Finance Leadership Program Exam Re-sit Guide
Study Support Team
Contents
Introduction
Creating a personal SWOT Core Activities Marker insight — Understanding your exam results CGMA Academic insight Tutor insight CGMA question tutorials Time management Ready or not?
Index
Introduction Index • Creating a personal SWOT • How to use the exam blueprints • Marker insight • CIMA academic insight • Tutor insight • CIMA question tutorials • Time management • Ready or not? Speak to someone
Home
This exam re-sit guide was specifically written to provide targeted advice for those candidates who have recently been unsuccessful with their FLP Case Study examination. It will allow you to easily find the FLP resources specific to your needs, all in one document. Before you attempt an exam re-sit or indeed read the rest of this guide, there are three initial steps to consider:
Do you know why you were unsuccessful with your Case Study examination? If the answer is ‘yes’ then you’re already on course to be successful with your next attempt. For example, perhaps you recognise that you didn’t allocate enough time for study or question practice. You, therefore, already know what study weaknesses need to be addressed, which will drive the direction of a revision plan or study timetable. If the answer is ‘no’, then this needs to be addressed before going any further. So, how do you find out specifically why you were unsuccessful? You could start by reading the examiners’ feedback found in the FLP Platform, which addresses all the common errors candidates make in the examination. For Case Study examinations, a better understanding of how the markers mark would also be extremely useful (both are addressed in the later sections).
If you haven’t already booked your re-sit, then we’d recommend you do so as soon as you can. Having a date to work towards helps you plan your studies, focus your time and prepare for a successful re-sit exam.
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Finally, we want to wish you well with your forthcoming examinations and will look forward to welcoming you to membership in the not too distant future!
Hang in there, it can be disheartening to miss out on an exam at the first attempt, but this represents nothing more than a minor delay in achieving your career goals. Continuing your studies shows a degree of resilience; a characteristic in great demand by employers. There may be moments in your career where you’re mentoring or training others; again, the empathy you’ll have obtained from this whole experience will be invaluable.
Student Support Team
Introduction Index • Creating a personal SWOT • Core Activities • Marker insight • CGMA academic insight • Tutor insight • CGMA question tutorials • Time management • Ready or not? Speak to someone
Creating a personal SWOT A tool allowing you to reflect on your study and exam performance to date. It will provide a useful basis to plan your revision towards the re-sit exam. Role Simulations and Core Activities It is important that you understand Role Simulations and Core Activities and how they impact your examination. Learn more about them in this section. Marker insight — Understanding your exam results A useful article on understanding your results and our marking processes; essential reading following unsuccessful exam attempts. CGMA® Academic insight — Case Study Examination Walkthrough Answers Get insight into what the examiners are looking for and how marks were awarded, illustrated with a real exam script. Tutor insight — 9 easy steps for revision and exam preparation An easy-to-follow guide to maximise the effectiveness of your revision with key tips for exam success from our CGMA academic experts. CGMA® question tutorials Get hands-on experience of our computer-based assessment format, for anyone wishing to familiarise themselves with the method of exam assessment. Time management Covers both aspects of time management — familiarisation of the exam-style questions to aid exam time management planning and recommended techniques to aid time prioritisation during study. Ready or not? Still unsure if you’re exam-ready? Our guide to exam readiness will ensure you’ve got all angles covered!
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Creating a personal SWOT
Creating a personal SWOT analysis is a good place to start on your re-sit journey. Reflecting on your personal strengths, weaknesses and the threats we face, as well as the opportunities open to us, will offer insights that can help shape your studies. An illustrative example is provided to help you get started. When you’ve drawn up your personal SWOT, use it to help you answer the following questions:
Where, when and for how long will I be able to study each week? (Tip — being honest with yourself here will help you draw up an achievable plan that will boost your confidence as you progress through it.)
Based on your available hours and hours of study needed to complete your subject (we recommended an average of 40–60 hours per Case Study), how many weeks before will you be ready for your exam? (Tip — book your exam now for 2–3 weeks after you plan to complete your studies. Our research shows this is the best time to secure a pass).
What do you think will be your main ‘limiting factors’ and what can you do to address them?
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Useful links:
SWOT example
Threats may include:
If I fail an exam, I won’t be able to afford to re-sit for months.
I don’t have a lot of money to invest in study resources.
I am starting a new project/job just as I am planning to begin my CGMA journey.
If I don’t complete my exams soon, my family will suffer/be unhappy with me.
Opportunities may include:
If I go into work an hour early each day, I can do some self-study whilst it’s quiet.
I can ask my employer whether I can have a placement in another dept/work on a project which matches my current areas of study.
I could investigate courses to help fill my skill gaps (e.g., speed reading, typing, personal effectiveness and time management).
Weaknesses may include:
I always run out of time in exams.
I struggle with some aspects of maths and worry I’ll find some learning hard.
I’m not sure my basic skills are good enough to start CGMA studies.
Generally, I am a procrastinator and fear of failure makes that worse.
My employer isn’t interested in my studies.
I work very long hours/I travel a long way to work.
Strengths may include:
I enjoy studying.
I have a supportive family.
I have study buddies at work.
My employer is very supportive.
I get time off for exams and/or study.
I rarely have to work overtime.
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I can attend college/follow a formal course of study.
I am on an approved CIMA Training and Development scheme.*
My work is very relevant to my studies/my studies are relevant to my work.
I am interested in the subject material.
I am organised and self-disciplined.
I struggle with some aspects of maths and worry I’ll find some exam topics hard .
I’m not sure my basic skills are good enough to start CIMA studies.
I am self-financing and can’t afford a formal study course.
There are no colleges near me.
My work isn’t at all relevant to what I am studying.
I have many family commitments which impinge on my study time/have nowhere quiet at home to study.
I get terrible exam nerves and always underperform.
I can look for a CIMA Registered Tuition Provider* and may even access free resources from them.
I could book onto a revision course or “question-based day” to get some contact time and inspiration just before the exam.
I can access lots of free resources in the CIMA Study Planner.
I can ask my employer whether I can have a placement in another department/work on a project that matches my current areas of study.
There is no face-to-face CIMA tuition in my area and I prefer that.
I am starting a new project/job just as I am planning to begin my CIMA journey.
If I fail an exam, I won’t be able to afford to re-sit for months
I’ve never been great at written exams, so I think I’ll be OK with Objective Tests but worry about the Case Studies .
If I take up the exemptions I have been offered, I may have knowledge gaps.
Introduction Index • Creating a personal SWOT • How to use the Exam Blueprints • Marker insight • CIMA academic insight • Tutor insight • CIMA question tutorials • Time management • Ready or not? Speak to someone
Role Simulations and Core Activities
It is important that you understand Role Simulations and Core Activities and how they affect your examination, there is content in the review course section of the FLP platform to explain them in more detail. Core Activities are business-related tasks that are common to the role being simulated and valued by employers which, if performed satisfactorily, enables the demonstration of the assessment outcomes. The Case Study examination is a simulated business role play. Therefore, understanding your persona and role in the Case Study exam can really help you produce a good answer at the right level for your audience. The simulation is made up of three broad parts:
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The role of finance The role simulated The job tasks simulated
Operational level Role Simulation
Management level Role Simulation
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Click below to explore job descriptions
Strategic level Role Simulation
Operational level blueprint
Management level blueprint
Strategic level blueprint
Marker insight — Understanding your exam results
Why do we use scaled scores?
Students consistently tell us that they like the flexibility of the exams. Offering exams over an exam window means that we have multiple versions of each Case Study exam running concurrently. Each of these exam versions will be very slightly different in terms of the level of difficulty due to the nature and scope of the exam tasks — therefore, we need to find a way to present the results so that each candidate knows how they performed compared to others sitting at the same time, even though they might be taking a different version of the exam. Scaled scores are the industry standard approach to solving this problem. A scaled score ensures that you receive a consistent result that reflects the difficulty of the test you sit. In other words, candidates with same competency level would receive the same score despite the exam version they took. In the case of Case Study exams, we give scaled scores of between 0 and 150, with a passing score being 80 or above.
Your Case Study exam results are made up of three elements, all of which need to be considered:
An overall grade (pass/fail) A scaled score between 0 and 150 (80 or above representing a pass) Feedback on your performance by each Core Activity
How will my results be presented?
How should I interpret my results?
You are mainly interested in whether you have passed. This will be given against a grade. If you are given a pass, you have generally performed well across the test and met the required passing standard. If you have been graded fail, you have not demonstrated suitable competence across the tasks in the Case Study in line with the Performance Descriptors (explained in detail below). Are any post-exam materials available for Case Study exams? Post-exam materials are available in the FLP platform two weeks after Case Study exam results are released. However, due to the shared pre-seen for case study exams, the full post-exam materials are released for all exams using the same shared pre-seen material.
After the May and November Case Study exam sessions, an interim examiners report will be available. After the August and February exams, the full post-exam materials including examiner’s report, variants, model answers and marking schemes will be available for both exams using the same pre-seen performance descriptors. You will be given feedback as to whether you met the exam level passing standard for each core activity. Performance descriptors for each core activity are here:
These descriptors state the characteristics and level of achievement that candidates who met the passing standard would generally demonstrate.
Operational Level performance descriptors Management Level performance descriptors Strategic Level performance descriptors
The performance descriptors are applicable across all forms and sessions of the case study examination. They offer a consistent means of feedback on your performance in the exam. They help identify the expected level of performance — in other words, where your performance in an individual core activity may have fallen short of the overall passing standard, for the level of case study that you sat. They are best used in conjunction with the exam blueprint and all other study resources available for the case study exams. When preparing for the exam, you can use these performance descriptors to benchmark your performance and see what you need to achieve to become exam-ready. If you have performed well across all core activities, the performance descriptors will highlight what you should continue to do, as well as which skills you can build on for future exams. If you have not reached the passing standard for one or more core activities, the performance descriptors provide guidance on the minimum level of performance you will need to achieve to meet the passing standard and help guide further study efforts.
How should I use the performance descriptors?
CGMA academic insight — Case Study Examinations Walkthrough Answers
Get insight into what the examiners are looking for and how marks were awarded, illustrated with real exam scripts. The scripts will allow you to compare actual exam standard answers with sub-standard answers that candidates produce in the Case Study examinations. Operational Level Management Level Strategic Level
CIMA academic insight — Case Study examinations walkthrough answers
Please note that you should disregard comments in this article related to the CIMA Objective Test examinations.
Tutor insight — 9 easy steps for revision and exam preparation
Create a dedicated revision plan. How long will you be able to study for each week? Consider varying your learning — audio aids, visual aids, etc. Key tip: Produce a revision timetable leading up to the exam date and stick to it!
Exam familiarisation Can you describe the exam format, features, time aspects, response requirements and process of the exam? Key tip: Go through CGMA Question Tutorials.
Switch to active learning. Switch from passive to more active learning. Start a learning period with question practice, rather than passive reading. Any specific topics you feel need attention? Key tip: Perform questions under timed conditions to test time management.
Lessons learned What went well so far? What’s proving difficult to master? What technique needs improving? Prepare a list of actions to address your ‘limiting factors’/’blockers’. Key tip: Make a note of any mistakes you made (we love yellow stickies) to aid recall.
Covered everything? Do you understand what it takes to pass the exam and how it is scored based on blueprint core activities? Key tip: Check your knowledge against the paper-specific exam blueprints (the blueprints are used to set exam questions).
Exam techniques Are you equipped with exam and recall techniques and time management strategies? Key tip: Develop exam skills and techniques.
Mock exam Performing mock exams is essential — reflect on what can be further improved or learned before the exam day. Key tip: Our data-driven evidence reveals that performing a mock exam improves your chances of examination success.
Exam day prep Do you know the exam day procedure — what to expect at a test centre or online remote exam? Check you’ve performed a system test if you are doing exam at home/office? Key tip: Exam day guidance can be found here.
After the exam What you could have done differently? Key tip: Any techniques you can use for future exams? It’s worth continuing your studies now that you have some momentum.
These tips will ensure that you've considered and reviewed all the available FLP resources needed to make your exam preparation more effective. Exam revision can be daunting. To help you, our academic experts offer some essential revision tips as you prepare for your upcoming exams.
Tutor insight – 9 easy steps for revision and exam preparation
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CGMA question tutorials
This section provides hands-on experience of our Case Study computer-based assessments. The question tutorials provide you with examples of the types of questions encountered in the exam. They can be used to experience the test driver and how items are presented. They give you the opportunity to explore this technology and become familiar with how the online system works.
The Case Study tutorials:
Should be taken using the supporting material — pre-seen, model answers, and marking guidance, see additional resources provided.
Provide candidates with an opportunity to practice a full-length Case Study exam.
Please note there are some slight differences between the functionality of the question tutorials and the live exams; in the live exams there is no ‘navigator’ button — candidates can move to the next question by pressing ‘next’. Questions can be flagged for review and reviewed at the end of the exam via the review screen.
How to register for a free question tutorial:
Take the exam tutorial here. Book your re-sit here.
You'll get an email with details of the exam.
Select an exam.
Checkout and submit your request.
Take the exam immediately or complete it within one month.
Follow the link below ‘create account’ and complete the details.
Time management
There are two main topics here, managing your study time and planning your time during the exam.
Please also view our latest webcast on time management here. This video is ‘a must’ for anyone who’s felt their motivation or concentration levels have fallen in recent months. It also provides some reassuring advice for those who’ve simply not felt ready or confident enough to book an exam.
The following article details a 5-step approach to answer planning in CIMA Case Study examinations.
A. Managing your study time effectively:
B. Time management during the exam:
CGMA Case Study exams are designed to be business simulations of real-life job tasks that someone at that level is expected to perform. Therefore, the three-hour exam (both operational and management) has four sections (tasks), which are each 45 minutes long. The Strategic Case Study exam has three sections and 60 minutes are allowed for each section. Candidates may finish a section early and move on to the next, but cannot return to previous sections in their remaining time. Therefore, candidates will have to manage the time only within each section. As a result, time management during Case Study exams can be effectively done through answer planning that allows you to:
• Deconstruct questions • Decide upon the right number of points and prioritise them for each sub-task • Answer each sub-task in the required amount of depth • Systematically sense check the strength and validity of each point • Provides structure to your answer, giving you the words to use for your subheadings.
The following article details a 5-step approach to answer planning in CGMA Case Study examinations. Download here.
Ready or not?
You've been studying for weeks, you've practised exam-style questions and you feel that you have a comprehensive understanding of the syllabus ... so why do you still have a niggling feeling that you aren't quite ready to take your assessment? Most people get anxious about exams and it’s easy to convince yourself that you don't know enough.
Sticking to your study plan and taking your assessment as soon as you have completed it means that the material will be fresh in your mind. Now consider again the question at the start of this chapter — do you still have a niggling feeling that you aren't quite ready to retake your assessment?
To help you determine if you are assessment ready, consider these points:
Have you completed exam-style questions, under timed exam conditions, and were you happy with your performance?
Although you do need to have a thorough understanding of the whole syllabus you may choose to be more pragmatic and consider the following:
You may not feel 100% confident about everything and realistically you will always be stronger in some areas than others.
Your goal might be to pass the exam, rather than a prize-winning submission.
Have you kept to your study plan and covered all competencies and skill sets in the FLP modules?
Are there some competencies and skill sets in the FLP modules that you are unsure of? What can you do to be more confident in these areas? Maybe you could try and explain the topic to somebody else.
Most candidates who have passed a CGMA exam would say that they didn't feel 100% ready.
Would delaying your assessment and performing more study make a big difference to your result?.
If you would like to speak to someone in our support team directly, please email: teamcgma@aicpa-cima.com or, book your re-sit here.
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