The Most Difficult CIMA Exam, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the exam you think is the most difficult!
Updated on May 3, 2024 06:23
Many aspiring professionals face the challenge of passing CIMA exams, which are crucial for careers in management accounting. Understanding which exams are the most strenuous can help candidates prepare effectively, allocate their study time wisely, and set realistic expectations for their progress.
This site allows users to contribute their own experiences and rank the CIMA exams based on difficulty. By participating, you help build a clearer picture for future test takers, enhancing collective knowledge and support within the community. Your input is valuable in shaping a resource that guides many on their educational and professional journey.
What Is the Most Difficult CIMA Exam?
-
185votesThis exam is the final exam in the CIMA qualification and requires students to apply their knowledge to real-life business scenarios. It also assesses their strategic thinking, decision-making, and communication skills.The Strategic Case Study is an exam conducted by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It assesses candidates' ability to integrate and apply their knowledge of the CIMA syllabus in a strategic business context. The case study requires candidates to analyze a given scenario, identify the key issues, and provide appropriate recommendations and solutions.
- Exam format: Computer-based case study exam
- Exam duration: 3 hours
- Pass mark: 80 out of 150
- Preparation time: 4-5 weeks
- Number of tasks: 4-5 tasks
-
229votesThis exam is the second of the three case study exams and requires students to analyze and provide solutions to management issues.The Management Case Study is an exam conducted by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) which focuses on testing the candidates' ability to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-life management scenario. It requires the candidates to analyze a given business situation, make strategic decisions, and provide recommendations to solve complex managerial problems.
- Exam Format: The exam is a computer-based case study, lasting for approximately three hours.
- Preparation: Candidates are expected to study relevant theoretical concepts, as well as practice applying those concepts to case scenarios during their preparation.
- Real-world Simulations: The case study is designed to simulate a real-life business situation, providing candidates with a practical understanding of management accounting and strategic decision-making.
- Data Analysis: Candidates are required to analyze and interpret financial and non-financial data provided in the case study.
- Strategic Decision-Making: Candidates must demonstrate their ability to make informed strategic decisions based on the given business context and objectives.
-
326votesThis exam covers advanced topics in management accounting, such as performance measurement, budgeting, and decision-making.Advanced Management Accounting is a CIMA exam that assesses candidates on their understanding and application of advanced management accounting techniques, concepts, and tools. It focuses on developing strategic decision-making skills and providing financial analysis and insights to support managerial decision-making processes.
- Level: Strategic
- Exam format: Computer-based objective test
- Exam duration: 3 hours
- Number of questions: 60
- Passing percentage: 70%
-
422votesThis exam focuses on strategic management and covers topics such as business models, organizational design, and risk management.The CIMA Enterprise Strategy exam is a professional qualification designed to assess candidates' knowledge and skills in strategic management and enterprise-level decision making. It focuses on the formulation and implementation of strategies to drive business growth and sustainability.
- Exam level: Strategic level
- Exam code: E3
- Duration: 3 hours
- Number of questions: Section A: 20 objective test questions; Section B: 3 case study-style questions
- Pass mark: 70%
-
518votesThis exam covers advanced topics in financial management, such as corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and financial risk management.The Financial Strategy exam is a professional qualification exam offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It assesses the candidates' knowledge and understanding of advanced financial management concepts, techniques, and strategies within the context of organizational strategy.
- Exam Level: Strategic
- Exam Format: Computer-based objective test
- Duration: 3 hours
- Passing Rate: Varies each exam sitting
- Weighting: 25%
-
66votesThis exam covers performance management and covers topics such as cost management, revenue management, and performance measurement.Performance Strategy is an exam offered by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) that tests candidates' knowledge and understanding of strategic performance measurement and management. This exam focuses on developing skills related to the design and implementation of performance measurement systems to enhance organizational performance.
- Exam Code: P3
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Passing Score: 100 out of 150
- Level: Strategic Level
- Subject Areas: Strategic performance measurement, Designing performance measurement systems, Implementing performance measurement systems, Change management
-
79votesThis exam covers the principles of management accounting, including cost accounting, budgeting, and decision-making.Management Accounting is an exam offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It tests the knowledge and skills required for professionals in the field of management accounting. The exam focuses on understanding and applying management accounting techniques and concepts to support business decision-making.
- Exam format: Computer-based
- Exam duration: 3 hours
- Number of questions: Objective Test: 60 questions
- Pass mark: 70%
- Difficulty level: High
-
88votesThis exam covers financial management principles, including financial planning and analysis, investment appraisal, and working capital management.Financial Management is a CIMA exam that focuses on developing the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage the financial resources of an organization. It covers various financial management concepts, techniques, and tools to make informed financial decisions.
- Exam level: Strategic
- Exam format: Computer-based objective test
- Exam duration: 3 hours
- Number of questions: 60
- Pass mark: 70%
-
97votesThis exam covers taxation principles and their application to business situations.Business Taxation is an exam in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification, specifically focused on the knowledge and understanding of tax laws, regulations, and practices applicable to businesses. It assesses candidates' ability to analyze and apply tax principles and concepts in various business scenarios.
- Exam Level: Professional
- Difficulty Level: Advanced
- Exam Format: Objective Test Questions (OTQs)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Pass Mark: 70%
-
104votesThis exam covers financial accounting principles and their application to business situations.Financial Accounting and Reporting is a challenging exam offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). It focuses on testing professionals' knowledge and understanding of financial accounting principles and reporting standards in a business context. The exam aims to assess candidates on their ability to apply relevant accounting concepts and guidelines to real-world scenarios in order to generate accurate financial statements and reports.
- Exam Level: Professional
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Number of Questions: 4
- Pass Mark: 50%
- Exam Format: Computer-based objective test
Missing your favorite exam?
Graphs
Discussion
Ranking factors for difficult exam
-
Exam content and syllabusReview the syllabus for each CIMA exam to understand the complexity and depth of knowledge required. The difficulty of an exam is primarily determined by the topics covered, their relevance to real-world situations, and the extent of detail required.
-
Pass ratesCheck the pass rates of each CIMA exams. Generally, exams with lower pass rates are considered to be more challenging, as a lower percentage of students successfully pass them on their first attempt.
-
Preparation timeAssess the amount of study time required to prepare for each exam adequately. Exams that require more extensive preparation can be considered more challenging, as they demand greater mastery of the subject matter.
-
Exam format and structureEvaluate the overall structure of each exam, including the number of sections, the duration of each section, the types of questions asked (multiple choice, short answer, essay), and the weighting of each section. Exams with more complex formats may be more challenging to prepare for and attempt.
-
Prerequisites and required knowledgeExamine the prerequisite knowledge or qualifications needed to attempt each exam. Exams that require more advanced or specialized skills tend to be more challenging.
-
Professional experienceConsider the extent to which professional experience in a relevant field can aid in exam preparation. Exams that rely more heavily on practical experience and real-world situations may be more difficult for students who lack such experience.
-
Study resources availableExams with fewer available study resources, such as textbooks, online courses, and sample exams, can be more challenging to prepare for, as students may have to rely more on self-directed learning.
-
Reputation of the examThe general reputation of each CIMA exam within the industry and among students can also be a factor to consider. Exams that are widely known to be difficult may have a greater psychological barrier for students, which can contribute to the overall level of difficulty.
-
Relevance to professional goalsFinally, consider how relevant each exam is to your career goals. Exams that are more directly related to your specific professional ambitions may be considered more challenging since you will likely invest more effort into mastering the content.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult CIMA exam. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or exam is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1643 views
- 214 votes
- 10 ranked items
Movers & Shakers
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each exam once every 24 hours. The rank of each exam is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most difficult cima exam
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is a globally recognized professional qualification in management accounting. The CIMA exams are designed to test the knowledge and skills of aspiring management accountants. The CIMA syllabus consists of several exams, each focusing on a specific area of expertise. Among these exams, some are considered to be more difficult than others. In this article, we will explore the most challenging CIMA exam and provide insights on how to prepare for it.
Explore other rankings
Check out some of the other recommended rankings on StrawPoll and make your voice heard.
