management case study cima pass rate

Exam pass rates

Certificate in Business Accounting, CIMA’s CGMA® Professional Qualification Objective Test and Case Study Exam pass rates

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Cima exam support and preparation, cima exam pass rates – november 2023.

CIMA’s latest pass rates have just been released and are currently available on its website. 

Operational level remains in the same 60% range from August 2023 (69%) to November 2023 (68%). The rates continue to give the impression that OCS students are preparing and handling the case study exams well.

Management level surged again from 58% in August 2023 to 65% in November 2023. The pass rates for Gateway are no longer reported separately, which seems to suggest that the pass rates are now included in the MCS level.

Strategic level improved from dipping below 50% in August 2023, now standing at 59% in November 2023.

New pass rates have been released for the Objective Test (OT). The current pass rates covered the period Nov 2022 to Nov 2023.

Despite the good performance shown in the pass rates, students must not become complacent about studying. Good results do not mean that the exams are any easier. I’d like to think that it’s more about students focusing and dedicating more towards their studies, thereby earning good marks for their exams.

If you require assistance, visit the Resources page  for some helpful links to materials and preparation tips.

For a graphic view of this, here’s our CIMA Exam Pass Rates page .

For Case Studies

For objective tests.

The results are total exams taken from 1 November 2022 to 30 November 2023.

For Certificate Level

These results are total exams taken from 1 November 2022 to 30 November 2023.  

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CIMA Student Series: Management Case Study (MCS)

Here Louise McAndrew discusses the challenges she faced in passing her CIMA MCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam.

Louise McAndrew is a Strategic level CIMA student with just P3, F3 and the SCS left to study before becoming fully-qualified. Louise has mainly worked in not for profit organisations and is currently a Finance Officer for a charity in the social care sector (see her Linkedin profile here ). She is AAT-qualified but took a break from studying to have a family. Louise has two children, one of secondary school age and one of primary school age.

The Management Case Study had higher pass rates than the OCS and SCS in 2018. That doesn't mean it's an easy exam though. Here Louise McAndrew discusses the challenges she faced in passing her MCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam.

When did you take the MCS exam and how did you get on? Was it your first attempt?

I took the MCS in August 2018 and passed with a pass mark of 95. It was a huge relief as it was my third attempt having failed the first two times by just a couple of marks. The results came out on my birthday too so it was a great way to start the day!

I made my first attempt at the exam in November 2017 but due to a heavy workload in my office (new financial year budgeting), I couldn’t resit until May 2018 and then I passed the August 2018 case study.

How long did you spend preparing for the MCS paper (how many weeks/months and how many hours on average per week)?

As soon as the pre-seen material came out I started working through it. Prior to that I had started looking through past papers to get an idea of the kind of answers CIMA were looking for in the MCS. I hadn’t done this before for the previous two attempts and can honestly say that was probably what contributed to me failing.

I work full-time and have a family so I was squeezing revision in wherever possible. I was probably fitting in around 10-12 hours per week. I was actually on a family holiday the week before the exam so I brought my books with me to study on the beach!

Did you take a course or did you opt for self-study?

I self-studied as I find it difficult to commit to a course with work and family commitments. But I did purchase case study materials from Astranti and VIVA to help me with the revision.

Is it your intention to continue with self-study for the remainder of your studies? Would you recommend this approach to others?

I only have 3 exams left so I’ll carry on with self-study. I don’t really have an opinion in terms of recommending self-study. For me it’s the only viable option but for others they may prefer a classroom environment. I’m on a Facebook group called the CIMA UK Student Group which has a whole CIMA community in there so I’d recommend anyone studying to join as there’s lots of help and encouragement on there.

What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the MCS in relation to your preparation? e.g. balancing personal life with study, balancing work with study, the material was dull etc?

This particular case study was pretty dull. It was about a camera company and there was quite a lot of unnecessary information about camera components. I needed to decipher what information was actually relevant to what might be asked.

What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the MCS in relation to the exam day? e.g. time management, nerves etc?

I was incredibly nervous on the day as I didn’t want to fail again. Once the exam got going though, my nerves calmed and I was able to focus on answering the questions. I didn’t run out of time on any of the questions as I felt more prepared this time.

Was there an area of the Management syllabus that you liked more than others?

I preferred the E2 unit and found it was my strongest area. At operational level I preferred F1 but I studied operational level on the old written syllabus. Since it’s moved to computer based assessments I have preferred the Enterprise subjects as they’ve been easier to grasp.

Was there an area of the Management syllabus that you liked less than others?

I found the F2 and P2 units quite tough and when studying for the MCS those were the units I particularly needed to concentrate on. Whilst I was able to confidently calculate ratios, I needed to be able to explain how the ratios would be affected by changes in equity and debt etc.

Was there a particular area of either P2 or F2 you found tougher?

I couldn’t get my head around WACC calculations so it was my weakest area. Even when studying the case study I really needed to revise its meaning as I knew it was likely to be tested. It was a question on one of the case studies I failed and I don’t think I answered it very well.

Do you have any tips for other students about to sit the MCS?

I would definitely say look back on past papers. It gives you a really good idea of what CIMA are looking for in their answers. Also, if you’re not able to commit to a course then it’s definitely worth buying case study materials such as pre-seen analysis, strategic analysis, Key Issues and case study mock exams as they are always catered specifically for the case study being tested.

Have you used VIVA’s case study materials? If so, how did you find the materials?

I had been using Astranti but I found their mock exams to be too long-winded to follow. Other people recommended VIVA so I bought their Case Study materials and found them really helpful.

Do you have any final comments/recommendations/feelings/thoughts about your MCS experience?

The case studies are just as tough as the objective tests so I would say if you don’t pass first time then keep going. It will be worth it when you pass.

‍ You might want to explore and learn more about our CIMA MCS Course . You can also check out our free webinars for the MCS.

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

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

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CIMA Exam Pass Rates 2019: How the Statistics Affects Your Chance of Success

• By Stephanie Ng
• / 5 COMMENTS

There are official release of the CIMA exam pass rates. In this post, we attempt to analyze these data and give meaning to these statistics — what is the trend, and how does it affect you as a candidate?

(CIMA in this website refers to Chartered Institute of Management Accountant. For Certified Investment Management Analyst, please click here .)

CIMA Exam Pass Rates – Objective Tests

As you may know, there are three levels of the CIMA exam in the Professional Qualification program:

• Operational (Level 1)
• Management (Level 2)
• Strategic (Level 3)

In each of these level, there are three tests from each of the learning pillars (i.e. exam topics):

• Enterprise pillar
• Performance pillar
• Financial pillar

For example, E1 is the Enterprise pillar exam in the first operational level. F3 is the Finance exam in the third Strategic level.

Below is the CIMA exam pass rates for the 9 objective tests:

Let’s take a closer look at each of the CIMA exam pass rates:

CIMA E2 Pass Rate was the Highest

In fact, E1, E2 and E3 all have higher pass rates than the other pillars. What does E (Enterprise) cover, and why do candidates perform better?

The Enterprise pillar focuses on how to formulate as well as effectively implement strategy. It emphasises how change management, project management and relationship management and the structuring of organisations can help to successfully implement strategy – CIMA website

Therefore, this learning pillar is more on how professionals handle and manage relationships in the form of a project or a working team. It relies more on common sense and practical experience, and less on technical skills (e.g. accounting knowledge) when compared to other learning pillars.

When you study for the E1, E2 and E3 exams, keep this in mind and you will do well like most of the others.

CIMA P1 Pass Rate was the Lowest

The Performance pillar exams (P1, P2 and P3) performed the lowest in every level. The contrast was especially big in the first Operational level.

The Performance pillar uses the tools and techniques of management accounting and risk management to ensure a realistic strategy and to monitor implementation. It covers budgets and cost management and develops the ability to identify, classify, evaluate and manage risk.

It is true that many candidates, even those with accounting training, are scared of management accounting. Also, given management accounting is the core of CIMA, the standard is probably higher, thus making the exam more difficult.

First Timer Pass Rates > 50%

The CIMA exam pass rates for the objective tests were actually quite high. In particular, passing rates among first timers were above 50%, and mostly above 60%. This is in fact a very encouraging level among global accounting exams.

Even if the candidate fails, if he is persistent to try again, the chance of making it in the end is very high with an average percentage above 80%.

CIMA Exam Pass Rates – Case Studies

Besides the 9 Objective Tests, CIMA candidates need to take one integrated case study exam in each level. As the name suggests, this test is meant to integrate the three learning pillars.

The CIMA exam pass rates in the last 4 quarters are shown below:

CIMA Pass Rate Analysis

1. operational level.

The Operational pass rate has been relatively consistent, ranging from 47 to 51%. The pass rate is in line with that in the US CPA exam (around 50%).

2. Management Level

Interestingly, the overall CIMA exam pass rates in this second level are more than 10%-point higher. This is significant, and encouraging to those who passed the Operational level.

One theory is that those who are eligible to take the second level exams are usually more dedicated and more prepared. The ones who are not have been screened out in the first level. We see the same trend in CFA’s 3 level exams.

3. Strategic Level

The CIMA exam pass rates in this last level ranges from 62% to 66%. It seems to be similar or slightly lower than the Management Level performance.  The questions are more difficult but the overall passing rate at 60s is in fact quite good.

CIMA Gateway

For those with an MBA or a Master’s in Accounting degree, you can choose to take the CIMA Gateway exam. If passed, you will be seen as equivalent to passing the Operational and Management levels, and can go straight to the last i.e. Strategic level.

The CIMA Gateway pass rate was the lowest among all exams. This is not surprising because having a master’s degree doesn’t necessarily translate into better exam takers in the CIMA exam. I imagine there are quite a few “casual exam takers”, trying their luck and see if they are able to skip the first two levels. If you are one of these people, have a second though. The CIMA Gateway is a great path for those who are prepared, but it may not be for everyone.

For Your Further Reading

Comparison:

• CMA exam pass rates
• CPA exam pass rates
• CFA exam pass rates

More information on the CIMA exam:

• How to apply for CIMA ?
• When can one take the CIMA exam ?
• What is the structure and format?

If you have any other questions, please drop a note in the comment section below. Thank you!

About the Author Stephanie Ng

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

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Management Case Study

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The case study pass rate rose sharply in November’s Strategic case study to 71%, according to the latest stats. The SCS pass rate was just 58% last time around (August 2022), the lowest it had been since August 2020. The 71% pass rate was on a par with the February 2022 pass rate.

Success at the Management case study also jumped this time around, to 71%. Although that’s two percentage points above the August pass rate it is nowhere near the 83% achieved by May 2022 sitters.

The Operational pass rate also looks great compared to November 2021. Back then it was 52% and now it is holding steady at 66% – the joint top pass are for the paper in 2022.

CIMA CASE STUDY RESULTS 2022

                                Nov       Aug      May       Feb

Operational            66%      66%     62%       62%

Management         71%     69%      82%       73%

Strategic                 71%     58%     62%        72%

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CIMA Management Case Study

‘How to pass the case study’ mini-course

“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.

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 MCS

What are the most important factors in passing the CIMA Management 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 Management 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 MCS marked?

By understanding how the Management 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 MCS 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 MCS

Having the ability to apply your knowledge of the theory to the pre-seen scenario is crucial when preparing for the MCS 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 MCS 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.”

CIMA Qualified , July 2022

“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 ‘how to pass the case study’ mini-course

The ‘How To Pass The Case Study’ Mini-Course is also part of our MCS Premium and Essentials Courses. Head to the course page to find out more.

MCS ‘How To Pass The Case Study’ Mini-Course £165

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