1. Structure
The level is made up of three Objective Test subjects and one Case Study. You must pass all three Objective Tests before moving onto the Case Study, which tests what you’ve learned overall in the level. You need to pass all assessments to be awarded
the qualification.
Entry requirements
You’ll need to have completed the first and second CIMA Professional levels - CIMA Operational and CIMA Management - to study this level. If you have completed CIMA Gateway you may also study at this level.
Syllabus
The Objective Test subjects can be sat in any order. You must have passed all 3 Objective Tests before you can book your Case Study examination.
Objective Tests
E3 Strategic Management
- Number of lessons:
Classroom: 4 days
Live Online: 8 sessions
OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace - Subject assessment: OnDemand computer based exam (CBE)
You’ll develop your skills and abilities to become an effective leader, so you’re able to both formulate strategy and to create the conditions for successful strategy implementation.
- Course content:
Strategy process
Organisational ecosystem
Strategic options
Strategic choices
Strategic control
Digital strategy
£379.00 - £1,279.00(inc. VAT)
Buy now
P3 Risk Management
- Number of lessons:
Classroom: 4 days
Live Online: 8 sessions
OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace - Subject assessment: OnDemand computer based exam (CBE)
You’ll learn how to specify and manage risks that could affect a company’s strategies. You’ll gain the skills to apply techniques used in risk management and understand how the oversight of risks is critical to the governance
of the organisation.
- Course content:
Enterprise risk
Strategic risk
Internal controls
Cyber security risks
£379.00 - £1,279.00(inc. VAT)
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F3 Financial Strategy
- Number of lessons:
Classroom: 5 days
Live Online: 10 sessions
OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace - Subject assessment: OnDemand computer based exam (CBE)
You’ll gain the understanding of the different strategic financial objectives and policy options that are open to organisations and the factors that influence them. You’ll learn about the capital structure of a firm and sources
long term funds, how to value investment opportunities, including the assessment of corporate entities for mergers, acquisitions and divestments and how to evaluate and manage financial risks.
- Course content:
Financial policy decisions
Sources of long term funds
Financial risks
Business Valuations
£379.00 - £1,279.00(inc. VAT)
Buy now
Case Study
Case Study
- Number of lessons:
Classroom: 5 days
Live Online: Evening and Afternoon - 7 sessions, Weekend - 5 days
OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace - Subject assessment: OnDemand computer based exam (CBE)
You’ll be tested on your overall knowledge of E3, P3, and F3. Using the skills gained during the level, you’ll resolve issues that a management accountant may come across at work.
£479.00 - £1,729.00(inc. VAT)
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2. Study methods
Do you prefer face-to-face learning or studying online in your own time? Do you have family or work commitments that you need to fit your studies around? With four different study methods, we have a course that will meet your needs.
Study methods available for this qualification
Whatever study method you choose, you’ll benefit from high quality learning materials, practical learning methods, hundreds of practice questions, marked mock exams and expert support even on evenings and weekends. You can be confident with Kaplan.
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Study method comparison table
Award-winning structured online course with the flexibility to start anytime and study anywhere.
- Topic focused learning modules, containing tutor-led bite-sized videos
- Engaging activities designed for effective online learning
- Integrated programme to guide you efficiently through the whole syllabus
View OnDemand 5 day trial ›A traditional scheduled programme with face to face tutor-led classes.
- Classes with your peers at set times of day
- Centrally located in most major cities: View all classroom locations
- Access to our award winning OnDemand online learning resources
View Classroom demo ›Live interactive online classes at a set time, which you can watch from anywhere.
- Live lectures delivered online by a tutor
- Re-watch and replay lessons through recordings
- Access to our award winning OnDemand online learning resources
View Live Online 5 day trial ›Self-study online modules for you to work through at your own pace.
- Study remotely with printed and online materials
- Study guide to provide direction
View Distance Learning 5 day trial ›
Timetables - Classroom and Live Online
date_rangeView timetables
3. Exams and sittings
Timings and working towards a sitting
Each subject is assessed by an objective test, and the level is assessed by a Case Study. The objective tests are computer-based and are 90 minutes each, taken at a Kaplan centre or Pearson VUE test centre. They consist of multiple choice, number entry,
drag and drop, and other formats of questions. The exams can be sat at any time of the year, and can be taken in any order. All assessments are marked by computer. Your results will be available with 48 hours. Remember, you’ll have to book your
exam as well as your course.
In the Case Study, you’ll be expected to use what you learned in the Strategic Level to work through a real life scenario, where your ‘role’ will be a Senior Finance Manager. Case Study exams are 3 hours long, are computer-based, and
available to take in four windows throughout the year (February, May, August, November), at a Kaplan centre or Pearson VUE assessment centre. The exam is based on a pre-seen that will be released approximately 7 weeks before the exam window. From
May 2020 the pre-seen will be valid for two sittings, one pre-seen for May and August and another for November and February. They are marked by a human, and results are available 5 weeks after the close of the exam window. They will test your research
and analysis skills, how you present information, and your persuasion and communication skills.
Book an exam
How long does it take to pass?
Students usually take around one year to complete the level, but this depends entirely on your preferred way of learning and study method.
What happens if I need to resit my OT exam?
Firstly, don’t worry. We know it can be frustrating to fail an exam, but you can resit, and we try to make the process as easy as possible.
You can take an online resit course, via MyKaplan, available for three months after you’ve enrolled on the course. Included in this course are helpful articles to help you prepare for your
resit exam, access to a PDF containing information to help you get back on track, a chance to build your own tests, so you can practice the areas you’re less sure about, and two previously unseen mock exams for even more question practice. And
of course, you still have access to our academic support team for technical support from our expert tutors.
The online resit course is only available to Classroom, Live Online, and OnDemand students who have met the terms of their Pass Guarantee. The resit is not available to buy individually.
If you need a resit course, please contact Student Services on 0161 259 7400 to enrol.
What happens if I need to resit my Case Study exam?
We all know that failing an exam is upsetting but it is important to pick yourself up and get ready to try again. At Kaplan we want to make this as easy as possible for you and so we will give you additional support.
The pre-seen material for case study exams is valid for two sittings. May and August share a pre-seen, November and February share a pre-seen. This means that if you sat your exam in May or November and need to resit you can resit your exam using the
same pre-seen in the August / February exam window which follows.
If you sat your exam in May or November and wish to resit in the sitting following you can have access to an online resit course, via MyKaplan. This includes a resit guidance PDF to help you get back on track and two previously unseen mock exams which
you can submit for marking. You will, of course, still have access to our academic support team if you need technical guidance or help from our expert tutors. Alternatively if you were enrolled on to a classroom course you have the option of attending
the final two days of a classroom course (where available) to sit the two new mock exams, or attend sessions seven to nine* of a Live Online course. If you were enrolled on to a Live Online course with us then you have the option to attend sessions
seven to nine* of a Live Online course.
*August 2020 only. From February 2021 it will be sessions seven and eight.
If you sat your exam in August or February then your resit exam will be on a different pre-seen. Therefore you will need to attend a whole course again, to learn about the company and the industry in the new pre-seen information. Included in this will
be new mock exams and a new workbook based on the pre-seen.
Both the online resit course and access to a new course are only available to Classroom, Live Online, and OnDemand students who have met the terms of their Pass Guarantee. The resit product is not available to buy as a stand alone course.
If you need to resit your exam and would like to discuss your options, please contact Student Services on 0161 259 7400 for an informal conversation about the best way forward. We are here to support you every step of the
way.
Dates and deadlines for Case Study exams
All the key dates and deadlines for the 2020 Strategic Case Study exams are listed below for you. Please note that Kaplan have an earlier exam entry deadline than the official CIMA deadline.
| May 2020 | August 2020 | November 2020 |
|---|
| Exam entry opens: | 22/04/2020 | 12/02/2020 | 13/05/2020 |
| Pre-seen material released to students: | 06/04/2020 | 06/04/2020 | 09/10/2020 |
| Kaplan exam entry deadline: | n/a | 03/08/2020 | 02/11/2020 |
| CIMA exam entry deadline: | 26/05/2020 | 11/08/2020 | 10/11/2020 |
| Exam window: | 27/05/2020 - 29/05/2020 | 26/08/2020 - 28/08/2020 | 25/11/2020 - 27/11/2020 |
| Results released: | 6-8 weeks after exam window | 08/10/2020 | 14/01/2021 |
4. Study materials and delivery costs
Study materials
Classroom, Live Online and OnDemand students will receive printed and online study materials, while Distance Learning students have the option of printed and online, or online only. The CIMA materials are the only official CIMA study materials that cover
the full syllabus, and are reviewed and approved by CIMA faculty, so you can be confident of their quality.
The following materials are included in each Objective Test course:
Study text
A textbook covering the full subject syllabus with worked examples and activities.
Integrated workbook (not included in Distance Learning)
The integrated workbook helps you work through the syllabus, with room to write your notes. It helps you keep everything in one place to make it easy to study and revise from.
Revision cards
Pocket-sized, brief revision notes that highlight and prioritise the essential topics you need to understand to pass your CIMA exams.
Study programme
Outlines the course structure, providing guidance on what to do, and when.
Exam kit
The kit gives you plenty of exam style questions and answers to test your knowledge and practice.
eLearning modules (Classroom, Live Online and OnDemand only)
Interactive tutor-led video modules that teach the whole syllabus and extend learning via tricky topic tutorials.
eLearning resources (Distance Learning only)
eLearning contains over 120 hours of CIMA approved content.
The following materials are included in each Case Study course:
Study programme
Outlines the syllabus structure.
Study text
The official CIMA textbook covering Integrated Case Study Exam preparation with worked examples and activities.
Familiarisation and Practice workbook
An examination preparation tool, based on the case study, including ethical considerations, key issues, how to prioritise, and plan your answer. The workbook includes 10-12 case specific tasks including a familiarisation quiz and exercises. For
those doing the classroom study method, this will be a printed copy. It will be online only for LiveOnline, OnDemand and Distance learning students. You can download it and print it out
Case analysis videos
Watch a tutor walk you through the pre-seen, highlighting key facts, information and potentially examinable topics.
Technical Recap videos and notes (except Distance Learning)
Technical recap recordings and notes that will help you revise key syllabus areas from the underpinning subjects.
To buy the materials separately...
You can buy CIMA approved books for each subject on this level from Kaplan Publishing.
Buy CIMA bookslaunch
Delivery costs
subscriptions
How much it costs to deliver your study materials and how long it takes depends on where in the world you live.
If you’re completing a classroom course, your materials are provided on the first day of your course.
Delivery fees are as follows:
UK and NI - £7 for the first package, £7 for subsequent packages
EU - £30 for the first package, £30 for subsequent packages
Rest of the World - £50 for the first package, £50 for subsequent packages
A package relates to all the materials for a specific subject, for example CIMA P3 Risk Management. If purchasing a course for more than one subject, the additional package charges will apply.
Delivery fees are capped at 3 x the cost, per single order. So, if you buy 5 courses for UK delivery in a single order, it will be £7 x 3, rather than £7 x 5.
Our standard delivery times are:
UK – 3 to 5 working days
EU – 5 to 7 working days
Rest of the World – 7 to 10 working days*
*Subject to availability.
Delivery charges apply to all Distance Learning, OnDemand and Live Online courses which include printed materials, and selected Classroom courses. If delivery charges are applicable for your course, they will be shown during the online checkout
process, before you complete your payment details.
5. MyKaplan: online learning environment
![Illustration showing elements available in MyKaplan]( "Image with graphics showing elements available in MyKaplan")
Watch our video explaining MyKaplan (1:30)
MyKaplan is your online learning portal where you can access all of your online learning and testing resources, including online versions of your study materials. Accessible from your computer, tablet or via the dedicated mobile app, it’s the one stop shop for everything you need with practical resources to help you prepare for your exams.
Online features
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View your detailed study programme and online materials in one place and access your content in a few clicks
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Contact a tutor directly using live chat. You can also email or request a callback
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Complete practice tests and get instant feedback (Objective Tests)
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Track your performance by topic and easily identify where you need to improve; you can even compare yourself with others in your class
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Take part in forum discussions with students and tutors and find answers to common questions
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See instantly when your assessments have been marked (Case Study)
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Use the
mobile app to study on the move and access your study materials offline
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Access to VideoBank - hundreds of tutor-led videos to help you get the most out of your course.
Access duration
Your chosen study method determines how long you can access your content for.
Classroom
Three months from last course date.
Live Online
Three months from last course date.
OnDemand
Six months from selected start month.
Distance Learning
12 months from selected start month.
There is also one free extension for 3 months, and a further 3-month extension for £50.
For the Case Study, access durations are all six months after the selected exam sitting.
computerMinimum system requirements for MyKaplan
6. Tutor support
We'll support you every step of the way throughout your CIMA learning experience with us. You can contact a tutor and get the help you need quickly and easily.
Provided by our Academic Support team (our dedicated team of expert tutors):
- Live chat (instant response via online messenger system)
- Email (we'll get back to you within 4 hrs)
- Discussion forum (we’ll get back to you within 4 hrs)
- Request a callback so you can speak to a tutor (we’ll arrange a call with you within 24 hours). Please note request a callback is not available to overseas students.
Academic Support opening times
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 8pm
Friday: 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 9am - 1pm
7. Testing and mocks
We have a wealth of materials to help you revise for and pass your exams.
Objective Test
For the Objective Test, all study options come with the following:
Knowledge checks
As you go along knowledge checks help assess your understanding of a topic before you move onto the next one.
Consolidation test
Each course has a consolidation test approximately two thirds of the way through the knowledge/application phase. It has the same look and feel as the real exam but is a little shorter, with 40 questions. It'll
test how you are doing and allow you to identify and address problem areas early on in the course so they don't become 'big problems'.
Progress test (not available with Distance Learning)
Check your understanding with this exam standard test. It as the same look at feel as the real exam so is a great start to your revision. It will help diagnose your weaker areas
to help you focus your exam preparation on the topics that need most attention.
Test yourself
This online question bank is made up of a range of hundreds of questions so you can build your own tests to target weak areas, or check your overall knowledge.
Two mock exams
Practice your exam technique with two mock exams so you can check your progress. The mock exams have the same look and feel as the actual exam.
Case Study
The Case Study is a difficult exam, testing your overall knowledge across the level, and is tested by a written exam, based on a business scenario. We support you with resources that match the feel of the real Case Study:
3 mock exams based on the live case (2 for Distance Learning)
All marked with personalised feedback.
Recorded debrief of all 3 mocks (Distance Learning will get one debrief on the first mock)
To help you understand the approach you should have taken and some common mistakes that were made.
8. Pricing structure
Subject prices can differ depending on your study method, location and the time you choose to study (if you’re choosing Classroom). Go to our study methods page to learn more about each option.
Subjects are all priced individually, so you can purchase them altogether (for a discount), or separately as you need them.
| Scheduled |
Flexible |
| Classroom |
Live Online |
OnDemand |
Distance Learning |
| from £1,209 (inc. VAT) |
from £1,139 (inc. VAT) |
from £739 (inc. VAT) |
from £379 (inc. VAT) |
Funding options
Your employer may fund the costs of your studies if you're already working in a related field and want to develop your learning. You’ll need to speak to them to see if they’re willing to provide this support.
CIMA Strategic is covered in our interest-free payment plan. The plan lets you spread the cost of your studies over 12 months, with no extra costs. You’ll need to buy all subjects in the level to take out a payment plan.