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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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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.

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

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 one-hour per task, each task has two to three sub-tasks.

Understand the Case Study exam cycle

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.

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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The Self-Tailored Learning and Assessment Route

The self-tailored study and assessment route to completing the Professional Qualification is made up of nine subjects that are organised into three pillars and three levels.

The three pillars are designed to cover finance and a range of other business areas:

• The Enterprise Pillar - Develop and implement strategies
• The Performance Pillar - Track activities and ensure that strategies are realistic and effective
• The Financial Pillar - Prepare and understand financial statements to keep an eye on performance and inform company decisions

As you progress through the qualification, the content of each of the three levels encourage progressive, constant development of knowledge across the three pillars, ensuring you have the skills business need the most, positioning you to take on leadership roles within your organisation

Self-Tailored Learning and Assessment route structure

Nine subjects organised into three pillars and three levels

Objective Tests

Nine 90 minute computer-based and on-demand exams

Case Studies

You can take three three-hour exams at each level during four windows per year. You will need to pass all three objective tests (or have an exemption) before sitting the case study exam

Completion time

Three to four years

The Structure

The operational level.

At the Operational level, the focus is on short term decision making. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be able to work with others in your organisation and use appropriate data and technology to translate medium term decisions into short term actionable plans.

Once you’ve finished the Operational level, you’ll be awarded the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA Dip MA).

Managing finance in a digital world

In this first subject of the Professional Qualification, you’ll learn about the central role that finance plays in an organisation, and how and why technologies used impact the finance function. 

You’ll learn how to use and examine data collected and processed by machines to create and preserve value for organisations. 

And you’ll get to know how the finance function is structured and shaped, and how it interacts with other parts of the organisation to achieve the objectives of the whole organisation.

Syllabus at a glance:

A. Role of the finance function

B. Technology in a digital world

C. Data and information in a digital world

D. Shape and structure of the finance function

E. Finance interacting with the organisation

Assessment: Objective Test

• Format: Computer Based
• Availability: Online and on-demand from the comfort of your own home or office or at any of the 5,500 Pearson VUE centres around the world
• Length: 90 minutes
• Questions: 60 objective test questions
• Marking: Computer marked
• Results: Provisional results available immediately followed by confirmation no more than 48 hours later

Management Accounting

Here, you’ll learn why costing is done and what it is used for, including appropriate costing methods and techniques and where digital costing might be used.

Then you’ll cover how budgets are prepared and implemented across the organisation and the impact these have. You’ll also learn how techniques are applied to ensure sound short term decision making against a backdrop of risk and uncertainty by using appropriate risk management tools.

A. Cost Accounting for decision and control

B. Budgeting and budgetary control

C. Short term commercial decision making

D. Risk and uncertainty in the short term

Financial Reporting

In your first Finance subject, you’ll find out who the regulators are, what they do and why and how regulations are applied.

You’ll learn how to prepare basic financial statements using financial reporting standards and how to distinguish between types of taxes, calculate corporation taxes and issues affecting taxation.

Finally, you’ll learn which tools are used to ensure that the organisation has enough cash to ensure its continuing operations.

A. Regulatory environment of financial reporting

B. Financial statements

C. Principles of taxation

D. Managing cash and working capital

• Format: Computer based

Operational Level Case Study

The case study exam tests the knowledge, skills and techniques that you’ve learned throughout the Operational level in a role simulation. You’ll be asked to respond to authentic work-based activities, mimicking a job role linked to the Operational level e.g. an entry-level finance professional.

Assessment: Case Study Exam

• Availability: Four windows each year (Feb, May, Aug, Nov) at any of the 5,000 Pearson VUE centres around the world or online at your home or office
• Length: 3 hours
• Questions: Role-based business simulations
• Marking: Human marked
• Results: Available around 6 weeks after the completion of the exam window

The Management Level

At the Management level, you’ll focus on translating long term decisions into medium term plans. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be able to use data and relevant technology to manage organisational and individual performance, allocate resources to implement decisions; monitor and report implementation of decisions; as well as prepare and interpret financial statements to highlight business performance.

Once you’ve finished the Management Level, you’ll be awarded the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA Adv Dip MA).

Managing performance

You’ll learn the fundamentals of business subject and how new business and operating subjects can be developed to improve the performance of organisations.

Discover how different styles of leadership can be used to improve the performance of individuals to achieve organisational goals and how to use performance management concepts and techniques to implement strategies effectively and efficiently.

You’ll be able understand use of project management concepts and techniques useful in implementing strategies.

Syllabus at a glance 

A. Business subjects and value creation

B. Managing people performance

C. Managing projects

Advanced Management Accounting

You’ll learn how to use cost management, quality and process management and value management to provide organisations with cost advantage.

You’ll understand the criteria, process and techniques that are used to decide which projects to undertake, how to manage the performance of organisational units to ensure that they achieve their objectives.

Discover how to analyse risks and uncertainties that organisations face in the medium term, especially capital investment decision making, and how to manage those risks in the implementation of such decisions.

Syllabus at a glance

A. Managing the costs of creating value

B. Capital investment decision making

C. Managing and controlling the performance of organisational units

D. Risk and control

Advanced Financial Reporting

You’ll learn about sources and types of funds and how much they cost, as well as the key financial reporting standards on which financial statements will be based and the application of those standards to prepare group accounts.

You’ll also learn about the International Integrated Reporting Framework and its components and how to conduct analyses of financial statements and their limitations.

A. Financing capital projects

B. Financial reporting standards

C. Group accounts

D. Integrated reporting

E. Analysing financial statements

Management Level Case Study

The case study exam tests the knowledge, skills and techniques that you’ve learned throughout the Management level in a role simulation. You’ll be asked to respond to authentic work-based activities, mimicking a job role linked to the Management level e.g. a finance manager.

The Strategic Level 

The Strategic level focuses on long term strategic decision making. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be able to support organisational leaders to craft strategy; evaluate and manage risks that might prevent organisations from successfully implementing strategy; value organisations; and source financial resources required to implement of strategy.

Strategic Management

You’ll learn about the foundation of strategic management and get an understanding of the dynamics of the organisational ecosystem and how it affects the strategy of the organisation.

Next, you’ll learn all about strategic choice and how options are generated, linking them to the purpose, values and vision of the organisation and how the options are evaluated, chosen and integrated to form the strategy of the organisation.

You’ll cover how strategy is implemented, how implementation objectives are achieved and how change is managed.

And you’ll learn about the different technologies that underpin digital transformation and various elements of digital strategy.

A. The Strategy process

B. Analysing the organisational ecosystem

C. Generating strategic options

D. Making strategic choices

E. Strategic control

F. Digital strategy

Risk Management

How to identify, evaluate and manage enterprise risks.

Where strategic risks emanate from, how to evaluate them and understand how oversight of these risks is critical to the governance of the organisation.

How internal controls can be used effectively in the risk management process and how to identify, analyse, remedy and report strategic risks including cyber risks.

A. Enterprise risk

B. Strategic risk

C. Internal controls

D. Cyber risk

Financial Strategy

You’ll learn about the different strategic financial objectives and policy options that are open to organisations.

Next, you’ll cover the types of funds available to organisations to finance the implementation of their strategies, including where and how they access these funds at the right time, in the right quantities and at the right cost.

Then you’ll move onto the sources of financial risk, how to evaluate and manage financial risk appropriately, and techniques in business valuation to assess whether a company has created and preserved value within the organisation.

Finally, you’ll learn the valuation techniques to calculate the value of organisations and the conditions applicable for such calculations, especially intangibles in the digital world. You’ll learn how to report intangible value and their drivers in integrated reporting.

A. Financial policy decisions

B. Sources of long term funds

C. Financial risks

D. Business valuation

Strategic Level Case Study

The case study exam tests the knowledge, skills and techniques that you’ve learned throughout the Strategic level in a role simulation. You’ll be asked to respond to authentic work-based activities, mimicking a job role linked to the Strategic level e.g. a senior finance manager.

Assessment of Practical Experience Requirements (PER)

Once you complete the Strategic level, your last step before earning the CGMA designation and becoming a CIMA member is to demonstrate that you have a minimum of three years’ relevant work experience (this can be accumulated before, during and after your studies). Your experience is assessed through the Practical Experience Requirements (PER) application.

Award: 

The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation and membership of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA or FCMA).

What study methods can you use?

Your learning is supported with over 60 hours of on-demand video., tuition provider courses.

If you like to learn with others, appreciate the support of having a tutor on -hand and benefit from the structure of the formal study, look at signing up with a tuition provider. You’ll find online-only courses, classroom, and a mixture of both. Costs will vary between providers, so check with them directly for information on fees.

Distance learning

Want to study in your time, on your terms? Choose when and where you study with CIMAstudy.com — the only online learning resource reviewed and approved by CIMA, delivered in partnership with Kaplan. Costs vary depending on the level of the course you’re taking: check the breakdown of fees on CIMAstudy.com.

Online and distance learning with CIMAstudy.com

CIMAStudy.com is the only online learning resource reviewed and approved by CIMA, delivered in partnership with Kaplan. It’s ideal if you live somewhere with little or no tuition provision, or if you prefer to self-study at your own pace.

Can’t decide?

Whatever your learning style, the CGMA Study Hub is your go-to resource. With articles, webcasts, videos, and access to all CIMA- approved study products, you’ll find a study aid that works for you. There’s even a well-being section to help you through your studies, with resources on everything from exam nerves to getting motivated.

Which learning and assessment route should I take?

Shape your studies how you want, using a tuition provider or opting to self-study, or enrol on the CGMA Finance Leadership Programme for a fully guided study experience.

Am I eligible for exemptions? 

If you have a degree or a qualification, you might be exempt from certain Certificate in Business Accounting or CGMA Professional Qualification exams. That means you could qualify sooner than you think.

Start your registration

Before you choose your registration route, make sure you have the following to hand:

• Your contact details, including address, phone and email
• Your current employment details (if you are working)
• Details of your tuition provider (if you are studying)

Register for Self-Tailored Learning and Assessment Route

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Test accommodations

Related links.

• AICPA & CIMA website
• CGMA ® Finance Leadership Program website
• MyCGMA Portal
• Purchase test vouchers CGMA PQ
• Purchase test vouchers CGMA FLP
• Purchase test vouchers
• Pearson VUE testing tutorial and practice exam
• What to expect in a Pearson VUE test centre

CIMA’s exam scheduling

All exams can be taken either at a test centre or online. Online exams have some unique requirements so see what you'll need before deciding if online is right for you.

Weigh your options »

The AICPA ® and CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants , empower the world’s most highly skilled accountants — CPAs and CGMA designation holders — with the knowledge, insight and foresight to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges. Our mission is to drive a dynamic accounting profession that works every day to build trust, create opportunity and grow prosperity worldwide.

For further information about the AICPA & CIMA and the CGMA qualification please go to https://www.aicpa-cima.com/home .

AICPA & CIMA have partnered with Pearson VUE to deliver CIMA’s assessments in nearly 6,000 exam centres worldwide. Together we are committed to ensuring that high-quality professional education, lifelong learning and the opportunities these provide are available to all individuals and communities who wish to take advantage of them.

Scheduling of all assessments is available by using the log in button towards the top right-hand side of your screen. One you’ve logged in you will be able select the location, date and time you want for the examination you wish to attempt.

To schedule your CGMA case study exams, please visit your exam dashboard .

Certificates, qualifications and routes

Certificate in business accounting.

The Certificate in Business Accounting is CIMA’s entry level accounting qualification for candidates with little or no accounting background. Find more information here »

CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification

There are different ways to study for the CGMA Professional Qualification. Whichever route you choose, you’ll get the same qualification and the same CGMA designation. But you’ll get there at your own pace, on your terms.

Find out more here »

Apprenticeships

CIMA offers end-point assessments for Level 4 and Level 7 apprenticeships in England.

If you’re a school leaver, a graduate, a working professional or even an existing CGMA candidate with at least 12 months of your qualification left, a CIMA Apprenticeship could be for you. Find out more here »

We welcome entries from candidates with test accommodation requirements and are able to provide additional help or concessions, such as extra exam time, as appropriate to individual needs. If you have a test accommodation requirement, you should notify CIMA prior to booking your assessment by following the instructions found here .

Once you have received confirmation of your special arrangements, you should book your assessment by telephone. You can find the appropriate regional Pearson VUE contact number here .

0800 048 7804   |   [email protected]

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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.

In addition, our team of dedicated case study tutors, personal mentors, and renowned materials known for their clarity and simplicity, make our courses a favourite among students. With an average Trustpilot rating of around 4.8 from over 600 reviews, you can trust that our courses deliver exceptional quality.

And to give you peace of mind, we offer a double guarantee. You can try out our course and determine if it’s right for you without any obligation to continue. Plus, with our one-time payment, you’ll never have to worry about any additional costs.

Read on to discover more…

“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

Focused on what it takes to pass

Our course is designed with one thing in mind…

Getting you through the exam

Plus a pass guarantee for peace of mind

Unrivalled support

Dedicated course mentor supporting you from start to finish

Assigned marker focused on giving you personal advice

Case study tutors are on hand to answer all your questions

Great value for money

The most comprehensive case study course

All for a great price!

With instalment options to help spread the payments

Course content

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.

So what exactly do you get?

“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.”

CIMA Case Study Student , July 2022

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.

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.

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Preparing for the CIMA Feb24 Case Studies: Free Resources and Guides

In the lead up to the next CIMA Case Study exam, VIVA's experts share useful free resources and guides that put you in pole position for exam day.

With the CIMA February 2024 Case Study exams just around the corner , it's a good idea for those of you intending to sit the exam to start laying the groundwork for your studies right now. The February exam can catch a lot of students out - the temptation is always to postpone study until after the holidays .

This is a mistake!

With the pre-seen already available, and a tuition provider like VIVA with full on-demand courses already available for the February window, there is no good reason why you shouldn't maximise your chances and jumpstart your studies as soon as possible. With that in mind, we thought we'd share with you what VIVA can do to help put you in pole position ahead of exam day. Below are a variety of tips, free resources and guides for the CIMA Feb24 case studies to help get you started.

1. Get the CIMA Pre-seen Materials Here

Probably the most important "free" resource of all is the pre-seen document that CIMA releases in advance of the Operational, Management and Strategic case study exams! The pre-seen document should be the focal point of your studies. You need to know this document inside-out. Too many students assume that they can casually browse the document a few days before the exam, and that if their theoretical knowledge is good enough, they'll be fine.

This is another mistake. There's a reason CIMA releases the pre-seen well in advance. It's because they want you to know it like the back of your hand. You need to be able to very quickly recall info from the pre-seen on exam day; to know where to look to find information that will help you answer the question. To know all the threats, opportunities, weaknesses, challenges, processes of the company in question.

Below you can find the links to each of the pre-seen documents for the current exam window:

OCS Feb24 Pre-seen: click here

MCS Feb24 Pre-seen: click here

SCS Feb24 Pre-seen: click here

2. VIVA's Pre-course Work

All of VIVA's Case study courses include a "Foundational Materials" component. This includes around 7 hours of video lectures and quizzes that ensure you are in the right mindset as soon as the pre-seen is released. These materials can be accessed immediately if you have purchased access to the Feb24 Case Study courses (whether as part of our CIMA All Access membership, or as an individual course ). The Foundational Materials include video reviews of your Objective Test theories and syllabi, exam technique lectures, study focus sessions, and more. This is particularly useful for any Gateway students sitting the MCS exam. VIVA's foundational materials orient you by introducing you to the key topics and concepts from the Objective Test exams. From there, if you wish you can further unlock the full suite of video lectures from E2, P2 and F2 with the All Access membership - allowing you to do a deeper dive on theories that you might not be familiar with. Unlock VIVA's full courses (with around 40 hours of learning materials, video lectures, live webinars and mock exams per course) via the links below:

3. Free articles and guides

‍ Perhaps VIVA's best kept secret (though we try our best not to keep it a secret!) is our growing library of high-value free content - the Knoweldge Centre . Much of this content is highly practical and relevant to Case Study exam sitters. Below we include a selection of the best free case study materials and videos that you can start working through immediately in order to ensure you are well oriented and motivated come pre-seen release day: ‍ ‍

Free Articles:

CIMA Exam Dates

5 CIMA Study Tips to Keep You Motivated

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

Working through your CIMA Case Study Course

6 Tips to Pass CIMA Fast

Handling CIMA Exam Day Nerves: Lessons from Public Speaking ‍

Free Videos:

How to pass the CIMA OCS exam

How to pass the CIMA MCS exam

How to pass the CIMA SCS exam

Planning your Answer in the CIMA OCS Exam

What goes into a Strong CIMA MCS Exam Answer?

Analysing and Understanding CIMA SCS Exam Questions ‍

4. Add mock exam marking at any time

For so many students, VIVA's professional marking has been the difference maker, the thing that pushed them over the line to a pass (see here for example).

Our student surveys have shown that VIVA students who had their mock exams marked by our team of experts, were 48% more likely to pass than students who had not had their mock exams marked. You don't have to get all your mocks marked, we understand that sometimes it's just not practical due to time or financial constraints. But the great thing with VIVA is that you can add any amount of mock marking to your course/membership at any time. You can purchase marking for anywhere from just 1 mock exam to 5 mock exams. You can purchase at the links below:

• marking for 1 x mock exam: purchase here  
• marking for 2 x mock exams: purchase here    
• marking for 3 x mock exams: purchase here    
• marking for 5 x mock exams: purchase here

We hope you find the above helpful as you gear up for the Feb24 round of CIMA Case Study exams.

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.

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.