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CIMA Exam Format
CIMA Exam Format – The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification is one of the most globally-recognised and sought-after business accreditations. It combines accounting, finance and management with the leading-edge skills and techniques that drive successful modern businesses.The full CIMA Qualification consist of three levels.
CIMA Exam Format Details
The full qualification consists of Three levels and even though you are able to study at your own pace, we recommend you study the qualification a level at a time.In order to complete each level you will need to sit the relevant Integrated Case Study (ICS). These are available four times a year and focus on the skills employers look for. The assessments consolidate the learning at each CIMA level (Operational, Management, Strategic) to reflect real-life work situations. They are also taken via computer but marked in person by CIMA examiners.
Professional Qualification exams
The Professional qualification is made up of two types of computer based assessments:
- 90 minute objective tests for each of the three subjects within each level – these are on demand and can be taken all year.
- A three-hour case study when you have completed all objective tests and want to progress to the next level – these are available in four windows a year.
Exam performance report
CIMA offers the opportunity for unsuccessful case study exam candidates to receive an individual feedback report on their performance.
Gateway exam
The gateway route is a great way to fast track onto the CIMA Professional Qualification and earn the highly valued CGMA designation. This fast track route enables eligible individuals to progress directly to the final level of the CIMA Professional Qualification (Strategic level), upon passing the CIMA Gateway Exam. The CIMA Gateway Exam is also known as the Management Case Study exam for those not on the accelerated route.
There are three possible paths within the gateway entry route:
- Professional Gateway route
- Management Accountant Gateway route
- Master’s Gateway route
Must Read : CIMA Exam Rules and Regulations
Certificate level exams are computer based and are on demand – they can be taken all year. The Certificate level syllabus comprises of five subjects with one exam for each subject and all five exams must be passed to complete the level. The five exams can be taken in any order. This level contains following subjects
- C01 – Fundamentals of Management Accounting
The context of management accounting
Cost identification and behaviour
Planning within organisations
Accounting control systems
Decision making
- C02 – Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
Conceptual and regulatory framework
Accounting systems
Preparation of accounts for single entities
Control of accounting systems
- C03 – Fundamentals of Business Mathematics
Basic mathematics
Probability
Summarising and analysing data
Relationships between variables
Forecasting
Financial mathematics
Spreadsheets
- C04 – Fundamentals of Business Economics
The macroeconomic context of business
The goals and decisions of organisations
The market system and the competitive process
The financial system
- C05 – Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law
- Ethics and business
- Ethical conflict
- Corporate governance
- Comparison of English law with alternative legal systems
- The law of contract
- The law of employment
- Company administration and finance
Best Recommended Video lectures for Certificate level subjects
Operational Level is the first Professional level of the CIMA qualification, and consists of three Objective Test exams, and an Operational Level Integrated Case Study exam. To move on to Management level you must be exempt from or pass all these, and on successful completion you will be awarded the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting. You must already have completed Certificate Level (or have exemptions) to be eligible to sit Operational Level exams.
- E1 Organisational Management
- P1 Management Accounting
- F1 Financial Reporting and Taxation
- Integrated Case Study
Best Recommended Video lectures for Operational level subjects
Management level is the second level of the professional qualification and consists of four exams . It covers the monitoring and reporting of the implementation, and the corrective action that can be taken when required. You must have already completed Operational Level (or hold relevant exemptions), and will be awarded the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting on completion.
- E2 Project and Relationship Management
- P2 Advanced Management Accounting
- F2 Advanced Financial Reporting
- Integrated Case Study
Best Recommended video lectures for Management level subjects
Strategic level is the third level of the professional qualification and consists of three exams.With a long-term focus, the Strategic level is all about making strategic decisions and providing the context for which they will be implemented. You must have completed Management Level (or hold relevant exemptions), and is the final level of the CIMA Professional Qualification.
- E3 Strategic Management
- P3 Risk Management
- F3 Financial Strategy
- Integrated Case Study
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CIMA releases latest tranche of exam pass rates
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has released its latest exam pass rates. The newly-released information covers case studies sat in November 2015, and updates 2015 objective test and Cert BA pass figures to take into account the entire calendar year.
All pass rates continued to climb as the year progressed, a point that Dr Noel Tagoe, CIMA’s executive director of education, ascribes to increased student familiarity with CIMA’s new syllabus and exam format.
Dr Tagoe said: “Our new exam system has now been live for a year, and we are seeing students feel increasingly comfortable with it, and increasingly confident in preparing for the more flexible, on-demand tests. As a result, pass rates are either remaining steady or are becoming higher, which is great news for our thousands of students looking to progress through their exams as fast as possible.
“Above all, we congratulate our students on their hard work – accountancy exams are not easy, so each forward step is hard-earned.”
Case study exams
| February / March | May | August | November | |
| Operational | 44% | 67% | 34% | 61% |
| Management | 33% | 62% | 77% | 78% |
| CIMA gateway | 15% | 20% | 40% | 42% |
| Strategic | 46% | 70% | 67% | 62% |
Objective tests
The pass rates cover the objective test sittings between 2 January and 31 December 2015.
| E1 | P1 | F1 | E2 | P2 | F2 | E3 | P3 | F3 | |
| Overall exam pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam after one or more attempts between January and September 2015. | 87% | 63% | 82% | 92% | 66% | 66% | 76% | 69% | 67% |
| First time pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam on first attempt. | 78% | 45% | 74% | 85% | 44% | 47% | 61% | 50% | 48% |
| Exam pass rate: Total exams passed / total exams taken. | 76% | 42% | 71% | 83% | 41% | 45% | 58% | 47% | 47% |
Certificate level exams
These pass rates cover the certificate level exams between 2 January and 31 December 2015.
| C01 | C02 | C03 | C04 | C05 | |
| Overall exam pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam after one or more attempts between January and September 2015. | 81% | 89% | 77% | 84% | 90% |
| First time pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam on first attempt. | 70% | 83% | 62% | 74% | 83% |
| Exam pass rate: Total exams passed / total exams taken. | 67% | 81% | 59% | 71% | 81% |
Case study exams 2015/16
Exam pass rate: total exams passed / total exams taken.
Case study exam pass rates will be made available following the release of strategic case study exam results in each window.
| August (2015) | November (2015) | February (2016) | May (2016) | |
| Operational | 34% | 61% | 62% | 67% |
| Management | 77% | 78% | 64% | 63% |
| CIMA gateway | 40% | 42% | 29% | 26% |
| Strategic | 67% | 62% | 56% | 46% |
Objective tests
The pass rates cover the objective test sittings between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016.
| E1 | P1 | F1 | E2 | P2 | F2 | E3 | P3 | F3 | |
| Overall exam pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam after one or more attempts. | 88% | 67% | 84% | 93% | 72% | 72% | 80% | 77% | 75% |
| First time pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam on first attempt. | 80% | 47% | 74% | 86% | 52% | 49% | 65% | 55% | 55% |
| Exam pass rate:Total exams passed / total exams taken. | 76% | 42% | 69% | 83% | 43% | 45% | 60% | 50% | 49% |
CIMA will publish updated objective test pass rates every quarter following the release of pass rates for case study exams.
Certificate level exams
These pass rates cover the certificate level exams between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016.
| C01 | C02 | C03 | C04 | C05 | |
| Overall exam pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam after one or more attempts. | 83% | 90% | 73% | 86% | 91% |
| First time pass rate: Percentage of students who have passed the exam on first attempt. | 73% | 83% | 62% | 76% | 85% |
| Exam pass rate: Total exams passed / total exams taken. | 68% | 80% | 57% | 72% | 83% |
Recommended Read : Complete details of CIMA Exam preparation, study tips, study material
CIMA Exam Format
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