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CMA Exam Pass Rate: What the Latest CMA Pass Rates Mean to You

Do you know how to achieve a CMA exam passing score? Or how hard is the CMA exam? Or even how long it takes to pass the CMA exam? You don’t need to be uncertain. Instead, to understand the CMA exam difficulty, we can analyze the CMA exam pass rate. After all, the latest pass rates for the CMA exam suggest how challenging the exam has been for past candidates. And with this information, you can better understand how to pass the CMA exam.

In this post, I am going to walk you through the CMA exam pass rate for first time exam takers. I’ll also explain what it takes to get a passing score for the CMA exam. Hopefully, this will help you be better prepared to get your Certified Management Accountant credential.

Table of Contents

Latest CMA Exam Pass Rates

According to the latest percentages, the average passing percentage of the CMA exam is about 43%. Specifically, the latest data to be released by the ICMA (Institute of Certified Management Accountants) shows that 36.25% of candidates passed Part 1 of the CMA exam. However, more people passed Part 2. In fact, over half—50.5%–of candidates passed Part 2, according to a press release from the ICMA. Therefore, the average pass rate of Part 1 and Part is just over 43%.

2020 and 2021 CMA exam pass rates

The ICMA has slowed down its public CMA exam score release in recent years. In the past, the ICMA used to release CMA passing percentages for each exam part about every 9 months. However, a lot of different factors have affected the CMA score release announcements in the past year or so. First, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down just about everything, including the release of CMA exam scores. Why? Well, to start, the ICMA extended several testing windows in 2020 and 2021. And as a result, the release of scores will be extended, too.

Plus, the ICMA has made several updates to the CMA exam itself. That is, the exam content was different in 2020 compared to previous years. On January 1, 2020, the IMA executed an overhaul of the exam curriculum. Consequently, because of the CMA exam changes, the number of questions covering analytics and technology greatly increased. So first, let’s look at the pass rates of the pre-2020 CMA exam vs. the version that was given in 2020 and 2021.

Passing Rate for CMA Exam: Then and now

  CMA Exam Part 1 CMA Exam Part 2
New CMA Exam (2020 and later)* 36.25% 50.5%
Old CMA Exam (average for 2013-2019) 35.8% 49.7%

Still, you should note that although the CMA exam changed in 2020, the ICMA has only publicly released the pass rates for the January/February 2020 testing window. To clarify, we only know how that first cohort of test-takers performed on the new exam in early 2020. Since then, no updates have been announced by the ICMA. Therefore, we don’t know what the CMA pass rates were for the rest of 2020. And likewise, we don’t yet know how candidates have fared on the exam in 2021.

CMA Exam Pass Rates before the 2020 CMA Exam Changes

Exam Part 2013 2014 2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019  
Part 1 35% 35% 36% 35% 35% 40% 35%  
Part 2 42% 49% 55% 52% 50% 50% 50%  

*In 2016, the ICMA adjusted when it releases the CMA exam pass rate data. 

About CMA exam pass rates from IMA

Part 1 CMA pass rates

So what can we learn from the CMA exam pass rates? As you’ll note from the charts above, the rates go up and down. But, some trends are apparent.

First, most candidates take Part 1 first. Although you can take the exams in any order you want, most candidates take Part 1before Part 2. So, the Part 1 pass rates are usually lower than the Part 2 rates. There could be several reasons for this trend.

  • Candidates might be caught off guard if they don’t properly prepare for Part 1. And then, they might step up their game and study more for Part 2.
  • Or, if candidates fail Part 1, they might give up and not even attempt Part 2.

Second, the CMA Part 1 pass rate was fairly consistent at 35% until it jumped up in 2017-2018. Then, the 2017-2018 test-takers seemed to do better, and 40% of candidates passed CMA Part 1. It’s hard to know the reason for this jump, but it’s possible that candidates were just better prepared. After all, the Part 1 pass rates went back down in 2018-2019. However, they did improve a bit with the CMA exam changes after 2020, with 36.25% of test-takers passing Part 1 in 2020.

Part 2 CMA pass rates

Historically, more CMA candidates pass Part 2 than Part 1. It’s possible that the following reasons could be behind the difference:

  • Since most candidates take Part 1 first, they might better understand the format and difficulty of the CMA exam when taking Part 2.
  • Likewise, candidates might just study harder for Part 2. Or, they might use a CMA exam review course that better fits their learning style.
  • Of course, if candidates fail Part 1, they might not even attempt Part 2. And then these lesser-prepared candidates don’t skew down the pass rates for Part 2.
  • Depending on their academic and professional background, candidates might just understand the Part 2 content.

The CMA Part 2 pass rate was at its lowest back in 2013 at 42%. But the rate rose quickly, and by 2015, about half of candidates were passing Part 2. It’s not likely that the CMA exam got easier. Rather, candidates probably studied harder and wiser. Since then, the pass rate for Part 2 has hovered around 50-55%, even with the new changes that were implemented in 2020.

CMA Exam Pass Rate by Region

Analyzing CMA pass rate data can help us determine what factors contribute to these rates. Unfortunately, we only have regional CMA exam passing rates up to October 2015. (The ICMA no longer releases a breakdown of CMA pass rates by country.) But I think this information can still be helpful. So, I’ve retained this breakdown of the CMA exam pass rate by region and part.

CMA exam pass rate 2015

Source: SF Magazine (Sep 2016)

If you consider the overall pass rates (shown by the green bar), European candidates have historically done a little better than all other candidates. Test-takers from the Americas and Asia aren’t far behind, however. And according to this data, CMA candidates in the Middle East and Africa might need a little more preparation to make sure they are ready for the exam.

Now, let’s analyze the Part 1 and Part 2 worldwide performances in more detail.

Worldwide Part 1 CMA Exam Pass Rates

part 1 cma exam pass rate 2015

The ICMA used to release country-specific CMA exam pass rate info. So let’s look at a four-year period between 2012 and 2015. (That’s the last good country-specific information we have. Now, the ICMA only releases global pass rate stats.)

For this 4-year period, the worldwide CMA exam pass rate was rather scary at 31%-35%. That’s very low in comparison with other exams, like the CPA Exam. But, if you exclude the Middle East, the statistics look much better. These stats show us that candidates from the Middle East scored significantly lower compared to other parts of the world.

Consequently, the charts make it quite obvious that if your native language is English or you have a chance to learn English in your country (notably Europe, and to a lesser extent, Asia), you have a higher chance of passing. Another reason the Middle East could have lower scores is that they lack the resources for study materials available in other parts of the world. For example, many candidates from the Middle East use local study courses that could be out of date. When the study materials are not high quality, it reflects in the pass rates of those taking the course.

I don’t have details about the sudden jump in the Asian pass rate. Likely, the ICMA counted the pass rate of the local language (63%) versus the English language (56%) among Chinese candidates or the weighted average figure. They represented the vast majority of Asian candidates in 2015. How much does language really affect the CMA scores and pass rate statistics? This is another important factor to consider when we examine pass rates.

The Effects of English on the CMA Exam Pass Rates

The CMA exam tends to have wordy and complex questions that could be a challenge for those with slightly weaker English language comprehension skills. After all, the CMA exam includes not only multiple-choice questions but also an essay section that human examiners grade. This essay section weighs heavily on your ability to read and write English. If you are not a native English speaker, this is one part of the exam you may want to give extra attention to when studying.

We find more proof of the importance of English in China, where candidates can choose to take the CMA exam in English or in Chinese, as mentioned above. The 7% point difference in the pass rates for these 2 exam versions is statistically significant. In short, when candidates can take the exam in their own language, they perform better. Still, this is not available globally yet, as the CMA is primarily a U.S. distinction.

In light of this, international candidates should, therefore, practice English writing as part of their exam preparations.

Part 2 CMA Exam Pass Rates

The data reveals that the pass rate of Part 2 during this time period was considerably higher and even more significant in the non-English speaking regions.

The year-on-year improvement was also encouraging, with the Middle Eastern region reaching an all-time high of 45%.

Reasons for the discrepancy between Part 1 and Part 2 pass rates may include the fact that many candidates sit for Part 1 first and, as we can see, many candidates fail. Therefore, Part 1 seems to weed out the less-prepared candidates. The candidates who go on to take Part 2 were well-prepared for Part 1. And, now that they are more familiar with the exam, they are even more prepared for Part 2. You can take the exam parts in any order, but starting with Part 1 is popular, and that may be partly why its pass rates are lower.

Another potential reason for Part 2’s pass rate success is the fact that Part 2 tests candidates on a narrower range of subjects and, consequently, requires a bit less preparation than Part 1. Part 1 covers a broad scope of topics and can, therefore, be more difficult for some.

CMA Passing Rate Compared to Other Accounting Certification Exams

One of the most popular questions I get from my readers is: how does the CMA exam pass rate compare to that of other accounting certification exams?

Usually, candidates are trying to determine which is the hardest accounting exam. Or, they are comparing while deciding which certification they should pursue. It’s not a bad strategy, but pass rates alone are not enough to tell you which exam is the hardest. Nor do they reveal which one is best for your career.

Contrary to popular belief, the overall CMA exam pass rates are lower than those of the “more difficult accounting exams.” The CMA exam pass rate is also much lower when compared to some niche qualifications. For example, the Enrolled Agent exam pass rate is as high as 61-86%. On the other hand, the CFA exam pass rates are closer to those of the CMA exam at 45-52%. In contrast, the average pass rate for the CIA exam is about 40-43%. These statistics usually surprise people, since they expect the CMA to be easier, and therefore, have higher pass rates.

So, since many CMA candidates also consider other accounting credentials, let’s compare how many candidates pass the CMA exam to the CPA pass rates.

CMA vs. CPA exam pass rates 2018 to 2020

Like the CMA exam, the CPA exam is also known for its high level of difficulty. As such, the CPA pass rate is usually about 50% for the 4-part exam. Here’s a breakdown of how CMA candidates have been doing in comparison to CPA candidates:

  • 2018: The average CMA pass rate (between Parts 1 and 2) was 45% for the 2017-2018 cohort. Compare that to the CPA pass rate of 52.43% in 2018.
  • 2019: In 2018-2019, about 42.5% of CMA candidates passed. Conversely, the CPA exam pass rates for 2019 were higher at 53.41%.
  • 2020: Just over 43% of CMA candidates passed their exams in 2020. In contrast, the CPA exam pass rates for 2020 were much stronger, with 57.67% of candidates passing.
  • 2021: Although we don’t yet know the 2021 CMA pass rates, the CPA exam pass rates for 2021 show that about 54% of CPA candidates have passed.

Lessons from the CMA Exam Pass Rate

Before you let these low pass rates scare you away, let me explain some other important details about the CMA exam. These things impact the pass rates, so let’s explore them.

1. Diversified Pool of Candidates

First, while the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) welcomes CMA candidates from all over the world, the exam format is U.S.-centric. Candidates outside of the U.S. may not be familiar with the terminology in the multiple-choice questions. And if their native language is not English, scoring well on the essays can be quite challenging.

2. Low Barrier of Entry

Second, the IMA lets candidates with just about any type of bachelor’s degree take the CMA exam. It is not specific to accounting degree holders. Conversely, CPA Exam candidates must take a substantial number of accounting and business courses.

As a result, the low barrier of entry attracts candidates who just want to give the exam a try. In addition, these casual takers do not invest sufficient time, money, or effort into properly preparing for the exam. However, you don’t have to be one of them and add to the statistic of lower pass rates. Instead, check out this article about CMA study tips.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about CMA exam pass rates, you can adequately prepare to pass on your first try.

Therefore,

  • If you have a good command of English, and/or
  • If you work hard and complete lots of practice questions to get familiar with the style of the multiple-choice questions,

your chance of passing the CMA exam is much higher than the average CMA exam pass rate. Don’t let the numbers intimidate you. When you study and prepare yourself properly, you can be in the percentage who pass.

Next, let’s look at some ways you can increase your CMA exam pass rate. After all, no one wants to fail the CMA exam. Therefore, preparation is key to your success.

Ways to Increase Your CMA Exam Pass Rate

Obviously, if you are planning to take the CMA exam and you are reading this post, you already have an interest in doing well. That’s great! It means you’re on the right track and you’re doing the legwork necessary to ensure you have a passing score the first time you take the exam.

To give yourself the best chance at CMA exam success, you must review thoroughly and study well. You can learn exactly how to do that in my ultimate CMA exam prep guide, which includes 50 actionable tips to help you nail the exam!

Another way to ensure that you have everything you need to pass the exam is to use CMA exam prep. You can learn all about the most popular courses and get my advice on which ones to trust in my CMA review course comparison.

How to Study for the CMA Exam

To ensure you pass the CMA exam Parts 1 and 2, you need to study properly. As I mentioned above, one reason for the low CMA pass rates is that people simply did not prepare for the exam properly. For instance, they may have been told it was the easier exam. Or, they may have just dropped into it on a whim, without much preparation put into it. Furthermore, they could have taken the CMA exam when they were not an accounting major and without doing the proper research to ensure they passed.

You don’t have to be a statistic. When planning your study for the CMA, here are some tips:

  • Decide which part you are going to take first. There are two parts to the CMA exam and you don’t have to take them in order. Some people choose to take Part 2 first, since it tends to be easier. Once you know which part you are taking first, you can begin to study that part.
  • Choose which exam window you are going to test in. There are only three times of the year that testing windows are open: January-February, May-June, and September-October. You will need to schedule your exam for one of these windows. Then, you will know how much time you have to study and prepare.
  • Create a solid study plan. I talked above about using study guides and review courses, but even the best guides are only as good as you allow them to be. It’s essential you make a study plan and then stick with it consistently. This is how you get efficient study in before your big day, so you can feel confident you will pass the exam.

Finally, to learn all about the CMA exam process, you can sign up for my e-course, which is completely free! Learn more about the course or sign up directly below.

​Get Free CMA Information!

Further Reading:

About the Author Stephanie Ng

I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.

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Leave a Comment:

163 comments
ARYA MATHEW says May 27, 2020

Is CA articleship is an eligible experience for CMA US

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says June 1, 2020

    Hello! It is possible, but I’d recommend that you contact the IMA to confirm or deny whether you can use it toward the experience requirement. In the meantime, I’ve written quite a bit about the experience requirement: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-experience-requirements/

    Reply
Anwar Sadeth Ali says December 13, 2019

Hi Stephanie
I have passed both parts in 10 months since I started to study. Your website helped me a lot to achieve this. You are doing a great job.
Thank You Stephanie

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says December 17, 2019

    Thank you for the very kind words!!

    Reply
anand says January 2, 2019

which review course is best for us cma exam?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says January 16, 2019

    Please send an email to stephanie[at]ipassthecmaexam.com so I can help.

    Reply
ROY C MATHEW says April 7, 2018

Weather the chances taken for passing the CMA examination has any effect on the future placements etc

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 7, 2018

    Hi Roy, not sure what you mean by placement, but if you mean whether passing in one go or several attempts will have any impact, the answer is no. You are a CMA no matter how little or how much you put in as a candidate as long as you pass 🙂 Stephanie

    Reply
Manvi Bansal says March 4, 2018

Hi sir. my name is Manvi. I am thinking to persue my career in marketing course. I am in 11th currently and will soon in 12th. I have read the eligibility criteria for cma and I am confused about the bechelor degree thing. Can you please help?

Reply
Saju says November 3, 2017

Thank you Stephanie

Reply
Saju says November 3, 2017

Hi, Any idea when the result of CMA september 2017 result will be published?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says November 3, 2017

    Hi Saju, it is typically 42 days after the end of the exam month (in this case September), which is Nov 11. But since Nov 11 is a Saturday, I am guessing Nov 10 (Friday) or Nov 13 (Monday).

    You can bookmark this page here:
    https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-results-waiting-time/

    Reply
Abubaker says September 26, 2017

hello ,firstly i want to thank you for this gold advices..
i feel that iam comfort to start with part one, how can i manage my time for part 1 test ?
my second question that now iam so keen about start Learning and take the CMA ..how can i keep this motivation up one my learning journey ?

Reply
Hisham says August 5, 2017

Dear all
I am happy to join you
I think the major obstacle in the exam of CMA is the time. We need to know the time management very well. Do you agree with me?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 11, 2017

    Yes that’s certainly one big factor especially for those who have a full time job and study on the side. Stephanie

    Reply
sukhbir says June 28, 2017

hi
i just wanted to know which part should take first part 1 or part 2 for cma?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 17, 2017

    Hi Sukhbir,
    You can take either one first. I would pick the one you feel strong / more comfortable at. Good luck! Stephanie

    Reply
Humayun Khan says May 20, 2017

Respected Stephanie,

It’s kindly to inform you that i’m a CA (PAK) as well as a CPA (PAK) student but now i want to skip both these certifications and want to join CMA (USA) Asap. I have keen interest in it but need your complete and helpful guideline regarding it’s books availability in soft form as i want to study myself .If you have the CMA PART 1 Books in soft form then please email me so that i may start my preparation for the upcoming attempt.
Also kindly share me a few past papers of Part 1 (if possible) so that i should got an idea regarding the exam paper.
Hope to hear from you soon via email (*** DELETED ***)
Thanks.
Regards,
Humayun Khan

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 27, 2017

    Hi Humayun,
    I am afraid you and other candidates must get your own review materials. Feel free to borrow from the library or from friends, but distributing copies without the approval of review materials is generally not allowed. You may also breach IMA’s code of ethics with this action. Because of this I will remove your email (also for your own privacy). Thank you.

    Reply
Rashid Ali says May 9, 2017

Hi,
I m doing ma mcom in India, after completion of mcom I want to move canada for doing CMA Anyone knows which is the best coaching centre in Canada… ??
How much i should spend…. ….. ??
Is there any exemption for post gratuated…??

Plz help me…

Reply
Rani says February 13, 2017

Hi Josh,

Give some best suggestions to clear Part 1.

Thank you
Rani

Reply
    Josh says March 14, 2017

    I used Gleim and did literally every practice question that they offer. That should prepare you sufficiently.

    Reply
      Stephanie Ng says March 16, 2017

      Good to know Josh. Congrats again in passing!

      Reply
    Anon says April 15, 2017

    I cleared CMA Part 1 in Jan-Feb Window with 370. And here is the strategy I followed,
    Chapter A- Numericals from Wiley, only focused on important concepts in A2
    Chapter B- Numericals from Hock, Theory from Wiley Textbook- covered this comprehensively
    Chapter C- Numericals from Hock- Comprehensively covered this as well
    Chapter D- Numericals from Hock- This section requires a lot of practice as it has process costing, job order costing, absorption vs variable and overheads
    Chapter E- Numericals and Theory from Wiley.- Easiest of all, don’t leave anything in this chapter
    Apart from these, I saw videos on very important concepts that you will find in CMA like drum buffer rope system,variances, RI vs ROI, Balance scorecard etc.

    Reply
      Stephanie Ng says April 15, 2017

      Thanks a lot for the advice. Very specific and it’s going to be helpful for those who have Wiley and Hock 🙂

      Reply
      Rani says April 16, 2017

      Hi Anon,

      Congratulations. Details which you have given is very useful. I could not clear the Part 1 . I am preparing from Gleim. Can you advise Gleim / Hock which one is helpful to clear the exam. Essays – I am doing well. MCQs – I might missed the score. Please let me know some more tips to practice MCQ s . I am planning to retake the exam in this June…

      Thank you
      Rani

      Reply
        Sharma Iyengar aka anon says April 16, 2017

        Stephanie- You are welcome, you are doing a great job. I am willing to contribute to your website after clearing my part 2.

        Rani- Thank you.
        Go to Roger CPA’s official youtube channel and watch all the videos on Variances and make notes.
        Also, watch Education unlocked’s videos on youtube on Management Accounting topics. They’ll help you in building your concepts that give you a lot of clarity in answering theory questions.
        Search for SusanCrosson on youtube, even her videos were of great help for me in standard costing.
        Also, I have read a lot on a few accounting websites and I cannot recall their names now. And all the videos that I have suggested are free of cost, so do watch them.
        Coming to Hock/Gleim question, Gleim was very bulky for me and was going way beyond the exam level. When I took the exam for the first time, I scored 330. My preparation was not effective at all and I only prepared from Hock. The second time, I followed the above mentioned strategy and I was expecting somewhere over 400, ended up scoring 370. Do sections B,C,D from Hock and section A(that includes the newly added syllabus), section E from Wiley/Gleim.

        Reply
          Rani says April 16, 2017

          Hi ,

          Thank you. How can we guess the scores after exam? I cannot afford to buy the HOCK product. It’s expensive for me. I am not understanding how to clear the exam. How many hrs & days you have prepared for the part 1?

          Reply
        Sharma says April 16, 2017

        I am a working professional, so I only prepared in the weekends. I gave around 100 hours(if not more) for part 1 alone. It took a lot of time for me to study the topics for the first time. I took coaching from a well known institute for this in my city and it wasn’t very effective , so I had to do a lot of self study. If you have gleim alone, even that is comprehensive enough for the exam. I suggest you not to spend extra money on buying courses.Make detailed notes on numericals from Gleim and revise. REVISION- is what makes the difference, which a lot of candidates don’t do properly. Prometric sends you an exam performance report few weeks after the result gets released, put more efforts in the sections where you under-performed. I actually took a lot of sectional tests and a mock test before the actual exam.After taking the actual exam,I had a feeling that I performed a lot better than the what I did in the mock test, so was expecting a score over 400.

        Reply
          Rani says April 19, 2017

          Hi Sharma,

          Thank you & it is really good suggestion . I will do practice more on weaker sections.

          Rani

          Reply
Josh says February 6, 2017

I took part 1 and passed with a 430. I just took part 2 in January, and I must say, I felt like part 2 was much more difficult for me. I don’t have the gut feeling that I passed like I did immediately after the first exam. It’s a terribly unsettling feeling. The wait until March is going to be rough. The thought of having to study the material again is so disheartening!

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says February 7, 2017

    Hi Josh, yes, we all have different strengths and maybe your strengths are more on the Part 1 topics. No worries, just relax and wait till March to study again. It is tough waiting around though! Here are some suggestions on what you can do during these agonizing few weeks: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-results-waiting-time/

    Reply
Rick says November 13, 2016

Reply for Rani,
I am in the same boat as I have not done the exam yet but I am also not getting 85% on the practise exams yet so I cannot write the real exam yet.
Part 1 is the problem. some people are getting 450…I want to use their magic powers lol. how do they do it?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says November 16, 2016

    So Rick, among the 15% that you got wrong, what type of questions are they? Some people have this “internal control” intuition. You can generally get them by really understanding each question and answers as you go through them. If the weakness is cost accounting, it’s even better because once the idea clicks, you get them easily. I guess those with 450 are the ones who have mastered these tactics.

    Reply
Rani says November 13, 2016

Hi
Can any one give me the tips to pass CMA part 1. I attempted 3 times and I got340 only . I am preparing from Wiley and Gleim products . Really not understanding how to complete this part 1 . I have already cleared part 2 one before

Thank you
Rani

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says November 16, 2016

    Hi Rani, maybe you need to go through the fundamentals of internal controls and / or cost accounting? Try to follow a classic example slowly, go through all the steps and try to redo all the steps on your own. I have a bunch of tips here as well but they apply to both Part 1 and 2: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-prep-tips/

    Reply
David says August 7, 2016

Hello Stephanie. I noticed that the passing rates for part 2 are higher. I that means the part 1 exam is harder or what?

I’ve past experience with the two parts. I scored 350 in part 1 and 390 in part 2.
I noticed that part 2 exam is more tough and complex, however, part 1 material is more dense. After I failed part 1 I changed my strategy and passed part 2. Sometimes I believe if I studied for part 1 with my new strategy I’d definitely passed the exam.

Now, I’m going to retake the exam with my new strategy. But I’m little worried from this passing rates!

Reply
    Rob says August 7, 2016

    Hi David,
    What strategy did you use on part 2 that was successful? what did you forget to do on part 1?

    Reply
      David says August 8, 2016

      focusing on the material itself beside the practicing of the MCQ. You need to familiarize yourself well with the material and what is being tested on this exam. Take your own notes.. Read the material well.. and Practice for the exam.. They ask questions from everywhere,, between the lines!

      Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 11, 2016

    Hi David, I don’t think anyone knows exactly why Part 2 has higher pass rate. It’s hard to compare the difficulty because they test on very different subjects, and also, whether it’s difficult or not largely depends on one’s background. Another possible reason is that many candidates do take Part 1 first. If they fail they don’t move forward to Part 2. Those who continue have experience in the CMA exam and are more mentally prepared… Anyway, I don’t think you need to worry about this. Just focus on working on your weaker areas, and you will be fine. 350 was very, very closing to passing. Good luck!

    Reply
Azhar Ahmed says July 6, 2016

Hello madame,
will i get job opportunities in middle east or in european countries after i qualify the exam further i wish to know that will i be able to manage this course by daily 8 hours of study .
please suggest me a good study material and its course of procurement if i opt for self study.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 7, 2016

    Hi Azhar, you may want to check out the my Middle East bloggers’ pages because they speak with their first hand experience. Amani is a good one: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/author/amani/

    If you can dedicate 8 hours to study, that’s great. Normally people can put in a couple of hours during the week and more in the weekends, since most candidates have a full-time job.

    I list out the top review courses here together with my general recommendation:
    https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-review-course/

    Hope it helps, Stephanie

    Reply
Azhar Ahmed says July 6, 2016

Hello madame,

I am a ca final student and presently undergoing articleship training under a chartered acountant,i also qualified b com in accounts and finance.My queries are mame should i start preparation for cma us during this period as i came to know its 6 months course.2 how shall i start my preparation self studying or take coaching ,from which book should i start from gliem or from wiley study mat.or could u please suggest me a coaching institute in kolkata where i can get guidance.I dont have any knowledge about this course and i am uncertain whether my ca course will benefit me in doing this course .
How will i get the study material of gliem and from where to register from.PLEASE HELP
Thanking you in anticipation.

Reply
Raffy says April 25, 2016

Dearest Stephanie,
Im from Philippines and some of my friends told me that I should go to either Dubai or Australia to study for the CMA exam. And if I passed the CMA exam in Dubai, per say, I can only use my license in Dubai. Please explain this matter to me further for I am just a mere sophomore college student. Thank you and God Bless!

Reply
Reji Antony says February 18, 2016

Dear Stephanie,

I would like to have your advise as I am planning to study CMA, which is the one to study first Part 1 or 2, which is the easy to study ?

Many thanks

Reji

Reply
mohamed salih says December 31, 2015

Hello Sir,
I am graduated in B com.Now i am decided to study the CMA .Everyone say its a huge risk to study. The language is my problem.what will i do to pass the CMA? May i go for coaching these course?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says January 4, 2016

    Hi Mohamed, assuming you are from India, I’ve seen lots of Indian candidates since 2015. Not sure exactly why but I believe IMA is expanding in India, which is great for those who are or will become CMA some day. It is a tough exam, but certainly doable. Not sure what the “huge risk” is apart from that you may fail… yes, the pass rate is low and the exam questions can be long and tricky, but as I mentioned above, many candidates are casual takers who don’t bother to study much before entering the exam room. Those people fail, of course, but if one prepares well, the chance is much higher.

    You may want to read my bloggers’ story to get a glimpse of what it feels like being a candidate: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-blog/

    Reply
nagaraju says December 23, 2015

Hi Stephanie,

I am taking exame in JAN ,
1. now i am following wiley material and i completed total preparation. In practice wiley question bank iam scoreing 90-96 per.
2. wiley excel material is enough for preparion and in case of essay questions use same wording in wiley excel material.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says December 29, 2015

    Hi Nagaraju, I suppose you are making a comment instead of asking a question? If so it’s great to know. But generally I don’t think candidates should expect the exam has exact same working showing up in the essay section. Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
Abdul says October 12, 2015

Hi Stephanie,
Constantly, I have been seeing the difference in passing rate between the regions. Let’s say US and UK and Asia have much better passing rate when compared to Middle East. My doubt is whether the difficulty level of questions may vary regions to regions? But, people say online that Middle East is a non English country. I’m not agree with it because, CMA exam is comprises of technical knowledge about accounting not about grammar or fluency. I would like to know about your comments on it and I want to know whether it will help us to pass or will get easy questions if we choose exam center in highly passing rate regions?

Thanks a lot.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says October 12, 2015

    Hi Abdul, the exam questions come from exactly the same pool — so the difference is only on the candidates I am afraid. I am not suggesting the Middle Eastern candidates are anything less intelligent or hardworking, but I believe the English language plays a large part in it. It isn’t about grammar (although, in essay sections, that could be a factor). It’s more on comprehending the complex questions. A non-English speaking candidate may take longer to understand a question, or sometimes may not even understand it at all. This put them at a disadvantage.

    So the solution shouldn’t be “overcoming the system” such as taking the exam in a different region. Rather, candidates should better equip themselves with more practice in understanding the practice questions, study in English (i.e. don’t take local coaching class that teaches in local language), read English newspaper and magazine, etc. In other words, got to immerse yourself in the English language all around to increase your chance of success.

    Cheers, Stephanie

    Reply
Rob says September 20, 2015

Hi Stephanie,
I am taking the exam in 1 month and now I am at the point of pure practise. When I was doing the MCQ part 1 for each of the modules with the gliem book, I averaged 77% overall. I want to get it into the mid 80s when doing the MCQ part 2 for each module.
Is this what you did when you wrote it?
I am trying to figure out how to be successful here because some of the MCQs are certainly tricky.
Thanks.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says September 23, 2015

    I would definitely work on the tricky ones Rob 🙂 I aimed for 100% accuracy — not all correct the first time of course, but make sure I did every single question right. Stephanie

    Reply
mohamed says August 21, 2015

Hi stephani
I passed CMA course via group coaching (3.5 months ) and one month review after that ( gleim book and CD ) with 420 as passing score in may /June 2015 first attempt
My question is
For part 2 do I have to change any thing in my studying way or the same should do the trick
Thanks Stefanie and your tips was always helpful

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 22, 2015

    Hi Mohamed, that’s great! I would stick with your successful plan for Part 2 🙂 Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
harikrish says July 21, 2015

Also wish to know about advantages of mba with cfe and mba with cma

Reply
harikrish says July 21, 2015

While comparing cma with cia which one is toughest course? Cia with mba without having cma is useful or not?

pls reply

Reply
Binoy says April 22, 2015

Hi Stephanie,

I have lost part 1 with a small margin .I got 340.Shall I apply for a re grade of the same.

Please advise

Thanks

Binoy

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says April 23, 2015

    Hi Binoy,
    Sorry to hear that, it was indeed very close. I’ve talked to a few candidates on this as well, but our consensus is that it is very, very unlikely that they will change the mark for you. For the border line ones they should have had manually checked for chances to bump you up (or down in some cases).

    I have this post for retakers if you are interested to read further: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/fail-to-pass-the-cma-exam/

    Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
narendra says April 17, 2015

HI I AM A NEW STRANGER TO CMA HOW CAN I PERFECTLY COMPLETE MY CMA…COULD U TELL ME PLEASE

Reply
binoy says April 12, 2015

Hi Stephanie,

I have appeared for part 1 during Feb 2015 and I got 340 score.

I would like to re appear during June 2015.Do you have any advise where i missed 20 marks .

Also can you advise whether there is any exam promotions price going on now.

Thank

binoy

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says April 13, 2015

    Hello Binoy, that was very close! With more practice (and probably a bit more luck) you should be able to make it. Would you read this post that I have for retakers? And we can talk about this afterwards in detail: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/fail-to-pass-the-cma-exam/

    Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
Siyu says March 29, 2015

Hi Stephanie,

I am a juninor in Penn State, and my major is accounting. Can i take the part 1 test in China because i know there is a Chinese CMA test in Aug 8 in China. And then finish the second part in USA?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says March 30, 2015

    Hi Siyu, I am not sure if you can take one part in Chinese and the other in English… it is best to double check with the IMA. They can be reached at ima@imanet.org. Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
John says February 22, 2015

Hi Stephani,

I’ve gone thru almost all comments! and I am curious – will i Pass, If I take this challenge ??
I’m an average student but lazy bone! I do have good grasping power and intellect but with a moderate practice of say 10 hours a week, can i Pass one part in three months time ?

well, I am commerce post graduate and working as an accountant for three years now!

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says February 23, 2015

    Haha John thanks for the honesty! You don’t need to be a A+ student to pass this exam, but do need to work hard. If your 10 hours per week is all solid studying hours, ie within that 10 hours it is all studying, and not occasional checking of emails, facebook etc, then you should have enough time to get well prepared in 3 months time. It all depends on your attitude. Good luck!

    Reply
sarada akella says December 12, 2014

Hi stephanie,
I have given my cma part 1 and my score is 310 . I did very well in my exambut the scores are disappointing. Please let me know the grading system and the way i have to prepare. im using gliem CMA Review system.
Thanks and regards
Sarada Akella

Reply
Vaibhav says October 28, 2014

Stephanie

Thanks for info. I will be writing in June15, can i study my own without help of any review course?

Cheers!!

Reply
faisal says August 27, 2014

I am faisal from jeddah currently doing job nd I hv plan to start CMA BUT I completely dont hv any idea about CMA .just recently I come to know I just want to make sure if I gv my 3 to 4 hours daily after 4 months I would be able to appear in part 1.
2nd I want to know the scope in saudi arabia and in future can I get job

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 27, 2014

    Hi Faisal, thanks for your note. It usually takes about 100-150 hours of study for a typical candidate. Based on your plan, it would be 3.5 hours x 30 days x 4 months which is totally enough. Having said that, you do need breaks in between but even if the breaks it looks fine to me.

    On whether you can get a job in Saudi Arabia, I understand the CMA certification is getting quite popular in the middle east so this is certainly helpful. But it also depends on your previous experience and your skill in interviews etc. Anyway, just work towards the goal one step at a time! Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
Adi says July 28, 2014

Hi guys! Many of you are having doubts about the comparative difficulty of different US based exams. Here is a comparison starting from the hardest to the easiest.
CFA>CPA>CMA>CFE
CFE=certified fraud examiner.
Hope it helps!

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 29, 2014

    Thanks for sharing Adi. Will see if others agree! Stephanie

    Reply
abdul says July 9, 2014

hi…. i got 300 score in part 1 🙁 i am currently studying part 2… i want to know that is it possible to manage both parts in same window..????

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 10, 2014

    Hi Abdul, sorry to hear that, it’s quite close to pass! There are certainly readers who manage two parts with success. It depends on your available time and commitment. Since you should have known the materials for Part 1, it should be easier this time. I would suggest that you focus on the practice questions. Best of luck! Stephanie

    Reply
irfan says June 24, 2014

helo sir..
i am irfan from pakistan
and i want to know that from where i can get the past papers mcqs??

Reply
rafsal says May 29, 2014

hi,
iam a bcom graduate student from india. i plan to join cma in this coming july.
is this cma a better option than mba finance? my famly is more sterssing on me for that. as i love accounting i go for a different course.
how many it consit of problem based and theory based. iam not good in theory papers as like problem papers.
thanks in advance

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 31, 2014

    Hi Rafsal, it really depends on your future career plans. Here is my analysis on your situation:
    https://ipassthecmaexam.com/mba-or-cma/
    Please let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to help. Stephanie

    Reply
      rafsal says June 1, 2014

      thanx staphine,
      what noe iam looking at is to register an distand mba along with cma.

      how many problem portions & theory portion it consists? can you tell me in a percentage form.

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says June 1, 2014

        Hi Rafsal, do you mean the proportion of theoretical vs computational questions in the CMA exam? I don’t think the examiners disclose such information, and it is likely that the proportion changes in every exam. Remember it is a computerized exam which means that they generate different sets of questions for candidates, but the difficulty level is the same. I would focus on both theory and calculations as they help each other in your exam prep. Regards, Stephanie

        Reply
Binoy Chacko says May 18, 2014

Hi Stephane,

I have completed my Degree in maths,PG in maths and MBA in Finance.I have been working in Qatar as Finance Manager/Finance controller for last 15 years.I would like to join to CMA to enhance my accounting skills.Would you mind to advise whether maths skills will add value while preparing and appearing for CMA course and exams.

Thanks and regards,

Binoy Chacko

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 18, 2014

    hi Binoy,
    I would say math and other quantitative majors do help, since accounting is very related to numbers. But then, advanced math like differentiation, integration and theoretical math is not necessary. So I guess it helps to a certain extent. Hope it helps? Regards, Stephanie

    Reply
jaleel says May 13, 2014

thanks for your valuable informat
ion

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 13, 2014

    You are most welcome! Stephanie

    Reply
jaleel says May 12, 2014

sir
iam Jaleel from india.If i passed both papers in CMA.Can i get a job in a reputed company for practical experience, by producing 2part’s marklists.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 13, 2014

    Hi Jaleel,
    Yes you certainly can but there won’t be a job waiting for you. You need to apply just like any other candidates. With the CMA certification it helps especially if you look for companies in manufacturing, or involve in cost and inventory accounting, or the Fortune 100 companies in general. But you still need to proof yourself in other areas with a well crafted resume and good performance in interviews. Best of luck! Stephanie

    Reply
joseph says May 3, 2014

Thank you stephanie

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says May 4, 2014

    You are most welcome! Stephanie

    Reply
joseph says April 29, 2014

Hi Stephenie,

I am from India, if i do Cma from India will i get recognition and membership in cma us.

Reply
Muhammad Khabeer says March 13, 2014

sir i live in pakistan and i,m student of CMA(USA) kindly tell me how can pass the cma in first attempt and also tell me the reason of failure and also tell me the future of cma.thanks

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says March 25, 2014

    Hi Muhammad, here is a post on the reason of failure:
    https://ipassthecmaexam.com/fail-to-pass-the-cma-exam/

    For your other questions, you may want to check out my frequently asked questions page: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-faq/

    Reply
      wahaj says April 23, 2014

      Hello
      i m appearing in May so i need to ask about text book,,I m using Gleim or Hock, is it enough for preparation?

      Thanks

      Reply
      wahaj says April 23, 2014

      Hello
      i m appearing in part 1 on end of May so i need to ask about text book,,I m using Gleim or Hock, is it enough for preparation?

      Thanks

      Reply
Khaled says March 1, 2014

The reason that CMA part 1 has much lower passing rate in the middle east is a combination between 2 factors, English language and Internal Controls (Audit) Part, which almost has no numerical numbers and rely heavily on candidates English language specially when it comes in the Essay part of the exam

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says March 5, 2014

    That’s a good point Khaled. Part 1 questions are indeed more “wordy”…

    Reply
onkar says January 12, 2014

can a normal student pass the wholly examintion of cma?

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says January 21, 2014

    Well, it’s a very general question. I guess with dedication and hard work it is a passable exam. Stephanie

    Reply
Mahesh Kumar says January 1, 2014

Hi Stephanie,

As you mentioned in your many answer that minimum passing marks is 360 out of 500.

Is 360 score including essay ! If someone will gets 70% scoring in MCQ but he will get zero in essay , what will be the final result. Will he pass in the exam.

Regards,

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says January 21, 2014

    Yes Mahesh, 360 is an overall score. The administrator doesn’t disclose the exact formula (it’s likely too complicated anyway) so I can’t answer your question, but generally candidates find the essays manageable. MC is the difficult part. Stephanie

    Reply
Mus Meg says November 7, 2013

Hi Stephanie,

I’m using Gleim book and software for part 1, and i’m wondering how close are the MCQ in Gleim to the ones in the exam?

Thanks for your help and keep it up.

Regards,

Mus

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says January 21, 2014

    Hi Mus, it’s really hard to tell, but I don’t think you should expect the same questions pop up in the real exam. At least gleim has some out-of-the-blue questions that train you to think on your feet. At least that’s what I like about Gleim. Cheers, Stephanie

    Reply
Mostafa says September 16, 2013

Hi
There are some questions are bouncing in my forehead and need some answers if anyone could help:
Firstly, I am egyptian. SO, my 1st Q is:
How many people did achieve CMA certificate in my country or even in my region? in Average
2nd Q:
What are the perfect tips that could help me pass the certif. with a high score? referring that I am a commerce faculty grad plus I am working as an accountant. How to prepare and those steps should be taken
3rd Q:
Need to know the steps of making account for IMA
4th Q:
Which parts to focus on, in part 1?
5th Q:
Will I use Grammer & language kinda related stuff to express my answers in the essay’s question ?

Also if any CMA holder have other advices for me. well, that could help alot!

Best Regards
MT

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says September 16, 2013

    Hi Mostafa, thanks for your note. Here are my answers to you:
    1. I don’t have this particular data, but in Fiscal year ended Jun 30 there were 572 new CMAs from Middle East. This link provides more details: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/number-of-cma/

    2. I don’t have any “perfect” tips, and in most cases the most important tip is your dedication and hard work. Secondly, the suitable CMA review course. Here is my suggestion on these courses: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-review-course/

    3. Not too sure what you mean by making account of IMA? Did you mean registering for the exam? Here are the steps: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/how-to-become-a-cma/

    4. Either starting with Part 1 or Part 2 is fine. Part 1 is more on cost accounting and internal control; part 2 is more on financial management (similar to Level 1 of CFA)

    5. Yes certainly you need proper grammar for the essay, but content, clarity and organization is important too. More tips here: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-essay-prep/

    Regards
    Stephanie

    Reply
mudassir khan says August 17, 2013

hi stephan i like to ask u a question i am currently student of ACCA i just cleared 3 papers i now heard about CMA so i m now thinking to give CMA and get exemption in ACCA ?and how many exemption are?

Reply
tamer says August 4, 2013

could you please tell me how many years allowed to get the cma after registration?
the three years are after the registration or after passing part one.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 5, 2013

    I believe it’s 3 years after you start the CMA program, i.e. after the registration. Stephanie

    Reply
      tamer says August 6, 2013

      i registered in novemer 2012 and i did not pass any part upto now
      i mean one year only remaining after the date of the registration , so i have to stop studing and examing or what can should i do?

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says August 6, 2013

        Hi Tamer, if you registered in Nov 2012, you will be fine until Nov 2015. Plenty of time I imagine? Stephanie

        Reply
          tamer says August 7, 2013

          sorry i registered in Nov 2011 not Nov 2012

          Reply
          Stephanie Ng says August 7, 2013

          Oh I see. Well still 15 months to go. If you put this as a high priority and get it done with, should still be very doable. Stephanie

          Reply
Paulette says August 1, 2013

Hello Stephanie,
First of all, thank you for all the information you are providing in your website; It is a goldmine!
I am mooving to canada in January 2014 (waitng fo my visa) and I would like to arrive there having my CMA part 1 done , and take the part 2 once there.
1st question, can I tak the part 1 in Ireland, and the part 2 in Montreal with a tourist visa (if i will still be waiting for my working visa) ? I guess yes…but just to be sure.
2nd question:
I have a master degree in international management and 2 years exp as a junior project controller. English is not my native language but i do feel quite comfortable with it. I am wondering if I start in August 2013 to learn by my self , how long should I wait to take the part 1 (and 2).
Do you think end of septEember would be too early?
3rd question: I checked availabilities and it looks that they are tests for part 1 and 2 in november 2013 too in Dublin which strange as normally it is sept/oct and jan/feb… do you know if it is in fact possible?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for the time you’ll spend on my questions!
All the best!

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says August 3, 2013

    Hi Paulette,
    Thanks for your note! Before I answer your questions, could you let me know whether you are looking at the US CMA or Canadian CMA? Because getting the Canadian version makes more sense in your case if you work in Canada. My site only covers the US CMA offered by the IMA.

    Stephanie

    Reply
MOHSIN says July 27, 2013

Hello Sir,

I want to start CMA Part 1 preparation for exams, is it possible to prepare for exams by self study or it must that you have to take coaching for it, please guide me about this.

Thanks

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 27, 2013

    Hi Mohsin, self-study is totally fine, and many candidates in the US and elsewhere in the world do that. A study plan is helpful to keep yourself on track. Good luck! Stephanie

    Reply
      MOHSIN says July 27, 2013

      Hi Stephanie,

      Which books you will referred me for preparation of CMA part 1 exams, Your cooperation is really highly appreciated.

      Thanks

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says July 28, 2013

        Hi Mohsin, I like Gleim, but you can also check out the major providers (with my view on the pros and cons) here:
        https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-review-course/

        If you have any specific questions you can email me here or on that review page. Let me know if I can be more helpful! Stephanie

        Reply
Rafay says July 25, 2013

Hi
Well I am appearing for the CMA Part1 exam in
Sep2013 and I m preparing it from Wiley and doing
Practice from exam support package, and getting
62% in that package, my question is are the
Question are similarly related to the exam question
Or exam question wil be some different

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says July 25, 2013

    Hi Rafay, I guess it is hard to generalize but from readers’ feedback the actual ones tend to be lengthy and more “narrative” than the ones in Wiley… It’s a good idea to rework the ones you did wrong to improve your accuracy to 75-80%.

    Reply
tamer says June 26, 2013

i like to know , the score of the essay only in the exam .

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says June 27, 2013

    Hi Tamer, this is only an overall score and not an essay-only score… Stephanie

    Reply
      tamer says June 27, 2013

      it mean that the score will be 30%,25%,25%,15%5% including both multiply choice and essay.

      Reply
bakri alradi says May 26, 2013

i have strong desire to read and pass cma exams,it is not only English language level that make people from countries other than Europe,America and all countries that English language is their formal language not to be able to prepare for this certification but many obstacles may prevent and even deprive them to do this .one of these problems is how to attain cma questions and model answers and this is my case.in my self, ifeel that ican do well just if ihave attained the required questions and answers covering part 1 at this stage.

Reply
ahmed says May 18, 2013

hi there

i am a cpa candidate , and i am considering the idea of taking the part 1 cma exam since it is very similar to the BEC section

what do u think about it ?

Reply
Ikram Mansoor says April 29, 2013

Hello,

I have passed CMA part 1 exam with a score of 400. I am not sure how it converts into percentage to have an idea how well I have scored. Pls of someone can translate this score 400 out of 500 into some meaningful measure, it would greatly help

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says April 29, 2013

    Hi Ikram, first of all congratulations! With such a low passing rate for part 1 I think you should be happy that you pass with any score. For your information, the full mark is 500 and the passing mark is 360. I don’t think they release any info on standard deviation so it would be hard to know which percentile you fall into, but I would say that with 400 you should have comfortably passed part 1.

    Are you all ready for Part 2?
    Cheers
    Stephanie

    Reply
      Ikram Mansoor says April 30, 2013

      Thankyou!!!! I am appearing for part 2 in May 13

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says April 30, 2013

        Sure Ikram and my very best wishes to your Part 2! Stephanie

        Reply
        Muhammad Talha Khaliq says November 19, 2013

        Assalam-0-Alaikum
        I want to take admission in cma. i have done b.com in 2012 & now i want to take admission in cma but i am very confuse about thinking that could i be clear it.. & could u recommend me any good institute of cma in karachi.
        cell: 00923453296655

        Reply
          Stephanie Ng says January 21, 2014

          Hi Muhammad, I don’t know about those in Karachi, but I generally recommend the online courses because they are exactly the same as the US candidates are using, and so the quality is guaranteed. Here are the details: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-review-course/
          Stephanie

          Reply
Tin says April 22, 2013

i’m currently reviewing for part 2 of cma exam and i’m finding it so much harder than part 1. i wonder why the passing rate for part 2 is higher than in part 1…

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says April 22, 2013

    I hear you Tim… it depends on individual background, and also, the content can be difficult but the exam itself may not be so. For example, it can also depend on how “tricky” the questions are, whether the examiners test you at introductory level or advanced level of the same topic… by the way, which review course/material are you using? It makes a difference as they can over/under prepare you.

    Hope the higher overall pass rate will give you some encouragement! Stephanie

    Reply
      Tin says April 22, 2013

      i got the cmals 2-part combo package. but to be honest, i am having difficulty with it. lots of errors (both book and online practice) and the explanations are not complete. i’m trying to find other review sources (without spending again) as i have already spent so much on cmals if you know of any free resources for the cma review, would be very grateful! am already on panic mode…

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says April 22, 2013

        Indeed CMALs is probably the most expensive… but Tin I am sorry to tell you that I haven’t found anything that is free regarding the CMA exam, and I don’t expect to find any honestly unless someone is willing to lend you a copy of the book. Anyway the value, in my opinion, is in the test prep software. I will still stick to working on those practice questions if your budget doesn’t allow another test prep provider.

        Indeed you sounded stressed… maybe you can take a break for a day or two? Things usually “click” the next day. I know this is a cliche advice but it does work for me and quite a few of my readers. Good luck to your Part 2!! Stephanie

        Reply
          Tin says April 22, 2013

          Will do. Thanks for the advice Stephanie! Appreciate it.

          Reply
          Stephanie Ng says April 23, 2013

          Sure! Stephanie

          Reply
          ahmed says May 18, 2013

          is it harder than the cpa or what ?

          i dont want to be surprised if u know what i mean

          Reply
          Stephanie says May 18, 2013

          I personally think it is not as hard in comparison, because CPA is a lot broader and I especially dreaded REG especially the US taxation section. For CMA it’s more like an expanded BEC and some CFA materials. I guess it also depends on your own background. Mine is much closer to corporate accounting than US tax accounting.

          The lower pass rate can be explained by the fact the entry barrier is lower. For CPA a candidate is effectively an accounting major (often with masters’ degree) and therefore must do better when compared to the many CMA candidates who have never studied finance or accounting (since it is not required to sit for the exam).

          Also, there are a lot more non-US speaking international candidates especially from China and the Middle East and the language should have some impact at the pass rate at a macro level.

          Reply
Amir says March 23, 2013

Hi Stephanie,

Regarding CMA pass rates can you pls tell us about the score scale and the pass score, i think it s from 500 and am in Egypt how should i get to pass the exam

thanks,

Reply
Helemish says February 14, 2013

So kindly gentlemen,if i am working as a chief accountant on Egypt, and passing CMA exam and became certified. Is it enable me to work in USA and Canada in a good suitable position. While i have fluency in English cause i am working in a multinational company and my business language is English.
I do appreciate your prompt response.

Reply
    Stephanie says February 14, 2013

    Hi Helemish,
    Getting the CMA will help you recognized in companies around the world especially in the US. For Canada, they have their own CMA certification but getting that requires studying within Canada, which could be hard to do.

    So getting back to your question, while it helps I wouldn’t say it will guarantee you any jobs there. If you are working in a multinational company it will likely easier if you request for an opportunity to transfer to the US or Canadian regional office for a temporary exchange. If people there like you enough they will more likely offer you a permanent position. This is the easiest way to get hired in the US/Canada in my opinion, and I have readers who have done that. Hope it helps! Stephanie

    Reply
mohammed says December 5, 2012

Thanks Stephanie I appreciate your efforts.

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says December 9, 2012

    Sure Mohammed you are most welcome! Stephanie

    Reply
Mohammed says November 14, 2012

I would like to inquire about salaries of the CMA holders in USA or any other place in the world.

Reply
ibrahim elhelw says April 8, 2012

could you please, help me to get a course make me good in English ?
cause I think that language is the only problem that faces me and thank u so much for mini course because it help me so much to understand some points I couldn’t understand.
THANK U SOOOOOOO MUCH

Reply
    Stephanie Ng says April 13, 2012

    Hi Ibrahim this is a tough question… but I guess it depends whether you want to improve your reading or writing skills. For writing there is a book called “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. which is a classic for this purpose. hope it helps! Stephanie

    Reply
    Amr says April 22, 2013

    سلام عليكم.
    my opinion m.ibr that the language(Eng) is not the problem of the CMA.
    I am CMA . My Language is not Sound as it should be
    its only by practice

    Reply
      Stephanie Ng says April 23, 2013

      Thanks Amr. This is a great encouragement for all the aspiring CMAs! Stephanie

      Reply
      mudassir khan says August 17, 2013

      hi amir bhai if u r form pakistan so kindely give me ur contact number i want talk with u

      Reply
      MOHSIN says August 20, 2013

      Hi Amir,

      I need your help to prepare the exams,

      Can you guide me, mohsin@dopravo.com

      Reply
      mohammed says March 10, 2015

      السلام عليكم you mean that the cma exam not very hard but you should practice in examples ?or what please can you give me an advise am studying now cma part 1 and i am woozy mind how to study it study or resolve more examples ??i will be thankful to help me

      Reply
        Stephanie Ng says March 10, 2015

        Hi Mohammed, whether it’s hard or not is relative (i.e. it depends on your own experience and background).

        This post attempts to analyze the difficulty based on objective factors: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-difficulty/

        Hope it helps! Stephanie

        Reply
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