About the exam
Essentially, the CIMA Case Study exam is there to synopsise everything you’ve learned so far and prove you can apply this to a real-life business scenario. Therefore, the Case Study exam is in a written format and is based around a pre-seen scenario. Your job is to take on a ‘persona’ in a simulated business role-play and provide solutions to the business scenario published by CIMA at the start of the exam sitting.
What’s the examiner looking for?
The examiner is looking to see that candidates can go on to apply everything they have learned in previous CIMA modules to their work. Crucially, there will be ‘core activities’ that the examiner would like to see demonstrated. These vary depending on the level. They can include skills such as the ability to measure performance or the ability to apply relevant financial reporting standards.
Areas the examiner wants you to demonstrate*:
| Operational | Management | Strategic |
| A. Prepare costing information for different purposes to meet the needs of management | A. Evaluate opportunities to add value. | A. Develop business strategy. |
| B. Prepare budget information and assess its use for planning and control purposes | B. Implement senior management decisions. | B. Evaluate business ecosystem and business environment. |
| C. Analyse performance using financial and nonfinancial information | C. Manage performance and costs to aid value creation. | C. Recommend financing strategies. |
| D. Apply relevant financial reporting standards and corporate governance, ethical and tax principles | D. Measure performance. | D. Evaluate and mitigate risk. |
| E. Prepare information to support short-term decision-making | E. Manage internal and external stakeholders | E. Recommend and maintain a sound control environment. |
| F. Prepare information to manage working capital |
*information taken from the CIMA Exam Blueprints
Therefore, the Case study is practical in nature. It requires excellent writing skills and the ability to work to a set amount of time. Naturally, question practice is one of the most important parts of any Case Study course.
More information on how each level is assessed can be found in CIMA’s useful exam blueprints below:
Operational | Management | Strategic
What does a good answer look like?
Sometimes, the best way to understand what makes a good answer is by comparing it to a low scoring one. Find an Exam Script Walk-through on the CIMA Study Planner. CIMA have annotated this with helpful hints and tips, so you can see exactly why the good answer is good.
How can I excel in my CIMA Case Study exam?
Hear from our highest achievers and Prizewinners about their approach to Case Study and their recommendations for current students. Also, find out exactly what happens on an FI CIMA Case Study course and how our expert tutors will fully prepare you for the exam: What happens on a CIMA Case Study course?
