Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.
To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .
Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
Exam and question tutorial strategic case study 2019 CIMA Professional Qualification
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
- Find new research papers in:
- Health Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Academia ©2024
CIMA Student Series: Strategic Case Study (SCS)
The Strategic Case Study represents the final hurdle for CIMA students. In this article, Angelo Koukios demonstrates the importance of the right attitude. His never-say-die attitude and ability to identify and improve his weaknesses saw him improve his score by 25 marks between his first and second attempts.
%20(3).png)
Angelo Koukios currently works as a financial advisor at Grant Thornton (see LinkedIn profile here ). Angelo enjoys a versatile working experience in two different countries (England & Greece) within a variety of industries and roles. His main areas of interest are predominantly financial planning and analysis in the context of financial modelling, along with the application of advanced data analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) techniques. During his free time, Angelo loves to hang out with friends, exploring the beauty of Greece as well as watching and playing sports.
The Strategic Case Study represents the final hurdle for CIMA students. In this article, Angelo demonstrates the importance of the right attitude. His never-say-die attitude and ability to identify and improve his weaknesses saw him improve his score by 25 marks between his first and second attempts.
When did you take the SCS exam and how did you get on? Was it your first attempt?
I successfully passed the SCS exam in May 2019 and that was my second attempt. As the saying goes, “you are allowed to fall, but you must get back up”. I failed with my first attempt with a scaled score of 78 (just 2 marks below the passing grade), and I am sure that you can imagine how devastated I was. I had to go down the same road over again, in the context of a new case study scenario, only because I got a result slightly lower than the pass mark. By being persistent, paying more attention to those small things that make the difference and having the unlimited support of VIVA, I eventually got the desired pass mark, this time 103.
How long did you spend preparing for the SCS paper?
My preparation for the SCS paper lasted approximately 6 weeks. Believe me, time flies! On average, I was studying approximately 4 hours per working day and approximately 10 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Did you take a course or did you opt for self-study?
As you can imagine, self-study and commitment are the most important parts in this journey. However, VIVA’s SCS Genius Study Pack paved the way for succeeding in the exam. The case study preparation videos, professional marking of my mock exams with detailed comments and the one-to-one session helped me to familiarise myself with exam requirements and conditions. In the SCS exam it is not just a test of what you know, but also a test of how you manage to express that knowledge in a specific scenario. This is exactly where VIVA’s terrific contribution makes the difference and equips you with confidence during the actual exam.
What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the SCS in relation to your preparation?
Definitely, balancing work, personal and study life is the toughest part of this process. As time is probably the most valuable asset that we have as individuals, the CIMA qualification requires substantial amounts of it, if you want to reap the benefits of this accreditation. Getting inspiration from the virtue of learning more and envisioning a better future are key incentives to push yourself forward and never give up.
What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the SCS in relation to the exam day?
I believe that time management is key on the exam day. However, more often than not, good time management is highly correlated with good preparation. The more you know, the more efficient you become when you express that knowhow either verbally or on paper.
Was there an area of the Strategic syllabus that you liked more than others?
Most students struggle with hedge accounting or currency and interest hedges. I was one of those to be honest. However, this gradually became one of my favourites along with valuations, Big Data and the Balance Scorecard.
Was there an area of the Strategic syllabus that you liked less than others?
Probably the areas of Integrated Reporting and GRI were not “my cup of tea”. However, I grasp the main attributes of those two areas and I was prepared to implement them in the case scenario.
Do you have any tips for other students about to sit the SCS?
Stay focused, be confident, aim for the best but also be prepared for the worst. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. SCS is a “once in a lifetime” experience and as such, presents particular challenges that are unique to it.
Were there any study techniques you used that were particularly helpful?
Reviewing weak areas again and again with a fresh view and continuous familiarisation with the industry and the scenario itself are critical success factors for exam success.
Do you have any final comments/recommendations/feelings/thoughts about your SCS experience?
Have fun! The learning process and exams are tough. However, the whole experience makes you stronger and better. As the song says: “At the end of a storm, there's a golden sky”!
You might want to explore and learn more about our CIMA Strategic Case Study Course . You can also check our webinar for Introduction to the SCS, register 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.
Related resources
Other resources that may be of interest to you.
0800 048 7804 | [email protected]
About Us Testimonials Exam Dates About CIMA Quick Purchase Basket Help Contact Us studyHUB Home
CIMA Strategic Case Study
Exam Technique Guide
“The main reason people fail their CIMA case study exams is not lack of theoretical knowledge, not lack of pre-seen preparation – it’s poor exam technique. People just don’t know how to write answers in a way that scores marks, how to plan to focus what they say and how to manage their time across the exam to maximise marks in each section.” – Nick Best, Astranti CEO
The case studies are difficult to pass, with around 40-50% of people typically failing each sitting , and for most, it’s because they don’t fully understand what it takes to score highly in the exam.
They don’t know how to:
- Produce answers that meet the examiner’s needs
- Play the role assigned in the exam
- Plan effectively
- Manage their time to create balanced answers
- Write answers that score high marks
Having helped thousands of students pass the case study, Peter Stiff, Astranti’s case study expert, has pooled his years of experience teaching CIMA case studies and produced over 10 hours of video content to show you exactly what you need to pass your CIMA case study exam .
We’ve also written a comprehensive study guide for you to work through alongside the video series , so that you can cement your understanding and begin to apply it to your exam.
“Everything I needed was included and it helped me untangle what my priorities should be in revising, as well as teaching me the best exam techniques. Passed first time which I put down to the excellent course structure, materials, and very communicative and helpful staff.”
CIMA Case Study Student , January 2022
“I purchased the full course and it was brilliant; the preseen analysis was very useful, the exam technique was absolutely vital, and I was really grateful for the marked mocks and support from tutors (and other students on Yammer).”
CIMA Qualified , July 2022
Learn what it takes to pass
Understand what the examiner says you need to do to pass
Learn why people fail and how to avoid the same mistakes
Learn how to play your role in the exam to score highly
Perfect your exam technique
Learn the skills to master your time management
Develop your writing style to make clear focused points
Learn how to create effective answer plans
Maximise your marks
Review past students’ scripts and see how to improve yours
Learn what it really takes to pass from the examiner’s reports
See how to review your mocks to improve your answers
Take a look for yourself…
Part 1 – What does it take to pass the exam?
Part 1 - What's covered?
Chapter 1 – the keys to passing the SCS
What are the most important factors in passing the CIMA Strategic Case Study exam and what do you need to do to achieve that? Our first video answers these key questions as well as providing a general introduction to the exam.
Chapter 2 – the exam
In order to pass the exam you need to understand what it looks like! We review the nature of the exam and run you through what you will be faced with on exam day.
Chapter 3 – your role
CIMA provide you with a ‘role to play’ for your exam. What is that role and what does this mean for the way you answer the questions in the exam? The examiner has commented that people playing the role well score more marks, so this is critical to you passing.
Chapter 4 – how to analyse the pre-seen
The CIMA examiners regularly comment that people do not use the pre-seen information enough in their exam. We provide a step by step approach to analysing the pre-seen to get the most from it which is useful to those people who don’t use the Astranti Case Study analysis.
Chapter 5 – answering the question
The examiner’s most common criticism of student scripts is ‘not answering the question asked’. The problem is people not properly identifying the requirements – it’s harder than it sounds! This video shows you how to avoid this most common of errors.
Total video running time: over 3 hours
Part 2 – Exam planning and writing
Part 2 - What's covered?
Chapter 6 – why you must plan your answers
Planning is one of the keys to passing the CIMA Strategic Case Study, yet most people don’t plan. In this video, we outline why planning is so important and why it is key to passing.
Chapter 7 – the 9 stages of exam planning
Our 9 step planning approach ensures you create answers that meet all the key requirements the examiner requires from a script. Follow these steps as the first stage in producing an excellent answer.
Chapter 8 – planning practice
You will only excel at planning through practice. Having been shown how to plan, it’s now your turn! We provide a question for you to plan, run through the solution and show you what an excellent plan for that question would look like.
Chapter 9 – writing approach
Using the right writing style makes a significant difference to the mark you score. So what is the style you should use that will enable you to score the most marks from the ideas you generate? This video demonstrates the style that markers say helps them give you the most marks.
Chapter 10 – writing practice
Can you produce a script like the good scripts you’ve just been shown? You will be given a question and will be shown how to evaluate that script to ensure you are writing your answer in a way that is scoring the most marks from the points made.
Additional content – lessons from student scripts
We examine a range of student Case Study scripts. You will see the good scripts, so you’ve got a clear idea what to produce in the exam, and the bad scripts, so you can learn what not to do!
Total video running time: over 4 hours
Part 3 – Scoring high marks on the pre-seen
Part 3 - What's covered?
Chapter 11 – how is the SCS marked?
By understanding how the Strategic Case Study exam is marked, you can tailor your answer to ensure you pick up all the key marks and miss out things that aren’t scoring well.
Chapter 12 – time management
The most important skill to master to pass this exam is time management. That’s not just us saying that it’s the top answer to the regular post exam poll we conduct of our students. Why is this so important and how do you master your own time management in the exam? This video will show you.
Chapter 13 – the optimum approach to preparing for the SCS exam
As you approach the exam what do you need to do to prepare in the best way? We will guide you through the steps you need to take to ensure you pass.
Chapter 14 – application to the SCS
Having the ability to apply your knowledge of the theory to the pre-seen scenario is crucial when preparing for the SCS exam. This section provides a series of templates and guides for you to do just this, linking in with some of the key theory and models from operational level.
Additional content – the examiner’s analysis of a real student script
There’s nothing better than hearing what the CIMA examiner wants from your Case Study exam. Luckily the examiner has provided us with an analysis of a real exam script with her commentary on what’s good and how it can be improved. We analyse this script and her comments and pick out the key learning points so you can produce a script which meets her needs.
Additional content – the marking grid
Our marking grid is tailored to give you feedback on the key areas of exam technique required to pass the SCS exam. In this video, we review each of these key areas and show you how to use the feedback given from your marked mocks to improve.
Additional content – review of examiner post exam reports
At the end of each exam, the examiner provides guidance on the key strengths and weaknesses in that set of exams. By examining a range of reports over a number of years we learn what she is looking for from your script, what you need to do to score well and what traps you need to avoid. We also examine how her feedback has changed over the years so you understand her current thinking.
Total video running time: over 3 hours
What our students have to say…
Please see our testimonials page for our latest student reviews. Here are a couple of examples:
“I’ve just passed my SCS and couldn’t have done it without Astranti.
I purchased the full course and it was brilliant; the preseen analysis was very useful, the exam technique was absolutely vital, and I was really grateful for the marked mocks and support from tutors (and other students).
This was my first case study having completed the other levels many moons ago before they introduced case studies at every level. I’d self studied the Strategic OTs and scraped through but there’s no way I could have passed the case study on my own.”
“Fantastic course for the Operational Case Study CIMA exam. I normally study for my exams with textbooks, but as I didn’t know where to start with the first case study exam, I purchased the full Astranti OCS course, which was well worth it.
Everything I needed was included and it helped me untangle what my priorities should be in revising, as well as teaching me the best exam techniques.
Passed first time which I put down to the excellent course structure, materials, and very communicative and helpful staff.”
Passed CIMA OCS , January 2022
Purchase the exam technique guide
The CIMA SCS Exam Technique Guide is also part of our SCS Premium and Essentials Courses. Head to the course page to find out more.
CIMA SCS Exam Technique Guide £149
To qualify for the pass guarantee you need to ensure you complete ALL of the following steps. Failure to complete all of these steps will mean you will not qualify.
| 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. |
Exam timetable
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).
Every purchase you make from the AICPA & CIMA is safe and secure. We also guarantee 100% customer satisfaction on most of our products. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us.
To start the return process, please contact us first. View all products eligible for refunds .
This site is brought to you by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global voice of the accounting and finance profession, founded by the American Institute of CPAs and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
CA Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Exam Resource
Study guide case study examination - strategic level.
What is this? A calendar of articles and recorded learning support resources that will assist your Strategic Case Study exam preparation.
Why do I need it? The resources in the guide cover a range of themes and can be broadly split into two main categories: Study support — Motivation, confidence, time, strategic and memory recall. Exam support — Question-answering techniques and exam day planning.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Free exam and question tutorial strategic case study. Exam Resource. What do my exam results mean. Further reading. Exam Technique. Case Study support 1 - preparing for the Case Study exam. Exam Technique. Case Study support 2 - planning a good answer. Exam Technique.
The strategic question tutorial allows you to gain familiarity with the types of questions encountered in the exam. It can be used to experience the test driver and how items are presented. We have prepared two sample case study exams based on CIMA's 2019 CGMA Professional Qualification. Open the PDF to access all the supporting material you ...
For example, the Strategic level case study exam will be set within a simulated business context, placing the candidate in the job role matched to the competency level. In the case of the Strategic level, the job role is that of a senior finance manager, reporting to the highest levels of management within the organisation.
Study Guide Case Study examination - Management Level. A calendar of articles and recorded learning support resources that will assist your Management Case Study exam preparation. Application skills: The key to success in CIMA's CGMA Case Study Exams. An animated guide illustrating how to apply knowledge in the exam.
Our CIMA strategic case study course is designed to give you the highest quality teaching, course materials and support to do just that! Our courses will help you pass with: + Expert insights into the pre-seen, key theory revision and detailed guides on how you need to approach the exam to gain extra marks.
CIMA Strategic Case Study Student, January 2023 "The study materials, the online masterclasses, the analysis of the case study, industry analysis, ethics analysis were vital to my passing. But the marked mocks with feedback prepared me mostly, found some of them harder than the exam which prepared me brilliantly, helped to reduce nerves and ...
ISBN: 978-1-83996-499-2. Summary. The Study Text will help you prepare for your Case Study exam, with guidance and tips on how to read and analyse the pre-seen material. You'll learn the requirements for the Integrated Case Study, and get a walkthrough of the key aspects of it by Kaplan's top CIMA tutor. Each chapter will cover exam ...
When you've passed these, you'll have to take another case study exam - this time, the Management Case Study (MCS). Note, if you are a Master's Gateway student, the MCS is known as the CIMA Gateway Exam. The final case study in your CIMA journey will be the Strategic Case Study (SCS), and you'll sit this once you've passed P3, E3 ...
For example, the CGMA Strategic level case study exam will be set within a simulated business context, placing the candidate in the job role matched to the competency level. In the case of the Strategic level, the job role is that of a senior finance manager, reporting to the highest levels of management within the organisation.
CIMA has released a question tutorial for each case study level of the Professional Qualification. The question tutorial for the Operational Case Study relates to GymFiT, a company that operates 102 low-cost gyms. The candidate is expected to assume the role of a Finance Officer, who supports the company's Finance Manager.
CIMA's Question Tutorials. Get hands-on experience of our computer-based assessments. CIMA ® offers two types of question tutorials to cover the objective tests and case study exams. The question tutorials provide you with examples of the types of questions encountered in the exam. They can be used to experience the test driver and how items ...
At Strategic Case Study (SCS), however, you are one step higher to reflect the level of your studies. So you need to think strategically, as an advisor to the board. This means that you are trying to identify what the company should be doing, and why it should be doing it - really adding value. Remember - value adding information and offering ...
It is also available 15 minutes prior to starting your test and can be accessed here. Question tutorial The strategic case study question tutorial provides you with an opportunity to practice a full length case study exam using computer based assessment. We have prepared two sample case study exams based on the 2019 CIMA Professional Qualification.
The Strategic Case Study represents the final hurdle for CIMA students. In this article, Angelo demonstrates the importance of the right attitude. His never-say-die attitude and ability to identify and improve his weaknesses saw him improve his score by 25 marks between his first and second attempts. When did you take the SCS exam and how did ...
The pre-seen materials: Let you see the pre-seen through the eyes of our SCS expert, picking out all of the key information. Apply key theory and models to the pre-seen. Investigate the top 10 most likely issues to appear in your exam. Give a detailed analysis of the pre-seen industry, helping you to build more rounded answers in your exam.
8 Strategic options and choice. 9 Developing strategic performance management systems. 10 Understanding the impact and context of change. 11 Change Management - the role of the leader in managing change. 12 Digital Strategy, Digital technologies. 13 Digital strategy - Governance and elements of digital strategies.
A comprehensive guide to the Strategic Case Study for May, August, November 2021 and February 2022 exam windows. Why do I need it? To help you prepare for the SCS exam by understanding examinable topics, the assessment approach and exam weightings. The CGMA Study Hub keeps you on track to achieve your personal study goals.
The Strategic Level case study exam is the last exam that you will take. CIMA membership: You are required to become a student member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to fulfil your qualification. ... containing all the theory needed to pass your exams, including examples, questions and answers. CIMA's official online ...
The CGMA Study Hub keeps you on track to achieve your personal study goals. ... This document contains the full post exam supporting materials for the November 2022 and February 2023 Strategic Case Study exam containing: pre-seen material; exam variants; suggested solutions; examiners report (available from 28 April) marking guidance (available ...
"The main reason people fail their CIMA case study exams is not lack of theoretical knowledge, not lack of pre-seen preparation - it's poor exam technique. People just don't know how to write answers in a way that scores marks, how to plan to focus what they say and how to manage their time across the exam to maximise marks in each section."
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). Within each window, exams will be available for three days, from Wednesday through Friday.
The resources in the guide cover a range of themes and can be broadly split into two main categories: Study support — Motivation, confidence, time, strategic and memory recall. Exam support — Question-answering techniques and exam day planning. The CGMA Study Hub keeps you on track to achieve your personal study goals.