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Operational level examination blueprint - 2024-2025

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This is the examination blueprint for the Operational level of the CGMA Professional Qualification. It will set out in detail what is examinable in the Case Study Examination and the Objective Tests for the period stated on the cover of this document. It also provides information about the format, structure and weightings of the assessments. It complements the syllabus document and provides details specifically related to the different type of assessments and is our most comprehensive statement to date on

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CIMA Student Series: Operational Case Study

Here Rachel Harrison discusses the challenges she faced in passing her CIMA OCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam.

Rachel Harrison is a Global Credit Process Analyst for TT Electronics based in Bedlington in Northumberland, England (see LinkedIn profile here ). She is currently studying at the management level of CIMA.

As it is the first case study style exam that CIMA students face, the Operational Case Study presents its own unique challenges. Here Rachel Harrison discusses the challenges she faced in passing her OCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam. ‍

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

Rachel: I sat the OCS exam in November 2018, I scored 93 and found out I had passed just before Christmas. This was the second time I sat the exam, the first time being in August 2018 where I scored 65.

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

Rachel: I started studying for the OCS in June 2018 to get ready for the exam in August of that year. I spent around 6 hours a week studying which increased to 20 hours in the few weeks before the exam. As this was my first OCS and I had 2 exemptions for P1 and F1 , I found this to be more about revision than studying to make sure I could base each theoretical model on the given company.  

Did you find having not studied P1 and F1 put you at a disadvantage? If you were starting again, would you sit the P1 and F1 exams?

Rachel: There was a slight disadvantage as some things were not as fresh in my mind as items examined on E1 but i worked hard for my degree and gained many exemptions so i wanted to utilise that knowledge. I can see how sitting P1 and F1 would have been useful and may have relieved some of the pressure from studying as I study in my own time outside of a busy role. I have also been given an exemption more recently from F2 at the management level. My university was very supportive and offered modules with many exemptions.

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

Rachel: I have been completing my CIMA qualification through self-study in my own time outside of work. I did have some exemptions from my degree in Accounting and Finance. I have only used VIVA tuition for the OCS exam and found this very helpful as the videos went into a high level of detail and stopped me from spiralling and focusing on unnecessary areas.

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

Rachel: The balance between work/personal/study time will always be difficult for people and I found the pressure in all areas build in the week leading up to the exam. I try to find a balance and set specific times for each area to make sure I do not feel overly pressured or feel like I am losing control. For the OCS, this was different to the other exams as you need to base your answers on the company from the case study whilst balancing your knowledge in the specific models per question. In my first attempt of the OCS exam, I found this very difficult as my previous exam history had always been based on knowledge only and not much on the application to a certain company. I do find it very hard to memorise the IAS numbers and who completed different business models as I like my answers to show the history and further information where possible.

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

Rachel: I struggle with nerves really badly, and going into the exam I was in high panic mode. At the test centres I have visited there are strict rules when taking a CIMA exam, and I always get my glasses taken off me to be checked for software, sleeves checked for notes, and I've even been asked to show nothing is in my ears! This very high level of checks before being allowed to sit the exam always worries me as I am an anxious person and this adds to my nerves before being sat in front of the computer to take the test. Once I am sat at the desk with the test open I am fine. Using the VIVA videos always helps me to feel prepared for the context and questions that may be asked in the exam. Its the exam conditions that I do not enjoy. I had prepared using the videos by VIVA tuition and even had these playing through headphones on the way to the exam to hear the key topics/issues. Once in the exam I start to calm down as there is nothing we can do now but try our hardest. I found time given was relevant to the level of information needed and I only struggled for time on the last question – which was the same for both exams I have sat.

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

Rachel: I preferred the E1 syllabus as this has more information and models I enjoy learning. These are seen in many aspects of my day to day working life. This was also the only multiple choice exam I had to sit for this level which may make me biased.

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

Rachel: I do not enjoy learning the IAS numbers as I tend to forget these or get the numbers and information mixed up. This has been something I have struggled with since university but I think this may be down to the way I was first taught these as it was very monotone and boring.

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

Rachel: Don’t forget to tie the case study company into your answers. I aimed for this every time I made a model/theory/IAS reference - I always tried to tie it back to the company being discussed. Make sure you plan your answers, write headers for each topic you want to discuss for each question to help you keep on track. The time goes quickly in the exam and you don’t want to spend your valuable time writing an introduction or an in depth model history. I would write the main points I wanted for each heading then go back and add any extra information once I had finished to ensure all required answers were given as sometimes the questions have multiple answers required and it is easy to be sucked in and end up only answering one.

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

Rachel: For the exam in August I ordered only the key issues video and pre-seen video analysis. I did not think any more was needed as the information was so in depth. When I sat the exam in November, I ordered the Smarter Study Pack which is covered by a lifetime pass guarantee and which gave me exam questions and further videos. This was really helpful and insightful in giving a breakdown of the information and it helped me to focus on the main areas that could come up. Having the lifetime pass guarantee also took some pressure off the situation as I knew VIVA would be there to support me if I needed to resit. I will be ordering these for all case study exams going forward.

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

Rachel: The VIVA study packs are very helpful and the videos are kept to the point and interesting. Without these I would have really struggled to pass the exams so I really recommend them to anyone planning on sitting a case study exam. ‍ ‍

If you have an OCS exam coming up soon, check out our All Access membership which includes our in-depth OCS course taught by some of the leading experts in CIMA tuition.

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CIMA Operational Case Study

No matter how well you know the theory and the pre-seen, unless you can use your knowledge in an exam situation, all of your revision is worthless!

To make sure you pass first time , you need to prepare yourself for even the most challenging of questions under exam conditions. That’s why we create 5 brand new mock exams for each case study, each tailored to the latest pre-seen and based on topics we think you are most likely to see in your exam.

Our CIMA operational case study mock exams will:

• Test your overall knowledge of the syllabus and the latest pre-seen
• Highlight your weaknesses to focus on in your remaining revision
• Improve your time management skills in an exam environment

FREE CASE STUDY MOCK EXAM

Start your free CIMA operational level membership to access our free OCS mini mock, which is just half the length of our full mocks and the final exam, and includes detailed solutions, plus the accompanying debrief video.

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Top tips for operational case study examination.

• Application is so important. Generic textbook answers do not score well. The secret here is assimilation of the technical knowledge with the context and details of the pre-seen scenario.
• Use the company name/ staff members/ key themes of the pre-seen -eg environmental or innovative plans to underpin your suggestions & make them relevant & applied.
• Make sure you know your pre-seen inside out… eg if the company does not offer credit sales at the moment, be careful not to suggest debt factoring as a way to ease cashflow!!
• CIMA examiner has asked that students assume life as normal for their case-study answers (Eg a life before COVID pandemic began)… Although, all relevant comments will be awarded if correct and in context, but you should avoid excessive references to COVID/ lockdown/ impact of health social distancing etc on the company.
• Students should be familiar with the CIMA Blueprint… particularly the I – CAN statements. 

https://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/Future%20of%20Finance/1901-9263%20Operational%20Exam%20Blueprints%20FINAL%20ONLINE%20v4.pdf

The ‘I CAN pages from this link are pasted below..

These tell student the weightings and mix of the topics they can expect in EVERY OCS exam…

For example -from the ICAN table..– Section F ( working capital) will be between 7 and 13% of every op case study exam paper – so this table shows the importance of those topic areas – eg we know from this that working capital will be examined in EVERY OCS exam paper going forward (at least 7% of the marks) – so this topic is guaranteed…

Use your objective test knowledge ( 2019 syllabus) notes & Open Tuition lectures to revise – bearing in mind P1 is the LEAD paper for OCS, but F1 and E1 both important too,

When working through your P1/ F1/ E1 notes –try to keep a high level overview – rather than drilling down to the detailed calculations – instead be able to explain/ define/ know the pros and cons of techniques and whether they would be ‘useful’ for the pre-seen company in your scenario.

Graphs are common in the OCS – so be sure you can explain and interpret graphs ( linear programming for example).

Always write enough – ensure you expand/ explain & apply. Leave lots of white space – use subheadings to present your answers & help markers award marks that you deserve.

Avoid bullet points – unless you are out of time

Use the percentage weightings of each exam SUBTASK to guide how much time to spend on each part of your answer

Visit CIMA website & find detailed examiner reports & past exam questions to see errors and weaknesses made by students in recent sittings. Also a good way to see the types of questions to expect and level of detail CIMA are requiring in their answers.

Exam Resource

Examination timetable.

Examination timetable with dates for all aspects of multiple CS windows