cima case study syllabus

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Cracking the case study exams in 2024: The definitive guide to the CIMA case study exams

2. What is the pre-seen material and how should I use it?

You’ll only be given access to the pre-seen material roughly six weeks before your case study exam. So, it’s super important you know how to use that short amount of time to get the most out of the pre-seen material! 

“ What is in the pre-seen material pack?…”

The pre-seen material pack contains around 20 pages of information about a fictional company, its position and the industry it operates in. The pack often includes:

• Examples of the company’s competitors
• Descriptions of the company’s markets
• Mission and vision statements
• Financial statements
• Press releases
• Newspaper or digital articles about the company

How SHOULD I use the pre-seen material?

• Read it thoroughly – this means more than once! We recommend reading it at least 3 times
• Undertake a full strategic analysis of the material.
• Consider what the pre-seen may not be telling you about the performance of the business – i.e. have they left any details out on purpose?

How SHOULDN’T I use the pre-seen material?

• Don’t try to guess what the exam questions or topics will be and learn set answers – focus on making sure you understand the pre-seen.
• Don’t spend lots of time trying to work out which real company the pre-seen company is based on – this won’t help you answer the questions in the exam.

“Do I need to memorise everything in the pre-seen pack?”

No – you will be given an electronic copy of the pre-seen material in your exam. 

But, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t become familiar with the material. You will be under great time pressure in your exam, so quickly recalling key information rather than constantly re-reading it can save you vital time.

“Do I need to include quotes from the pre-seen material in my answers?

You should include details such as the company name, key individuals at the company, financial figures found in the financial statements, the country or countries mentioned or the competitor (if there is one), if they are relevant.

But, you are not required to quote full sentences or phrases from the material to support your analysis.

3. 5 things you must do to prepare for your case study

One of the main reasons for students failing the case study exam is poor preparation! So, we’re sharing our top 5 exam prep tips to maximise your chances of passing on the big day!

1 – Read, re-read and analyse the pre-seen material 

Understanding the pre-seen material is the most important part of your preparation. We recommend you read it thoroughly at least 3 times to ensure you are comfortable with the material and you understand it. 

2 – Research the industry the pre-seen company operates in

To successfully apply the theory you learnt in your operational exams, you will need a good industry understanding. This is so your advice is relevant to the issues in that industry. Therefore, it is useful to research the industry and learn some real-life examples to incorporate into your answer.

Find Your Astranti Case Study Course

We have OnDemand courses available for every case study student, whether you need lots of guidance and assistance along the way or you just need to get up to speed with the latest pre-seen. On our courses you will find study guides, recorded videos, mock exams & practice questions, live online classes, tutor/mentor support and much more.

Prices start at just £245 or £45 a month for 6 months.

Explore each of our case study courses below…