical understanding.

Remember, markers want to see you applying your knowledge as if you were really working in this company, in the specified role, and charged with the tasks outlined in the exam .

Simply stating abstract principles would not be acceptable in the real world. Nor is it acceptable in the CIMA case study exam.

Finally, and ideally, you want to move beyond the narrow application of the relevant theory to the specifics of the case.

Markers like to see students adopt a wider perspective of the business and spell out some of the broader implications of your solution to the task/requirement.

It's a good idea here to stretch out your time horizon and consider second and third-order consequences of a particular action - positive or negative.

Markers also like to see students derive conclusions and recommendations in questions where students are asked to consider advantages and disadvantages/risks and benefits of particular courses of action. This shows deeper engagement with the case and wider business awareness.

10. How to Pass CIMA: Key Takeaways for Upcoming Case Study Exams

When it comes to case study success, there are three really key components:

1. Solid theoretical knowledge relating to objective subjects

2. Intimate knowledge of the pre-seen and some familiarity with industry trends

3. Excellent exam answer technique

Too many CIMA students get hung up on revising their objective test theory in the wrong way, i.e., committing theory to memory from their CIMA objective test textbook material. The result is less flexibility in producing answers to new problems.

A much better approach is to review key theories by applying each one to the specifics of the current pre-seen document.

In this way, you kill two birds with one stone, i.e., solid theoretical knowledge and intimate knowledge of the pre-seen.

Then it's all about honing your exam technique. The reality is, our markers report over and over again that the typical student's main problem often isn't so much their lack of theoretical knowledge (although that is sometimes definitely the case), as they cannot order their thoughts, apply their knowledge, and master their timing.

When it comes to timing, there's no substitute for practice (all of VIVA's mocks can be taken in our online CIMA exam simulator under timed conditions).

If you combine practice with careful attention to the points listed above, you will likely write an exam answer that puts you ahead of 90% of CIMA students.

11. Get Ahead with VIVA Financial Tuition

It doesn't matter what kind of business career you're after, CIMA qualifications can unlock a brighter future.

Whether you aim to be a Chief Financial Officer or business owner, our CIMA exam tips and advice can get you where you want to go faster, and for a fraction of the cost of traditional tuition providers. Start your journey today and discover our range of CIMA courses .

Check out our market-leading Study Packs for the current Case Study. The packs include hours of high-quality video tuition by some of the world's leading CIMA experts, alongside mock exams modelled closely on the official CIMA exams and a whole range of support materials. You might also want to read: Working through your CIMA Case Study Course .

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

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

Related resources

Other resources that may be of interest to you.

MJ THE TUTOR

Cima exam support and preparation, 10 burning questions (that students ask) about the cima case study exams.

This is from the “Accounting Makes Cents” podcast episode #9 released on Monday, 21 March 2022.

In today’s episode, I thought we’d do something slightly different and address a list of frequently asked questions about the CIMA case study exams. Most if not all of this information is available on the CIMA website. But I suppose if you’re a first-time case study exam taker, it’s difficult to separate that concern or anxiety over what you’ll be facing on exam day. Sometimes you may just need that reassuring and supporting voice to help you with your burning questions.

Jump to show notes .

So here goes. Let’s do our FAQs about the CIMA case study exams:

Question 1: In a case study exam, a student faces off with 3 or 4 questions. Each question is between 30 to 60 minutes long. What happens when the student finishes answering a question but still has a few minutes left before the 60 minutes is up, can the student save these minutes and add them onto the next question?

A: No. Each question is exactly the length that it is stated. As you enter the exam platform, there will be a list in the front of the number of questions you’ll be facing, be it 3 or 4, and the time associated with each one. If a question states that it is 45 minutes long, then that question is 45 minutes long. Let’s say we have question 1 and question 2, both at 45 minutes. If you saved a few minutes because you’ve addressed the requirements faster, maybe you finished question one with 10 minutes to go, this 10 minutes does not get added up to question 2. Question 2 will still be 45 minutes.

Question 2: So a follow up on the time per question, how strictly should a student be following the time limit given by CIMA per question?

A: Very strictly. If the question is worth 45 minutes, the platform is actually set up so that it will close you off from the current question, if you do not finish by the allotted time. There is a timer at the exams, and that timer does alert the student if you only have 5 minutes and 2 minutes to go before the time is up. Once time is up, you are closed off from the current question and transferred to the next question, in which case, the timer resets and starts counting down again.

Question 3: There are sometimes multiple requirements to be addressed. So let’s say we have 2 requirements per question. Should a student be doing well on all the requirements? Meaning, is it still possible to pass if a student encounters one bad requirement?

A: For the first question, with regards to doing well on all requirements, that is the simplest rule to follow. A student should strive to answer all the questions in order to gain the best possible mark for the exams. Having said that, to address the second question, which is for any reason, you encounter one bad section or requirement, where you are unfamiliar with the topic and that kind of thing, do not panic. One bad section will not fail you the whole exam. It is still possible to recover as long as you address the bad section as best you can.

Question 4: What is the pass mark?

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%. So that doesn’t mean that if you score 50% it’s a pass, or if you score 53% (which is what 80/150 is), that it’s a pass. The scaling happens because of the different difficulty levels of the exam variants. There are various discussions on this on the CIMA website, in my other podcasts and blog posts. So I’ll direct you to those entries and encourage you to visit those websites if you wish to understand the scaling better. But the pass mark is 80/150. And your results will be presented in that way. If you get 90, that means it is 90/150, and so on.

Question 5: Would it be okay for the student to address the second requirement first before the first requirement in a question?

A: Yes. Sometimes, it does happen that a student is more familiar with the second requirement than the first one. So the advice is for the student to address the topic area that you are most confident in. This will help with coming up with answers, paragraphs, and ideas, they’re gonna be faster because you’re familiar with it. This doesn’t mean that you should abandon the other requirement just because you’ve answered one of them. The strategy is still to address all requirements as best you can.

Question 6: Since it’s a typing kind of exam, how fast of a typist should I be?

A: CIMA suggests that a student should at least be able to type 20 words per minute. I do have a blog post about being Speedy Gonzales, I’ll link it up on the show notes . But the general rule is that if you can type 20 words per minute, then you can take the exams. Of course, it goes without saying, if you can be faster then it is probably better.

Question 7: How big of an issue is it to use the right spelling and grammar for the exams?

A: I always say that the CIMA case study exam is not an English test. It is written in English but a lot of the exam takers are bilingual and speak multiple languages. Present company included. Some students don’t even have English as their first language. So this is really not a big problem. If it occurs at the exams, so be it. You don’t have to correct every single spelling mistakes you make. However, this does not mean that you can get away with typing gibberish. The only rule I’d probably point out with regards to spelling is that while it occurs and it’s normal, your sentence or message still needs to make sense, even if you’ve misspelt a word here and there.

Question 8: Can we bring a calculator at the exams?

A: Yes. CIMA has published a list of calculators that you are able to bring with you at the exams. Just to point out as well, that the case study exam is not a mathematical exam. You may have to do some simple calculations but nothing overly complicated. The case study is first and foremost a report-writing exam highlighting skills in strategy and logical thinking.

Question 9: Should I bring the pre-seen material to the exams? If not, is there a way to access the material on the day?

A: No. The pre-seen material will be available on the platform. It’s gonna be a button which opens up a separate window on your screen. The button is available once you’ve entered the exams online. So if you need to refer back to an information on the pre-seen, the material is available. Having said this, I usually advise students that the pre-seen should be read prior to getting to the exams. If you’ve been doing practice questions and all that, you should be familiar with the pre-seen by the time you hit the day of the exams. The only time you should be referring to the pre-seen during the exams is when you want to include a very particular information on your answer, something like a specific name or terminology. But generally, this is very rare.

Question 10: How do I book for the exams?

A: This can be done online, using your MyCIMA account. There is more information about this on the CIMA website. So I’ll just link it up on the show notes . If you are planning on booking an exam, please do remember the important dates. There are exam windows of when you can start booking for the session and when those windows close for exam booking. Just be sure to remember so that you don’t get closed out if you are planning to do it.

Show notes simplified

In this episode, MJ the tutor tackles frequently asked questions about the CIMA case study exam. While all information is available on the CIMA website, students facing a CIMA case study exam for the first time normally agonises over what they’d be facing up on exam day. MJ the tutor recognises the angst and sets out to alleviate some of the common ones here.

Resources and links from this episode: MJ the tutor on A Brief Look at How the Case Study Scaling Mark Works MJ the tutor on To Be or Not to Be a Fast Typist? CIMA website: Scheduling Your Exams CIMA website: Exam Timetable CIMA website: A Guide to Your Examination Results CIMA website: Calculator Guidance

Credits: “Ding Ding Small Bell” ( https://freesound.org/s/173932/ ) by JohnsonBrandEditing ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1RImxnsbfngagfXd_GWCDQ ) licensed under CC0 Licence. “Counting numbers” ( https://freesound.org/people/MrSeriousss/sounds/587504/ ) by MrSeriouss ( https://freesound.org/people/MrSeriousss/ ) licensed under CC3 Licence.

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View key dates to help you plan your studies. Plan your CIMA’s CGMA® exams. On-demand tests are available all year. There are four windows a year when you can sit the Case Study Exams (February, May, August, and November).

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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 cima case study exam success..

You’ve got your CIMA case study pre-seen… but don’t panic! Panic is contagious and can create tunnel vision. Just like your exam focus, a bigger picture vision is key when it comes to your case studies.

First of all, let’s look at the question a lot of students are asking –

“I’ve got my pre-seen – What next?”

Upon receiving their pre-seen, CIMA students can enter a state of frenzy. Recurring questions include:

Where should I start?
Who should I turn to?
What products should I buy?
Are there hints in the pre-seen?
How many mocks should I do?

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 maintain a healthy study-life balance.

Identifying that initial starting point can seem daunting; that’s why learnsignal has designed a downloadable study plan to reduce your workload. Our study plan is designed to steer you down the best possible track to achieve your goals and get you through the exam. Strive for progress, not perfection, and keep your head in the game.

Get Started with Free CIMA Study Plan

2. start early.

Before you even have your pre-seen, you should gain a thorough understanding of the concept of a case study exam and know what CIMA expects to see in a passing script. While the majority of students will only start their studies after receiving the pre-seen, this isn’t the optimal way to approach such an exam. The key is to start early!

We’ve created a kickstart package available anywhere, anytime, meaning you don’t need to wait for your pre-seen to start studying. Students looking for excuses not to start until the pre-seen release will certainly find them! Trust us, you will have more than enough to cover from this date.

Case study exam approach
How to use the pre-seen
Strategic analysis
Syllabus transition guides
Key do’s and don’ts
Gateway transition guide

Even if you’re not in a position to complete Kickstart in advance of your pre-seen, we recommend using it as your starting point. Knowledge is worth very little without exam technique. Kickstart is all about honing technique…

3. Review the Gateway Transition Guide

We constantly hear about the very low pass rates associated with students entering the CIMA qualification via the Gateway route. As a reminder, Gateway students are those eligible for the accelerated entry route to the CIMA Professional Qualification and the globally recognised CGMA designation.

Gateway students are individuals who hold an MBA or Masters in Accounting or any other qualification that entitles them to certain exemptions within the framework. Eligible individuals are required to take the CIMA ‘Gateway’ Exam, otherwise known as the Management Level Case Study exam.

Gateway students are at a disadvantage over those who have worked their way up the exams and levels. Often, the Gateway exam will be the very first-time such students will sit a CIMA exam and, moreover, an exam in the CBE environment. As a result, they’re not familiar with the CIMA language and style of exam. We understand how tricky it can be to switch from one exam style to another. We’ve developed tailored resources explicitly aimed at Gateway students within our Management Case Study course to tackle this.

4. Pre-Seen Analysis

The pre-seen release marks the beginning of phase two of our case study course. Phase two resources are released on the same day as the pre-seen release. This phase is designed to give you a real feel for the company and industry detailed in the case study and act as a support to drive you towards success from week one right through to exam week.

This phase is split into two parts:

Video content – Videos cover a number of areas, including strategic analysis, industry review, and financial interpretations relating to the pre-seen company.
Webinars – Webinars provide an in-depth analysis of all areas of the pre-seen with weekly tasks to ensure that you’re prepared come exam time.

5. Case Study Webinar Series

Webinars can be a great way to learn new information quickly and get the opportunity to ask any questions that have come up during your study. Our six-part webinar series covers a wealth of information with the goal of covering everything you need to pass your case study exam. This includes:

Strategic analysis and Industry Review
Ratio Analysis
Industry Examples
Pre-learned Paragraphs
Mock exam walkthroughs
Correction Question Packs

Following each webinar, tasks or ‘homework’ are assigned to complete in advance of the next webinar to reinforce lessons learnt and keep your mind focused. Each webinar will also have a dedicated Q&A session, open to all participants. The beauty of webinars is that there’s no geographical barrier for students, as individuals can tune in anywhere in the world and ask questions to be answered live.

This is also an excellent opportunity for students to interact with each other. Sometimes all you may need is a little encouragement in the midst of chaos to keep going. Webinars can be the perfect channel for motivational content and support.

6. Mock Exams & Practice Packs

Knowledge is power, but knowledge without exam technique won’t get you far. It’s irrelevant how much you know going into the exam; if you’ve not mastered the technique of deciphering the information and determining which parts of your knowledge are relevant to the question, chances are you won’t pass.

Bear in mind this process is time-constrained, so cultivating your exam technique by doing mock exams and practice questions gives you the best possible chance of passing the first time.

Mock exams are a fundamental part of your study because:

They provide an opportunity to practice proven revision strategies and figure out what study style works best for you
They are an effective way to enhance your knowledge and improve your ability to recall relevant information under time constraints
Practicing exam standard questions in a strict, allocated timeframe familiarises you with the feeling of pressure, affording you the time to identify stress-relieving techniques that suit you in the run-up to your exam.

Explore our resources: CIMA Mock Exams – Test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement with our CIMA mock exams.

7. Remember the Bigger Picture

You are mid-question, and there it is, momentary panic. What if I fail? What if I can’t remember anything on the day? What if I don’t understand the question? What if my friends pass and I fail? What if I’m not up to this? Pause, and breathe. The only question you should be concerned about is: Why am I doing this? Think back to why you made the decision to study CIMA in the first place.

Chances are you made this decision to enhance your career, make more money, improve the quality of your life etc. Practice focusing on this. Practice changing those tough mental questions from a negative to a positive – instead of asking yourself, “what if I fail?” ask yourself, “what if I pass?”

Visualise yourself opening your results and seeing that ‘Pass’. How good will you feel? If you want something enough, you can make it happen. Whether you believe you can or you can’t, chances are you’re probably right! Belief + Commitment = Pass.

Final Thoughts

Starting your case study exam at any level can feel intimidating, particularly for Gateway students. It’s an entirely different exam style from the Objective Test exam format. Unfortunately, there’s only one way to move up the levels within CIMA and ultimately achieve that sought-after designation – passing your case study exams. While the case study exams are complex, we’re here to guide you through them. You are well-positioned to tackle the case study exam head-on with everything in one place.

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Great blog. I love it as I am seating for SCS by November

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CIMA Case Study

Take a look at our short video on the integrated case studies explaining their structure and suggesting how to make use of the pre-seen materials..

Exam Resource

A walkthrough of real exam answers.

What is this? A side by side comparison of (real) good and poor answers to a task in a Case Study exam. Why do I need it? Really helps to illustrate the marking system and where marks can be won and lost.

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CIMA Management Case Study Courses

Dedicated to helping you pass your case study exam

Ever since our first CIMA case study course over 14 years ago, Astranti has gained a reputation for offering the most comprehensive case study courses in the market. Our courses are dedicated to providing you with the best advice and support to help you pass your exams on the first attempt.

What’s more, our courses offer great value for money.

When compared to the Official CIMA Provider’s course, we provide a more in-depth analysis of the pre-seen, a wider range of exam guidance and study materials, and all at a lower cost.

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“I have used Astranti for all three case studies which in my view is integral to passing, with the most recent pass coming on the SCS exam. Astranti help you develop the correct exam writing style required to pass and gain the additional marks that could be the difference in passing or not. I can certainly say that by using Astranti I have gone into each exam confidently assured that I have given myself the best possible chance to pass.”

CIMA Case Study Student , October 2022

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Our goal is to make the Astranti Premium Course the most comprehensive on the market.

Over more than 15 years of teaching CIMA case study we’ve considered exactly what students need to support you in order to give you everything you need to pass.

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“Brilliant study material. I used Astranti throughout, sucked in by their free products at certificate level and I’m glad I was! The material provided is brilliant and the course tutors know exactly what it takes to get the pass at the case studies, if you use them and put the hours in you will pass! Couldn’t recommend enough, and achieved first time passes in all professional exams.”

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Pre-seen pack

Full analysis of the pre-seen , picking out the most important snippets of information so that you don’t miss a thing
Strategic analysis that links the pre-seen to the key theories and models from the syllabus
An analysis of the top 10 most likely issues to appear in the final exam according to our case study experts
Our industry analysis provides an overview of the real-world industry that the pre-seen company belongs to, so you can apply this in the exam to score extra marks
30 pre-seen knowledge questions designed to cement your knowledge learned

7x Mock exams with debrief videos

7 fully timed computer-based mock exams , with challenging questions designed to replicate the real exam
Detailed solutions so you understand where you went wrong quickly and easily and to enable you to learn how to approach a similar question in the real exam
Debrief videos where our tutors walk you through the best approach to each mock
5x mock exams as standard
2x bonus mocks for the February and August exam sittings

3x Marking and feedback

Comprehensive marking and feedback for 3 mock exams from your assigned expert tutor
Commentary on each script on a section by section basis, tellilng you what’s great and what needs to be improved
A 7 page summary analysis of each script, guiding you on what you need to do to improve

'How to pass the case study' course

Get to grips with the case study exam and find out exactly what it takes to pass
Perfect your exam planning and writing technique
Find out how to maximise the marks that you score in your final exam
Learn how to provide the best answers written down in the right way, within the time given in the exam
Hear exactly what the examiners say about how to pass the case study exam and the mistakes that past students made

Theory revision series

Designed to refresh all of your syllabus knowledge relevant to the case study exams. We take the most commonly examined theory from E2, F2 and P2 and summarise that for you so you can review theory quickly and easily
Take the study text with you wherever you are, with both the online and printable versions
Watch the tuition videos for an even more detailed analysis of the key theory , including worked examples throughout to help with your understanding

Ethics and Questions packs

Ethics is the most commonly examined topic at management case study . As such it’s the most important topic for you to revise
Our ethics video shows you how to pass ethics questions in the exam
Our 20 practice ethics questions enable you to master a range of ethical questions and practice the specific method that is proven to enable you to pass these questions
Our questions pack contains 60 case study exam-style questions , helping you to prepare for your exam.

3x Live online masterclasses

Attend 3 LIVE online masterclass days and get instant answers to your questions from our experienced MCS tutor using our interactive chat box throughout each session

Tutor expertise and Discussion hub

Ask our tutors further questions and join the student/tutor conversation on our discussion hub
Tailored support from your personally assigned exam marker , with all of the experience you could need to give you the best advice needed to ensure you pass the exam

Personal course mentor

Support from your assigned mentor from the first day of the course to the last
They’ll help you work your way through the course at a good pace, keeping up with your desired schedule and hitting the course deadlines as you go with regular catch up emails, video calls, or a combination of the two – whatever works for you!
On hand to answer your questions or guide you in the direction you need

Exclusive to the course

Tutor & Mentor support

There are so many benefits to studying online, like flexibility, cost savings and the ability to study at your own pace.

However, there are often some challenges too, such as a lack of study structure, lots of distractions, limited accountability and a general feeling of isolation, which can all lead to reduced motivation and momentum!

For this reason, our premium courses give you exclusive access to our tutors and course mentors .

Use our course discussion hubs to contact our expert CIMA tutors whenever you need help with a tricky piece of theory.

And, have regular check-ins with your own personal course mentor via email, video call or a combination of the two, to get help staying focused, hitting your deadlines and ensuring you have everything you need to pass your exam.

How our premium course compares

Giving students value for money is important to us . Why not check out the table below to see how our premium course compares to that of the official CIMA publisher?

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.

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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).

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

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