Glossary:

• CIMA’s CGMA Finance Leadership Program (FLP): An online, assessment-based route to CIMA's CGMA professional qualification that replaces traditional objective test exams with continuous learning and application. Idea for professionals aiming to build strategic, real-world finance skills without sitting formal exams at the Foundational or Objective Test levels.
• In level learning (ILL): A structured six-month support course for FLP learners preparing for their case study exam. It includes fortnightly live online tutorials led by CIMA tutors, focusing on technical content and its application to case study scenarios.
• Case study review course (CSRC): A focused one-month course taken after the ILL, designed to apply technical knowledge to the specific pre-seen case study issued by CIMA.

Suppose I told you that there were three easy ways you could pass your case study at the end of the FLP programme. Would I be lying?

Well, yes and no. Yes – there are no easy ways to pass. If there were, the qualification would be worthless as anyone could rock up and have a go. But also no – there are three things you can do that will enormously improve your chances. It’s just that they’re not necessarily ‘easy,’ and they will take commitment, just like real life.

Step one: Be in the moment – attend live and get involved

I went to a concert recently, and I was amazed by the number of people in the crowd who were there physically, but at the same time, they weren’t really in the moment. They were filming the performance on their phones and posting on social media. I saw one person recording the entire event.. I suppose they’ll have memories, but are they really going to watch it all back? And even if they do, the experience of watching it back on a 4-inch screen isn’t comparable to the live experience.

Yet, I have to admit that I also find myself in a similar position while watching TV. It’s incredibly easy to pause it and scroll aimlessly on my phone for 10 minutes. It will usually take me over an hour to watch 30 minutes of content, and that’s just not efficient. It’s even worse on a live session - get distracted for 10 minutes and you’ll have missed what was discussed.

Watching an In Level Learning (ILL) session back isn’t the same. You’re not in the moment, and if you get distracted, you won’t have any closure on any questions that may occur to you on the spot. If we’re being honest, you probably watch them back double speed and skip forward where possible. Congratulations, you’ve just watched a two-hour session in 20 minutes.

Of course, there are a lot of sessions to attend when studying, and life can get in the way, but try and prioritise live attendance.

In summary:

• Attend the ILL sessions live.
• Leave your phone in a different room.
• Ask questions and use the chat panel.

Step two: Don’t leave it until the last minute

I’ve spoken to candidates who seem genuinely surprised that they have to actually do something. I’ve paid my fee to CIMA to avoid doing the objective test exams, haven’t I? Well, unfortunately, it doesn’t really work like that. Each level has around 11 competencies to work through (and the emphasis is on ‘work’).

While CIMA’s CGMAFLP may be a substitute for the objective test exams, it’s not a substitute for hard work and understanding the content. You need to work methodically through the platform content and the testing at the end of each competence.

Studying towards your professional qualification is a marathon, not a sprint. However, many learners make the mistake of leaving things until the last minute and rushing through the content. For example, if I have an operational level case study review course (CSRC) due in a month’s time, I will likely see that around 50% of the group I’m working with will have completed no more than four of the 11 competencies. In this case, one of two things will happen. A lot of learners will defer their studies until the next sitting, or they will be extremely busy over the next few weeks.

My advice would be:

• Plan your work. Life and other commitments can get in the way, but one competency per fortnight can be doable for a lot of learners.
• Make your study timetable flexible to accommodate any unexpected events or disruptions.
• Talk to colleagues, peers, and anyone who’ll listen about your study goals and the content you’re learning - you’re more likely to stick to your goals if you voice them.

Step three: The breakfast of champions

The former tennis world champion, Boris Becker was once asked the secret to his success. He talked about hard work and desire, but then went on to talk about what he felt was the most important: "You need humility, no matter how good you are, to listen to your coaches, to take advice, to test new possibilities, and to admit you don't know everything. Feedback is the breakfast of champions. This is the secret of my success."

In numerical questions, feedback is easy to accept. For example, 2+2 = 4. If your answer is 5, you’re wrong. However, more discussion-based questions are much more nuanced. There’s no definitive answer, and what you’ve written may look nothing like the model answer in the back of your exam kit.

The best way to get feedback on your answers is to submit exams and have them marked by a tutor or expert. I firmly believe this is the best way to pass your case study exam.

The reality of submitting your mock exams

The CSRC’s have three mock exams to submit, and they are all based around real past exam questions and the pre-seen material for your exam.

There is a strong correlation between submitting your mock exams and passing your real exam. For example, we collated data to analyse the pass rates of our learners who sat the November 2024 sitting for the Operational Case Study, and compared them to the number of mock exams they submitted.

Here’s what the data showed:

Therefore, the data proves that you should attempt to submit every mock exam and utilise all resources provided to you to give you the best chance at passing the real exam.

Ready to get started?

Kickstart an exciting career with CIMA’s CGMA professional qualification and browse our CGMA® FLP Skills Premium course or our more traditional study methods now.

If you’re an employer looking to upskill your workforce, contact the team, who will help answer any questions you may have.