cima strategic case study pass rate

CIMA Pass Rates - The Most Recent Numbers

In this guide, we’ll explore the most recently released public data on CIMA exam pass rates.

Becoming a CIMA-qualified accountant can seem like a long journey. 

You’ll have to undergo a series of exams that cover several topics and test your skills – from writing business recommendations to interpreting data and calculations. 

The entire process can be exhausting, yet, the rewards are well worth it.

‍ A CIMA qualification can open many doors for you . It will help you gain competitive skills to get the job of your dreams and boost your earning potential.

So, in this guide, we’ll explore the most recently released data on CIMA pass rates .

We hope this will inspire you, whether you are about to take your first CIMA exam or are deep into your CIMA studies and want a glimpse of the topic you’ll be tested on.

CIMA Qualification at a Glance

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants​​ is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants.

By studying the CIMA qualification and becoming a member, you can use the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. 

‍ To earn a CIMA qualification, you must pass a series of tests comprising four levels: certificate, operational, management, and strategic. These degrees are part of the Professional Qualification program. Beginning with the CIMA Certificate to the Strategic level, there are a total of 16 CIMA exams.

However, it’s not as simple as beginning with “CIMA exam 1” and ending it with “CIMA exam 16.” They appear in these levels:

The Four Levels of CIMA Exams

Certificate Level

Also referred to as the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, the Certificate Level exam covers the basics of business and accounting. It is meant to act as a foundation for your CIMA qualifications.

Exams in this level cover:

• BA1 (Fundamentals of Business Economics) 
• BA2 (Fundamentals of Management Accounting)
• BA3 (Fundamentals of Financial Accounting)
• BA4 (Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law)

All CIMA Certificate exams are two hours long. You may encounter multiple choice questions, number entries, multiple responses, drag-and-drop types of answering, or hotspot (marking the correct spot). ‍

Operational Level

This is a Professional Level in your CIMA studies. It focuses on daily operations and short-term strategy, with a particular emphasis on working as a member of a larger team and on technology.

Exams at the Operational level covers: 

• CIMA E1 (Organizational Management)
• CIMA P1 (Management Accounting)
• CIMA F1 (Financial Reporting and Taxation)
• Operational Case Study ‍

Management Level

This part of your study turns the monitoring, analysis, and implementation of decisions. Most especially on how you can make medium-term decisions from long-term ones. At this level, the exams you’ll take are

• CIMA E2 (Project and Relationship Management)
• CIMA P2 (Advanced Management Accounting)
• CIMA F2 (Advanced Financial Reporting)
• Management Case Study ‍

Passing the "CIMA Gateway" exam is viewed as equal to passing the Operational and Management levels

For those with a Master’s in Accounting degree or an MBA, they can choose to take the CIMA Gateway exam instead. Essentially, this is the same exam as the Management Case Study . If passed, they’ll be seen as equivalent to passing both Operational and Management levels and go straight to the Strategic Level of their CIMA studies.

But make no mistake, this exam is not easy and has the lowest pass rate (only an average of 18% vs 61% on other exams) among all exams. Remember that having a Master’s Degree doesn’t necessarily mean you are familiar with the CIMA Gateway exam structure. You will need to ensure you are familiar with all the theory covered in the previous "Objective Test" exams (i.e. E1 through to F2). Plugging any gaps in your knowledge here will be key.

Don’t worry, though, as it can be achieved with careful preparation and the guidance of a great tuition provider (like VIVA!). ‍

Strategic Level

As you reach this level, you’re almost done with your CIMA study, and you already have extensive accounting knowledge. The Strategic level is where you’ll learn about supporting leaders in a company or group and about long-term strategic decision-making.

Exams at the Strategic level cover:

• CIMA E3 (Strategic Management)
• CIMA P3 (Risk Management)
• CIMA F3 (Financial Strategy)
• Strategic Case Study

Be sure to check out our guides on How To Pass CIMA Exams and 6 Tips to Pass CIMA Fast . 

CIMA Exam Pass Rates

CIMA Case Study Exams

In every one of the three levels of exams (Operational, Management, and Strategic), there are another three exams from each of the learning pillars. These include the Enterprise Pillar (E) exams, Performance Pillar (P) exams, and the Financial Pillar (F) exams. These are known collectively as the "Objective Test" exams.

Objective Test Exams

In any OT exam, you are provided with 60 questions and 90 minutes to finish answering them. It means it only takes about 90 seconds per question. 

Some questions require less reading and consideration, while others require more focus to balance the test. The questions are presented differently for each exam as they use randomisation. 

Key Ways To Succeed in Your CIMA Exams (First Time!)

Passing your CIMA exams doesn’t have to be a hard nut to crack. Here are some tips to succeed.

1. Have a plan

Having a robust plan is vital to exam success. Before you even begin studying, sit down and make a feasible plan that fits into your life, ensuring you cover the whole syllabus.

It’s also important to know the type of learner you are. Some people are better at retaining information by reading, others by listening. Some enjoy practical exercises. You can then choose the format that works best for you, whether it’s notes, podcasts, video or a combination.

2. Start early

Don’t wait for the pre-seen material to be released to start studying. Begin early so you’ll have enough time for practice and revision.

‍ The sooner you start, the more you’ll learn and the more confident you’ll become on exam day.

3. Take mock exams

Mock exams simulate the actual exam conditions and provide an opportunity to test your knowledge, identify knowledge gaps, and assess your exam readiness. By taking mock exams, you can practice time management, learn how to approach different types of questions, and improve your exam technique.

Additionally, mock exams can help you develop a deeper understanding of the course content and boost your confidence in tackling the exam. 

4. Find practical ways to manage your stress

At some point, you may feel stressed studying for your CIMA exams. Others have been there too!

So, take a moment to pause and breathe when things get too much. Be kind to yourself. Allow time to rest. If you want, you can give yourself mini rewards once in a while once you achieve your study goals. 

‍ Combing all these tips, you should be exam ready. Be confident of the amount of preparation and work you’ve put in. 

Improve Your Chances of Passing CIMA Exams Today

Pass rates change with each sitting. So, don’t focus too much on one result. Although these pass rates are useful, they don’t necessarily mean that one exam is always going to be harder than another. 

Make the most of these numbers by factoring them into how much study time you feel you may need to devote to each subject. But don’t get too distracted from the immediate task at hand – namely, consistent and effective studying and practice.

And please, don’t forget to look after your well-being! Be in your healthiest mindset always makes it easier to achieve your goals.

VIVA is the only tuition provider you need to pass your CIMA exams first time.  In 2020, CIMA honoured VIVA with the prestigious CIMA Global Pass Rate Excellence Award due to its outstanding pass rates compared to the average.

‍ But don’t just take our, or CIMA's, word for it! Check out these independent testimonials from our delighted CIMA students.

Accelerate your CIMA journey now. Click here .

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

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

Related resources

Other resources that may be of interest to you.

Strategic level examination blueprint - 2024-2025

This is the examination blueprint for the Strategic 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 CIMA’s examinations.

Download the Strategic Level Exam Blueprints 2024-2025

File name: Strategic-Exam-Blueprints-2024-2025-final for web.pdf

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CIMA has finally released the pass rates for the February 2023 case study sitting.

And, they are a bit of a mixed bag.

Students sitting the first Operational Case Study exam for 2023 achieved a 68% pass rate. That is higher than any pass rate in 2022, and two percentage points higher than last November.

The Management Case Study February pass rate was also up on the November 2022 – from 71% to 72%.

The worry will be with the Strategic Case Study pass rate, which has dipped down to just 56%. The final case study pass rates seem to jump around a lot more than the other case study pass rates too.

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Exam Resource

Study guide case study examination - strategic level.

What is this? A calendar of articles and recorded learning support resources that will assist your Strategic Case Study exam preparation.

Why do I need it? The resources in the guide cover a range of themes and can be broadly split into two main categories: Study support — Motivation, confidence, time, strategic and memory recall. Exam support — Question-answering techniques and exam day planning.

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CIMA Strategic Case Study Courses

Dedicated to helping you pass your case study exam

Ever since Astranti launched its first CIMA case study course over 14 years ago, we have built a strong reputation for providing the most comprehensive courses in the market. Our dedication lies in offering you the best advice and support to ensure you pass your exams on the first attempt.

And the best part? Our courses are not only effective but also great value for money.

When compared to the Official CIMA Provider’s course, we go beyond by providing in-depth analysis of the pre-seen material, a wider range of exam guidance and study materials, all at a lower cost.

With our team of dedicated case study tutors and personal mentors, we offer exceptional support throughout your exam journey. Our study materials are highly regarded for their clarity and simplicity, making our courses a favourite among students. Don’t just take our word for it – we have an average Trustpilot rating of around 4.8 from over 600 reviews.

Plus, we offer a double guarantee, allowing you to try out our course without any obligation to continue while ensuring your one-time payment covers all your needs.

Learn more about our courses below…

“I have used Astranti for all three case studies which in my view is integral to passing, with the most recent pass coming on the SCS exam. Astranti help you develop the correct exam writing style required to pass and gain the additional marks that could be the difference in passing or not. I can certainly say that by using Astranti I have gone into each exam confidently assured that I have given myself the best possible chance to pass.”

CIMA Qualified , October 2022

Focused on what it takes to pass

Our course is designed with one thing in mind…

Getting you through the exam

Plus a pass guarantee for peace of mind

Unrivalled support

Dedicated course mentor supporting you from start to finish

Assigned marker focused on giving you personal advice

Case study tutors are on hand to answer all your questions

Great value for money

The most comprehensive case study course

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With instalment options to help spread the payments

Course content

Our goal is to make the Astranti Premium Course the most comprehensive on the market.

Over more than 15 years of teaching CIMA case study we’ve considered exactly what students need to support you in order to give you everything you need to pass.

So what exactly do you get?

“Brilliant study material. I used Astranti throughout, sucked in by their free products at certificate level and I’m glad I was! The material provided is brilliant and the course tutors know exactly what it takes to get the pass at the case studies, if you use them and put the hours in you will pass! Couldn’t recommend enough, and achieved first time passes in all professional exams.”

CIMA Case Study Student , July 2022

Pre-seen pack

• Full analysis of the pre-seen , picking out the most important snippets of information so that you don’t miss a thing
• Strategic analysis that links the pre-seen to the key theories and models from the syllabus
• An analysis of the top 10 most likely issues to appear in the final exam according to our case study experts
• Our industry analysis provides an overview of the real-world industry that the pre-seen company belongs to, so you can apply this in the exam to score extra marks
• 30 pre-seen knowledge questions designed to cement your knowledge learned

5x Mock exams with debrief videos

• 7 fully timed computer-based mock exams , with challenging questions designed to replicate the real exam
• Detailed solutions so you understand where you went wrong quickly and easily and to enable you to learn how to approach a similar question in the real exam
• Debrief videos where our tutors walk you through the best approach to each mock
• 5x mock exams as standard
• 2x bonus mocks for the February and August exam sittings

3x Marking and feedback

• Comprehensive marking and feedback for 3 mock exams from your assigned expert tutor
• Commentary on each script on a section by section basis, tellilng you what’s great and what needs to be improved
• A 7 page summary analysis of each script, guiding you on what you need to do to improve

'How to pass the case study' course

• Get to grips with the case study exam and find out exactly what it takes to pass
• Perfect your exam planning and writing technique
• Find out how to maximise the marks that you score in your final exam
• Learn how to provide the best answers written down in the right way, within the time given in the exam
• Hear exactly what the examiners say about how to pass the case study exam and the mistakes that past students made

Theory revision series

• Designed to refresh all of your syllabus knowledge relevant to the case study exams. We take the most commonly examined theory from E3, F3 and P3 and summarise that for you so you can review theory quickly and easily
• Take the study text with you wherever you are, with both the online and printable versions
• Watch the tuition videos for an even more detailed analysis of the key theory , including worked examples throughout to help with your understanding

Ethics and Questions packs

• Ethics is   the most commonly examined topic at strategic case study . As such it’s the most important topic for you to revise
• Our   ethics video   shows you how to pass ethics questions in the exam
• Our   20 practice ethics questions   enable you to master a range of ethical questions and practice the specific method that is proven to enable you to pass these questions
• Our   questions pack  contains 60 case study exam-style questions , helping you to  prepare for your exam.

3x Live online masterclasses

• Attend 3  LIVE  online masterclass days and get instant answers to your questions from our experienced SCS tutor using our interactive chat box throughout each session

Tutor expertise and Discussion hub

• Ask our tutors further questions and join the student/tutor conversation on our discussion hub
• Tailored support from your personally assigned exam marker , with all of the experience you could need to give you the best advice needed to ensure you pass the exam

Personal course mentor

• Support from your assigned mentor from the first day of the course to the last
• They’ll help you work your way through the course at a good pace, keeping up with your desired schedule and hitting the course deadlines as you go with regular catch up emails, video calls, or a combination of the two – whatever works for you!
• On hand to answer your questions or guide you in the direction you need

Exclusive to the course

Tutor & Mentor support

There are so many benefits to studying online, like flexibility, cost savings and the ability to study at your own pace.

However, there are often some challenges too, such as a lack of study structure, lots of distractions, limited accountability and a general feeling of isolation, which can all lead to reduced motivation and momentum!

For this reason, our premium courses give you exclusive access to our tutors and course mentors .

Use our course discussion hubs to contact our expert CIMA tutors whenever you need help with a tricky piece of theory.

And, have regular check-ins with your own personal course mentor via email, video call or a combination of the two, to get help staying focused, hitting your deadlines and ensuring you have everything you need to pass your exam.

How our premium course compares

Giving students value for money is important to us . Why not check out the table below to see how our premium course compares to that of the official CIMA publisher?