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Quite an useful set of tips on preparing for the CMA Examination…
ReplyHello there ,
I am preparing for my CMA exam part 1 to be attempted next year in January. Although the study content looks manageable I am not able to score highly enough whenever I try the practice mcq questions test.I generally score around 60%.Can you suggest me how i can improve my scoring ?
Thanks and regards
ReplyI am right now planning to give 1 week to study each unit and test myself, I am also working as an accountant so this is how I have planned my study schedule.can you give me your suggestions regarding the my study schedule and how I can plan it better?
Thanks and regards
ReplyHi Mustafa, you can refer to our study planner. The default is our suggestion: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-study-planner/
ReplyHello, besides the tips above, you can try focusing your weaker areas first. Forget about the ones you’ve done correctly (for now at least) because practicing on them won’t get you extra points.
ReplyHey there
The reason I am not able to score so much is because of the speed.Normally theoretical question are easily solved by me and don’t require much time however when it comes to practical questions I need a little time to understand and answer but the time limit doesn’t really allow me to do that.Can you suggest me some tips for solving specifically “practical MCQ questions”
Thanks and regards
Hi Mustafa,
You can try to speed up in your practice. There should be quite a few of the practical MC questions you mention in Gleim, for example. Aim to work on those within a time frame. Push yourself to think faster when applying the concepts. Practice makes perfect. Good luck! Stephanie
Hello,
I’m studying with GLEIM 2015.Is it valuable & helpful to pass the exam in the future?.
Thanks
ReplyHi Houari,
It should generally be ok, but we have more discussions here: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/2017-cma-exam-changes/
I’m interested in studying CMA, I need your helpful tips.
ReplyHi Ezzedin, you may also consider signing up to my mini-course:
https://ipassthecmaexam.com/mini-course/
Hi Stephanie,
I had purchased the Gliem review system in Oct -2015,Now Gliem has Updated their Latest version as Traditional and Premium Review system, I have access for Tradition Review system Now, So could you tell if it is sufficient clearing the exams And the Difference on Gliem Tradition and Premium Review system?
ReplyHi Anurag, the difference is mainly the videos, access to the accounting expert and the pass guarantee. If you don’t mind those, it’s not an issue 🙂 Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I am noticing when I am doing the MCQs under exam conditions, I am thinking while working out the solution because as you know on the real exam we will not recognize the questions as they will be different then the practise questions. This creates a situation where we need to think and thus run out of time per question.
How do you suggest we counter this on the real exam?
Thanks.
You just have to work on as many practice questions as you can, and get trained to think faster 😉 Stephanie
ReplyHi,
I wish to take CMA… I am a b-com graduate from India….
I know, there is a discount in fee if take a PG course… I want to know which PG is beneficial for me… Is it M-com or MBA in Finance or any other?
Thanks in advance…
ReplyHi Hifas, assuming PG means post graduate course, are you sure the discount you get can actually offset the cost of the PG course? If you do want to take that course it’s totally fine but I wouldn’t go for a master’s simply because I can get a discount from a qualification. Regards, Stephanie
In terms of MCOM vs MBA, you should pick one based on your interest in accounting vs finance. Regards, Stephanie
ReplyBut i couldnt find CFAs get any exmaption from FRM.. I check it from there.offical site. I just search it out from google. After pass 2 paper of cma. You can get 1paper FRM examption. Just plz help me out. I want to todo cma & frm.both
ReplyHi Raaj, I would love to help, but what are you looking for exactly? Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Raaj, not sure to be honest. I doubt it though because they cover different niches. From what I know CFAs get some exemption from FRM. Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I am finding that the issue I am having with the preparation is that when I do the theoretical questions, I get those wrong more then the number ones. (MCQs)
How did you resolve this? because some of the theoretical questions are super technical that only a senior senior manager would know.
Thanks.
Hi Rob, yes, they can be tricky. I remember seeing quite a lot of those in internal control section. You just have to be super clear on the concepts. Read the questions slowly and try to imagine what the examiner is trying to test you. See if it helps. Stephanie
ReplyHi,
how long do you recommend it takes to study part one ? is 2 units per week a good plan? how about 1 unit per week ?
ReplyHi Shakir, it really depends how many weeks you have before the exam. IMA generally recommends 150 hours, so you can divide your studying time accordingly. I also have a downloadable study planner (for Gleim and Wiley) and it shows how much time you need per study unit.
https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-study-planner/
Hi Stephanie,
I wanted to tell you my experiences so far. When I do a MCQ series of questions for a unit, the first time I get a pretty bad mark. When I do them again, my mark obviously goes up.
What do you recommend I do to fix the issue with first time marks? Do you just think I should do the questions numerous times? is that the main fix to the issue?
Thanks.
Hi Rob, no need to fix that, it’s pretty normal, since we aren’t familiar with how the questions are phrased (that’s why I always tell people to focus on the practice questions). As long as you do better the second time, it’s good 🙂
ReplyHi Rob,
I have a question regarding the 50% I need to get in the MCQs phase. Is it 50% of the whole exam score or 50% of the MCQs only.
50 questions correct from the 100 MCQs is actually 37.5% of the whole exam score as long as the MCQs present 75% of the whole exam score, right?
From my point of view, I need to get 50% of the whole exam score in the MCQs phase to be able to move to the essay phase, which means that if I do well in the essay I can pass the exam.
But if I get 37.5% in the MCQs which is 50% of the 75% MCQs scale and then I get the full mark (25%) in the essay I will not pass, simply because I got only 62.5 % overall the exam scale, right?
I had the 1st part exam 2 weeks ago, and I was able to access the essay phase. Does it mean that I have a chance if I did well in the essay?
Your feedback will be highly appreciated
Tamer
Hi Tamer,
I think you need 50% before you start the essay part, but clarify with stephanie.
Thanks.
Hi Tamer, yes agree with Rob. It is 50% of the multiple choice question — basically they want us to get half of the first section right, then we can move on. I have a more detailed explanation here: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-scoring/
For a really technical explanation, you can find a link to an IMA PDF in the scoring page above.
Anyway, since you are done and that you are able to work on the essay section, that’s great news. Don’t worry about it. Do something relaxing to get recharge for your next part of the exam! Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I think I registered for an exam part too pre-maturely and I will not be able to write it this month when I signed up for it. I called IMA and they said I need to re-pay the fee for the next window. Is there anything else I need to do? for example – De-Register for the exam with IMA? or just let the date pass?
Thanks.
Hi Rob unfortunately you can’t change a date across testing windows (only within testing windows)… why don’t you give it a try anyway? Just take it as an exercise, since you have paid for it. Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I agree with you on that one and I will do it. Also, they said you can take the exam in the Jan. testing window but you will need to repay the fee whether you take it now or not.
Yes Rob. If possible, it’s better to take the exam in the first month within the testing window, because if you need to postone a few weeks, you can still do that without penalty.
Replyhello,
If i choose wiley cmaexcel learning system with printed text and online practice test can i pass the exam in first attempt by studying with this only?whether the exam interface provided in this course similiar to actual exam enviornment?is this course enough for my essay preparation as well?
i have read what you have written in the review that the practice questions in this course is not tough.but will it be in the standards for passing the exam?
i just want to pass the exam.
likewise the flashcards provided by wiley will help me anyway?
please reply
ReplyHi Jinesh, the ones listed on my site are all good (otherwise I won’t bother to mention them). So you can assume all materials are helpful and many people pass using their materials. As to which one to choose, it all boils down to which learning style you prefer. Regards, Stephanie
Replyhi Stephanie,
can you please tell me the scope of this course in Singapore?
is this course has validity in Singapore?can we get a job in Singapore after passing this course?what are the job prospects?
i am from India? i am doing my m com right now?i have plan to work in Singapore in accounting domain? will this course anyway help me?
please reply
ReplyHi Jinesh,
Probably not that popular in Singapore in my opinion… but it helps if you work in big multinational companies with manufacturing base. Regards, Stephanie
Replyok.thanks for your reply.what is the scope in india?which place has more employment prospects for this course apart from USA?
I know you will recommend self study.so my question is Gleim itself is sufficient or not?
the IMA is endorsed with wiley .so whether studying Gleim will be sufficient?
if i opt for self study of gleim what exactly will be that?
is it online live classes or they will send text books to our address?can you please explain what exactly will happen?
likewise what i understood is that if i opt for self study the fees to the IMA have to be paid by myself .if so where i have to pay the money.can you explain the procedures with regard to that as well?
regards
ReplyHi Jinesh, Gleim is fine. If you read my bloggers’ post, most of them use Gleim and they passed. https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-blogger/
You just sign in and the course is delivered online. If you are not comfortable with online study, just stick with the live classes offered in your country then. Not a problem at all. In terms of the procedure, there isn’t much procedure except that you pay the fees to IMA and then buy the self-study course online separately from the providers. Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I went on the IMA site and browsed their study group section.
There is a #cmapopquiz on there.
What is that all about?
did you use it?
is it needed or does gleim provide sufficient work?
Thanks.
Hi Rob, I think that’s what they are called: pop quiz. I didn’t use it, but I believe it means some random questions and answers. As long as you get this as a supplement (and not your primary study materials), it is fine. Regards, Stephanie
Replydid you mean “as long as you get those #popquizes as supplements?” gliem itself is sufficient as a primary study source.
ReplyHmm, yeah, maybe I should reword that but generally if Gleim seems to work out fine, no need for further supplements. Regards, Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I had 2 questions.
Regarding the calculator that we can use, I currently use a sharp el-520w. It is a scientific calculator. Is this not allowed? are financial calculators allowed like the texas instruments ones?
Also, if we are working, can we instead of taking a part in a 3 month gap, is it OK to do it in the next test window (6 month gap)? this is because I can’t study as fast as if I am not working.
Thanks.
Hi Rob, that particular model is not on the official list, so it is better to check with IMA directly.
Sure you can have 6 months in between. You can take the two exams any time you like within a 3 year period. Cheers, Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
I believe that the BA2 texas instruments calculator is allowed.
it is the financial calculator.
have you used this one before?
Hi Rob, yes and I think for most people it is easier to use than the HP 12C. I have more write up here on calculators: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-exam-calculator/
ReplyHi Stephanie or anyone else,
For the part 2 exam, how did you guys end up managing the formula load? I am midway through the book and I have seen around a million formulas. (I have never done a test with so many formulas in my life).
Thanks.
Haha… I would write it in flashcard and carry it along to flip through it. Also, work on tons of practice questions 😉 Stephanie
ReplyHi Stephanie,
Thanks for the feedback. I have done finance courses before in University but we never had to memorize formulas. They always gave us formula sheets but we had to know how to use them. Here they are asking us to memorize them lol.
Also, when you passed the exams, did you feel like you passed when you finished? Is this one of those exams where you know whether or not you passed in your gut? or is it one of those exams where you put in a good effort and feel like you passed but you never really know?
how would you judge this exam in that sense?
I personally prefer knowing in my gut if I passed or not.
Thanks.
Hi Rob,
I am afraid you do need to memorize them this time!
On your other questions, I guess most people know they pass/not pass walking out of the test center. To get a bigger sample, let’s look at our bloggers. For those who believed they performed well enough in the exam, all but one passed.
But I did get emails from time to time from readers thinking for sure they did so well and then failed. Most didn’t seem to work on enough practice questions and so they overestimated their ability in answering those questions. It is therefore important to complete as many questions as you can.
ReplyHi Stephanie,
I agree with you that practise is important. Do you think practising and then debriefing for each question is more beneficial or just do a whole lot and then look back at the end?
Thanks.
Debriefing after each question takes longer, but certainly a great way to study! Stephanie
ReplyHello,
I am not sure where to post this but I had a technical question.
for anyone using the Gleim book currently, Question 16 in the SU 3 for Part 2 exam, has an answer of 3,450 but I don’t follow the logic on how they achieved that.
Also for question 18 in the same SU 3. Can’t seem to follow the logic there as well.
If anyone can explain this, it would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi Rob, it might be easier if you contact your Gleim personal counselor on this. If you don’t hear from him/her (which is very rare), you can come back and I can help you contact the Gleim team. Thanks, Stephanie
Replyhi sir,
Am from india and am a CMA aspirant. And you tips are verymuch valuble for me. Sir can u suggest me the chepest mok exam service providers. Beacsue am facing some financial problems.
Hi Harikrishnan, if you can borrow the materials from a library or from a friend, that would certainly be the best. If you can’t get hold of these, Gleim should be the most affordable option. You can check them out here: https://ipassthecmaexam.com/cma-review-course/
Regards, Stephanie
ReplyDear Stephanie,
Thank you for your wonderful post.
It’s so useful, keep the wonderful work.
Thanks again.
ReplyDear Ahmed thanks for your kind words. That’s great to know and I really appreciate it! Stephanie
ReplyThis was a great compilation and a must read for all CMA students world wide. It would be great if you could edit the portion of this article and embed a link to your study planner. Guess you missed it! Thanks a ton Stephanie 🙂
ReplyThanks! So glad you find it useful.
Yes, I didn’t add the link (yet) as I just found a bug in my Gleim study planner spreadsheet. Will do! Regards, Stephanie
Great post, you covered the CMA exam from A to Z, i’ll be sharing this 🙂
ReplyOh, you found it before I told everyone 🙂
That would be great Amani! Stephanie