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CMA Exam Essay Questions: Complete Guide to Ace the CMA Essays

• By Stephanie Ng
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Many aspiring CMAs with an international background dread the CMA exam essay questions. The writing aspect of the exam can be daunting for many people. This is especially true if English is not your first language. However, some CMA preparation for the essays can help you reduce your anxiety about the written section.

Don’t get thrown off by the CMA essay questions. You can review the CMA essays and prepare yourself for this part of the exam once you know what to expect. What exactly are the examiners testing, how are the essays graded, and how can you get a good score?

CMA Exam Structure

You have 4 hours to complete each part of the CMA exam. If you complete the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in less than 3 hours, then you have the remaining time to work on the essay portion. If you use the full 3 hours for the multiple-choice questions, you will have to stop and move on to essay questions.

For candidates whose first language isn’t English, I strongly encourage you to practice going through CMA exam MCQs quickly, so you can allot more time for the essay portion of the exam.

However, keep in mind that there is a chance you won’t see any essay questions on your exam if you do poorly on the MCQs. In fact, you can only move on to the essays if you get at least 50% of the multiple-choice questions correct. If you do not score 50% or higher on the MCQs, your exam will end, and you will need to sign up to sit for the exam again.

The CMA exam has two parts:

• Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
• Part 2: Strategic Financial Management

Each part contains 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and two essay scenarios. Each scenario has several short-answer questions that accompany it.

CMA Exam Format for Essays

There are two possible essay topics or scenarios, each consisting of several questions. You may be asked to complete a business memo or to work on quantitative analysis.

You’ll add your answers to the essay questions using a simple word processor that is similar to Notepad. For essays that require a computational response, you should create simple tables and show calculations within the word processor space provided. It is a good idea to get familiar with the testing program before your exam day so you can gain confidence in using the essay section’s word processor.

The most accurate exam-mimicking practice can be found in Gleim CMA Review . Their platform allows for complete immersion in the Prometric virtual environment, so there are no surprises on exam day. CMA candidates email me daily about acing the essays, and you’ll be well on your way to completing the essay questions if you use the Gleim Premium CMA Review System . Likewise, Becker CMA also replicates the real testing environment that you’ll encounter at Prometric. Therefore, if you study with Becker, make sure you take advantage of the unlimited practice tests so that you become used to interacting with the exam software.

CMA Essay Example

CMA Essay Scenario Screen

When you reach the essay section of each part of the CMA exam, you may open the essay scenario. The essay scenario includes all the information you need to answer the questions correctly. Consequently, you’ll find that the essay scenario window will open to the left of the window that is displaying the answer box. I highly recommend keeping your essay scenario window open at all times so you don’t miss any critical information as you answer the questions.

Most exam prep courses will show you screenshots and possibly videos of this so that you know what to expect. To repeat, the essay scenario window looks like Notepad or a similar word processing program, and it will have several features to make it easier to complete your essays.

The CMA essay scenario screen functions include the following:

• Zoom – Using the “+” and “-” buttons, you can make the text bigger or smaller as needed
• Navigate – You can use “>”  or “<“ to help you navigate through the pages of the essay scenario
• Scroll – The gray scrollbar on the right side of the screen will help you scroll up and down the page
• Grab – To “grab” the page, click and hold the left mouse button, and then drag the page in any direction
• View page thumbnails – Use the green button with the double rectangle icon (top left) to see all pages as thumbnails
• View table of contents – Use the green button with the “bookshelf” icon (top right) to view the essay scenario as a table of contents

Because you don’t want to waste precious time trying to learn how to use the various CMA exam functions, your actual exam day is the worst possible time to become acclimated to them. Thus, be sure to use my advice from the prior section about finding a CMA review course that emulates the actual exam.

How to Answer CMA Essay Questions

To answer the CMA exam essay questions, you must write a response or complete a calculation related to the scenario that the exam provides you. You must read the question very carefully so you can understand the requirements and adhere to them properly. If you’re doing a calculation, it’s essential you show your work. You can get partial credit for the information you provide related to the topic, but only if you show your work!

When providing a written response, you must be as detailed as possible. You want to be concise and avoid flowery language, but you also need to be comprehensive and accurate. Therefore, mention anything that might be relevant to the topic you are writing about to help you score more points. Brainstorm and then work through your first draft so that your answer is complete; then, you can go back and proofread your answer as time allows.

Because this process could take a while, especially if English is not your first language, it’s essential to get through the MCQs efficiently. Remember, if you finish up the MCQs early, you can bank that extra time for use in the essay portion of the exam.

Example of how to format a quantitative answer in the CMA essay section

CMA Essay Grading System

Cma essay points vs. mc.

The two types of CMA exam questions account for the following percentage of your overall score:

• Essays : 25%

The essays are graded by trained subject matter experts using an approved scoring rubric to ensure objectivity and consistency. In contrast, the MCQs are graded by a computer.

Why does the CMA exam contain essay questions?

This part of the exam is meant to test your:

• Knowledge of the exam content
• Ability to apply concepts in real business situations
• Ability to write clearly and logically

1. Knowledge of Exam Content

Obviously, becoming proficient with the CMA exam content is a critical step to passing both the multiple-choice questions and the essay part of the exam. In addition to reading and watching video lectures, you should spend sufficient time answering practice questions and essays. Unlike reading and watching lectures, answering practice questions helps you apply the concepts you learned. Answering practice questions is about more than just memorizing facts. Therefore, it is most important that you learn the material in such a way that you can apply it to practical scenarios that you might face on the job.

For example,  NINJA CMA Review has over 40 sample essays that come with answers. Similarly, the Gleim CMA Course includes hundreds of essay scenarios with detailed answer explanations. Plus, you’ll have a chance to practice typing in the answers in a simulated exam environment on your computer. This is a great way to familiarize yourself firsthand with what it will be like on the actual exam.

2. Ability to Apply Concepts in Real Business Situations

Knowing the CMA content-specific facts does not mean you know when and how to apply them. However, the essay questions help ensure that CMAs in the workforce understand the CMA content at an application level. When you are faced with an essay question, you should:

• Read each word in the question carefully to understand what the examiner is asking
• Identify the major concepts being tested
• Identify keywords to use in your responses

I like to use a mind map to brainstorm as many relevant keywords as possible because the inclusion of the correct keywords helps you score points.

3. Ability to Write Clearly and Logically

The CMA exam does not test your vocabulary skills. Therefore, you should focus on simple and clear writing; this is not the time to show off how many SAT words you remember.

Instead, the ICMA is looking for your ability to express yourself clearly and logically as it relates to the CMA material tested in the essay questions. You can find the three general principles of effective business writing below. This will help you know how to best answer CMA essay questions on exam day.

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Subscribe to our newsletter and get instant access, how to best answer cma exam essay questions, use of standard english.

Knowing how to use proper, standard English will be essential. It’s the same style you’d use for any American academic or business writing. Use this breakdown to learn what that means for the US CMA essay questions.

(i) Correct Spelling

All words should be properly checked to avoid spelling errors and typos. You shouldn’t use colloquial sayings, slang, and text-message words or abbreviations.

Acronyms should be fully spelled out when they are first introduced in the essay. For example, ABC should be spelled out as “Activity-Based Costing (ABC)” first, and then the term ABC can be used in the rest of your response. The graders want to know that you understand what these acronyms stand for.

An example of how you can format your CMA exam answers for qualitative questions.

(ii) Proper Punctuation

Avoid writing words in all caps (LIKE THIS) and exclamation marks. This rule applies to most business writing anyway, so the same goes for your essay answers. Show emphasis, if necessary, by using your words, not your punctuation.

Organization

Your CMA essay response should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

(i) Beginning Paragraph

The beginning should be introductory in nature and directly address the question. You can simply rewrite the question and include a summary of what you’ll discuss throughout your answer. Don’t copy directly from the question, though, because copying and pasting is generally not a good idea. Here’s an example:

Question : “Explain why there is a difference in net income between variable costing and absorption costing.”

Answer : “There is a difference in net income between variable costing and absorption costing because…”

(ii) Middle (Main) Paragraph

The middle paragraph is where you present CMA content-specific facts and ideas. You can choose to add a couple more paragraphs if you need to expand the ideas, such as adding examples to support your rationale.

Please note that the essays are graded positively, and partial credit can be given. That is, you get a point if the idea matches (or partially matches) with the one on the scoring rubric. This means that you should include as many points as possible as long as they are relevant.

 (iii) Ending Paragraph

The last paragraph should be a short conclusion, typically with a couple of sentences summarizing the ideas presented in the middle paragraph.

While you should spend time writing all the related points you can possibly think of, present your response clearly and logically. It is essential to:

• Read the question carefully to make sure you understand what is being asked
• Double-check that your ideas do not contradict themselves

How to Practice for the CMA Essay Questions

If you want to do your best on these essay questions, it’s essential you study and practice. We’ve talked about the study portion and about what to expect on the essay portion of the exam, but let’s talk about how you can practice for it when you don’t know exactly what your essay questions will be. First, a great CMA review study course is a good place to start. I’ll give you my recommendations for that in a bit.

Another great way to practice for the CMA essay questions is to practice writing mini-essays on the CMA exam material. You can turn MCQs into essay questions by writing out your answers and checking them against the written explanations. Try answering and writing just the way you would if you were taking the exam.

Practice using exam-mimicking software. Here’s an example where multiple windows within the essay section are open at the same time.

Readers’ CMA Exam Essay Questions

Let’s take a look at some questions from readers that might help you.

Question #1

If a question asks about a calculation, do I need to be formal and write it out as words, or can you type out the numbers?  For example, if I ask for depreciation expense for one month of an asset with a 1,200 dollar cost and a 12-month life, can I just write “$100” or “you divide 1,200 by 12 months to get 100 dollars per month which is your depreciation expense”?

Answer: You do need to show your work, but rather than saying, “you divide 1,200 by 12 months to get 100 dollars per month,” you could show “$1,200/12 months = $100 per month in depreciation”. This way, you will more likely get partial credit in case you use the right formula but just miss a number.

Question #2

I am practicing the essay questions, but there are no Excel capabilities or even a table creation function that make tabular presentations possible. Do you have any suggestions on how to address this? Even underlining the numbers to indicate summation is not possible.

Answer : The examiners have taken away the spreadsheet function in recent years. Since the reader is a Gleim customer, I’ve asked the Gleim Team , who has kindly provided the following answer:

There are no Excel or table formatting tools in the essays on the exam or in the Gleim materials. I have a few suggestions. First, practice with the Gleim essays because it will get [you] use[d] to that. Second, we have a video in the first study unit of our course in the supplemental videos section. This video is a how to on the essays. It could be very useful as it discusses formatting and how to answer them. Third and final, the key is to make sure that the answers are clear and organized and labeled well, but it doesn’t need to be formatted any special way as long as the grader can determine what you are answering and what your answer is.”

Question #3

How realistic are the Gleim CMA essay questions? I’m asking because some are really long and have tons of calculations. Are the Gleim CMA questions harder than what I’ll see on the actual CMA exam?

Answer : In my experience, yes. Gleim CMA makes sure that you can actually apply the concepts that you’ve learned. Therefore, the Gleim essays for CMA review may be more complex because they have to ensure you know how to answer questions on all the topics and subtopics. I actually appreciate that the Gleim questions are pretty tricky. If you’re like me, you may feel proud and well-prepared when you do well on the Gleim CMA exam simulation. That’s almost a sure sign that you understand the concept and can nail those questions on the real exam.

Learning Tools

Becker cma review advantage and cma review pro.

Becker CMA has become a popular course for CMA study, especially since the company completely revamped its CMA courses in 2021. After all, Becker has built a reputation for helping accounting professionals pass their exams (like the CMA and CPA exams) with flying colors.

Becker’s CMA courses have several strengths. First of all, the Becker platform uses adaptive learning called Adapt2U Technology, which creates a personalized learning experience. And although Becker’s test bank isn’t quite as large as Gleim’s, Becker gives you access to simulated exams that closely mimic the real CMA exam you’ll take at Prometric. Furthermore, the Becker Pro course even comes with virtual classroom instruction, one-on-one tutoring, and a CPE subscription.

Gleim CMA Review Mega Test Bank & Complete Course

Gleim CMA includes an online CMA test bank and provides sample CMA essay questions for every topic. They also show you how to format your answers (e.g., how to write out the calculations) in the answer explanations. You can get it through the integrated review product – Gleim CMA Review System – or purchase it separately.

If you can’t decide between these two, you can use our Gleim CMA vs. Wiley CMA analysis to help inform your decision.

CMA Exam Sample Essay Questions

The following essay questions examples come from the Institute of Management Accounting itself. You can find a PDF containing these questions as well as more CMA sample questions here .

The sample CMA essay question for part 1 gives an example scenario of a month’s worth of figures for a family-owned business called Brown Printing. There are then six questions for you to answer in your essay.

A sample essay question for Part 1 of the CMA exam

Similarly, the sample CMA Part 2 essay question gives you the scenario of four projects under consideration by a fictitious company called Grandeur Industries. You will then need to answer five questions about these projects.

A sample essay question for Part 2 of the CMA exam

Fortunately, the same document also provides CMA essay examples that fully and correctly answer the questions. Download the PDF to see what good answers looks like. Note the length of the answers, the standard English phrasing, and the shown work for the calculations

CMA Essay Tips

Here are some general tips to help you get through the essay questions.

Know your formulas . Use them to calculate what you need to do before you begin to write.

Read the entire question before answering . Get an idea of the scope of what the question is asking you.

Pay attention to verbs . The questions will give you a hint on how to answer based on what verb begins the sentence. Here are some common verbs: define, compare/contrast, calculate, examine, analyze, interpret, or apply. Make sure your answer fulfills the specific verb. That is, don’t spend time calculating if you’re supposed to be analyzing .

Show your work . I repeat this to emphasize it – even if you get the final answer wrong, you may be able to get some points if you show how you arrived at that answer.

Use your scratch paper . Don’t try to do everything in your head. Do, however, try to keep your handwritten notes somewhat neat, as you will need to type up your calculations to show your work. Refer back to the PDF of sample answers.

If you begin to run out of time, use an outline or bullet points . Remember, your goal is to include as many relevant points as possible. Never leave a question completely blank.

Don’t waste time formatting . As long as your writing itself is clear, it doesn’t have to look pretty to score points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some more general CMA essay questions.

What should I study for the CMA essays?

Studying for the essay portion is less about specific topics than it is about applying your knowledge of those topics. Make sure you know how to perform important calculations. Also, know how and why those calculations are used.

What are typical essay questions on the CMA exam?

Unfortunately, there’s really no such thing as a typical essay question, as they’re all different. However, familiarize yourself with the actions that the questions will ask you to complete: define, compare/contrast, calculate, examine, analyze, interpret, or apply.

If you get to the CMA essays, does that mean you will pass?

If you get to the CMA exam essay questions, all that means is you have scored at least 50% on the MCQs. However, if you don’t get to the essays, that means you haven’t passed.

For the CMA, can I fail multiple choice and go on to the essay anyway?

No. If you don’t pass the MCQ portion of the test, you will not even be able to look at the essay questions. Your test ends there.

Can you pass the CMA exam without doing well on the essays?

Yes, it is possible to do so well on the MCQs that you don’t need to pass the essay portion to pass the whole thing. However, it is never a good idea to make this your test-taking strategy! Since the essays don’t penalize you for wrong answers, only award you with points for the right answers, think of them as opportunities to increase your MCQ score.

Save on the Gleim CMA Premium Package.

For Your Further Reading

Don’t miss my mega-post on the ultimate CMA exam prep guide , with 50 actionable tips to help you nail the exam!

Also, you’ll want to sign up and receive my 10-day e-course with study planning strategies and test-taking tips for the CMA exam!

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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The CMA Exam Essay Questions: Everything You Need to Know

The CMA Exam essay questions stress a lot of people out. After all, Certified Management Accountants  typically have a background in accounting or finance — we’re not writers!

As long as you’ve mastered the exam content enough to do well on the multiple-choice questions, some simple strategies will help you succeed on the essays, too.

I’d like to share with you some specific tips and strategies to practice as you study for the CMA exam, that will help you sail through the essay sections. These are all the things that worked for me and thousands of CMA candidates in my coaching program.

If you are worried about the CMA essay questions, take what I’m about to share, and you’ll be in a much better position to pass on your first try.

What will you learn from this post?

Understanding the CMA Exam Format

Cma essay questions part 1, cma essay questions part 2.

• The 12 Best CMA Essay Question Strategies
• What the CMA Exam Essay Questions Look Like
• Sample CMA Essay Questions

Originally published in 2018, this article was updated and republished on March 4, 2021.

Understanding the CMA exam format is crucial to performing well on the test. There are two parts to the CMA exam, which will be taken separately after discrete seasons of CMA exam preparation.

You can take Part 1 and Part 2 in any order, and they cover unique topics. Both tests will be composed of multiple-choice questions and essays.

When you are deciding how long to study for the CMA exam , remember that each part has a different syllabus. It’s best to study for and pass one of the exam parts before moving on to the next.

The CMA essay questions are based on the same content you need to know for the multiple-choice questions. They are just in a different format, requiring not only application of knowledge and skills, but also explanation.

This means a deep understanding of all the topics is crucial — make sure you choose a CMA prep course with thorough study materials and answer explanations.

Here is a breakdown of the topics covered on each part of the CMA exam and the format:

CMA Exam Part 1 – Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics

4 hours total, 100 multiple-choice questions, and two 30-minute essay scenarios

• External Financial Reporting Decisions (15% of the exam)
• Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting (20% of the exam)
• Performance Management (20% of the exam)
• Cost Management (15% of the exam)
• Internal Controls (15% of the exam)
• Technology and Analytics (15% of the exam)

CMA Exam Part 2 – Strategic Financial Management

• Financial Statement Analysis (20% of the exam)
• Corporate Finance (20% of the exam)
• Decision Analysis (20% of the exam)
• Risk Management (10% of the exam)
• Investment Decisions (15% of the exam)
• Professional Ethics (10% of the exam)

CMA Exam Structure and Feedback

• 3 hours of multiple-choice questions – 75% of score
• 1 hour of essay scenarios – 25% of score
• You must earn at least 50% on multiple-choice sections in order to advance to the essay section. If you are not advanced to the essay section, it means that you failed the exam.
• You cannot return to the multiple-choice section once you’ve advanced to the essay section of the exam.

CMA Exam Scheduling & Testing Procedures

• Exams are administered at Prometric testing centers.
• The exam is entirely computer-based, including the essay questions.
• Schedule your exam date and time online, only after receiving your exam authorization from the IMA .
• There are three exam testing windows offered: January & February, May & June, September & October.

Part 1 of the CMA exam has two essay questions. You will read a scenario or passage of text and then use a word processor to type out your essay response.

The essay questions on the exam are meant to test your ability to articulately explain the application of relevant financial concepts and principles.

In part 1, the essay questions will revolve around related exam content and could include anything related to Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics.

It’s important that you write clearly and concisely. During CMA exam prep, you’ll refine this skill.

The essay portion will account for 25% of your CMA exam score for part 1.

Similar in format and requirements, part 2 of the CMA exam will also include two essay questions. These, too, will account for 25% of your score.

It’s important that you learn how to take the CMA exam by practicing essay questions. You’ll get a rhythm down that caters to your strengths and enables you to thoroughly read, reflect, and then craft meaningful responses for your essays.

Part 2 CMA exam essays will cover the topics from that part of the CMA exam, including anything related to Strategic Financial Management.

Exam Secrets Handout

The 12 Best CMA Essay Questions Strategies

The IMA offers some tips on how to do well on the CMA essay portion. Over my years of coaching thousands of CMA students, I’ve created my own list. I’ve also put together a free CMA study guide , where you’ll find a lot more information to help you pass the exam and get certified.

These tips cover some common concerns and questions people have about how to approach the essay questions. They also include some super-effective strategies to help you get the most possible points in this section.

Here are my best CMA essay question tips and strategies:

Stay positive and don’t be afraid of this section

Not everyone is a writer. That doesn’t mean you can’t do well on the essay section of the CMA exam. You need basic, plain, and straightforward English, and a competent understanding of financial concepts. Anyone can learn enough to do well on this.

If you show your work and assumptions, you can earn partial credits

The IMA straight up says that graders want to give you as many points as possible. Because a human will be reading this, you have some room to explain yourself in an authentic way. Doing so (and showcasing that you really do know what you’re talking about) can earn you more points.

Expect 3 to 6 questions for each essay scenario

With each essay question on the CMA exam, you’ll read a brief scenario and then be asked as many as six questions. The questions will require you to use the information presented and apply financial concepts and principles to it. You’ll practice this as you study for the CMA exam.

You can scroll between questions and scenarios within the essay section

Scanning through the questions will help you assess how much time you’ll need for responses. You don’t have to answer the questions in order. You may see that the fourth question is a doozy and will take you a little more time. You can get a global view and then manage your time accordingly.

Pay close attention to verbs

Action words may be descriptive or directive. They are definitely clues. For instance, if the essay question says, “compare or contrast,” don’t spend time defining something. Only do what is asked in the question.

Read the entire question to understand all requirements

Details are your friends. Don’t miss one by skimming or jumping away once you think you “get the idea.” Take your time and read everything. All of the data, information, connections, and other content you need to form an articulate response are contained in the text.

Use good standard English, organization, and clarity

The IMA cites these metrics as what test graders are looking for in this section. People whose native language isn’t English often get anxious about the essay portion of the CMA exam. They needn’t be. It doesn’t require you to be verbose, rather to get to the point and state your meaning as plainly as possible.

Graders are looking for effective writing skills

Again, good English is simple. There are a finite amount of rules and you can master the kind of writing graders are looking for in CMA exam essays. Showcase your ability to use the right vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, and more.

Be brief and to the point

It’s tempting to think that writing a lot will get you the most points, but (as always), less is more. Don’t start waxing eloquent. Bullet points are acceptable. You are on the clock, after all.

Don’t leave questions blank

You should have looked ahead but even so, you can’t always anticipate exactly how long a response will take. Sometimes you just get hung up and run out of time. If you are short on time, at least write an outline of your main points.

Graders are looking to give you points, not take them away

Make it easy for the graders to give you points by showing your work. Sometimes, you can get carried away with the narrative. Having jotted down an outline or bullet points of your main ideas will help your case with graders.

Be sure to use all the time available to you

Maybe you aren’t in danger of running out the time at all. If you are a lightning fast writer, you don’t get extra points for speed. Take your time. Pace yourself. Practice this.

What the CMA Exam Essay Section Looks Like

Type your responses into the text box. This is similar to MS Word but easier and simpler. If you are familiar with MS Word, this won’t be an issue at all.

As you can see, the module shows you the number of questions on the top left-hand corner, and your time remaining on the top right-hand corner.

Sample CMA Exam Essay Questions

It may be helpful to see what a CMA exam essay question looks like. If you buy a CMA review course, you should get access to a test bank that will include plenty of sample essay questions. Practice questions are an essential piece of your CMA study material toolkit.

When you’re ready to start, check out what my course has to offer, including coaching, a huge test bank, and lots of CMA essay questions to practice. It’s all available in the CMA Coach Shop .

Don’t be afraid of this section of the exam. Many, including myself, have gone through it with success. If others could do it, you can too!

Still feel anxious or have questions about CMA essay questions? Drop a comment below and I’ll give you advice and guidance for how to sharpen your essay skills!

Hi, I’m Nathan Liao (aka the CMA Coach)! For the last 10 years, over 82,000 accounting and finance pros came knocking at my door seeking guidance and help. If you’re also aiming to conquer the CMA exam on your very first try—without wasting away time or money—you’ve found your ultimate guide. Dive in deeper to discover more about me and the dedicated team that powers CMA Exam Academy.  Click here and let’s embark on this journey together!

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84 Comments on “The CMA Exam Essay Questions: Everything You Need to Know”

Hey Nathan, Is US CMA really a good option for freshers? to get a good job in India? and how much is the average salary after US CMA.. and Indian companies hire US CMA? And how many exams do I need to give to get an Indian CMA degree after completing US CMA? Any responses would be appreciated.

The US CMA is recognized globally. I’m offering coaching for the US CMA exam only.

You can learn more about this designation here

Hello Nathan I use the wiley test bank When i practice essay questions, I noticed that for questions with calculations which needs to be tabulated, the alignment and intendation goes away after I save the answer. Is it the same on the exam and is it okay? Can u help with how to present a calculation with multiple columns like for eg for products A B C.. Thanks

Have you reached out to Wiley by any chance for customer support? They’ll be able to help answer your question as it relates to their study material.

I took part-one exam last February and I got only 340. I’m thinking that I should go for a revaluation. I’d written two more papers (Part-2) before but never had been able to succeed. What are the chances that the odds will be in my favor? How many of them who’d given the revaluation has actually made it with just 340?

Sorry to hear the news. Don’t give up.

Here’s an article I wrote to help candidates retake the exam and succeed: https://www.cmacoach.com/what-to-do-if-you-fail-the-cma-exam/

It’s hard to predict if a re-evaluation will work. Usually, if you had scored 350 it may be worth going through it, but at 340 it’s hard to tell.

please take me through how to purchase the whole course for part 1

I’m glad to hear you’re interested to pursue the CMA and I’d love to guide you through your journey!

To purchase our Part One course please visit https://cmaexamacademy.com/product/premium-cma-coaching-course-part-one . There you can choose between two payment options, one-time payment or a payment plan of four payments. Right above the Add to Cart button, there’s a dropdown to choose your Payment Option preference.

I look forward to seeing you in the Academy and helping you earn your CMA.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime. I’m happy to help.

Hi How to write numerical questions in exam , I mean how to show working in response box

In your online test bank, you’ll have model answers that’ll show you how to show your work.

If you don’t have an online test bank, here’s a link to ours https://cmaexamacademy.com/cma-study-tools/

In one of the Q&A, i read we should aim 75% MCQs and 75% essays to be correct to have a chance to pass. How will we know about 75% in a subjective thing like essay. Also, when the clock is ticking and you have to manage 12-14 questions in 1 hour, it looks like a humongous task to write as much as possible for every question. I got 13 questions of which 9 were theoretical, and i really don’t know what is “enough” in essays. Of corse, there are some answers i wrote well, some are not well written and I cud have written much more in them given the time was not ticking. People told me to finish MCQs 10 minutes earlier to get more time in essays, but its easy said than done.

Nupur, you won’t know how much you scored in each section of the exam unfortunately. You’ll just get a final score for the entire exam.

My time ran out while I was reviewing my answers in the essay portion. Will my answers be saved and submitted?

Yes, your answers are being saved automatically. Hope you passed! 🙂

Thanks, Nathan

Hey Nathan, how many words is required to explain a topic? 4-5 relevant bullets?

The IMA doesn’t provide a target number of words for the essay scenarios. Although they recommend candidates to be concise, make sure you are not too brief. You should use as many words as needed to explain your answers clearly and address all the components in the essay questions.

Thanks for giving us a platform to ask any query related to CMA exam. My question is how many essay questions will be given in the exam to solve, is it one essay question or more. Thanks in advance.

Great question! There will be two essay scenarios and each can have five to seven questions associated with it. You’ll be given 30 minutes to respond to each essay scenario.

DOES CMA PART 1 ESSAY QUESTION WILL ASK TO SOLVE COMPLETE QUESTION RELATED TO PREPARATION OF INCOME STATEMENT, OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, BALANCE SHEET (COMPLETE FINANCIAL STATEMENT)

It very well could. We don’t know what the essay questions will ask but be prepared for any type of question presented.

Hi Nathan, Is there any scratch paper to write down the calculations or essay draft? Thanks Ramtin

Yes, you will be provided with a scratch paper to use during the exam.

do you really need 1 hour for the essay or is there wiggle room there if I need to spend a little more time on the multiple choice questions?

Jo, if you finish your MCQs before your 3 hour limit, any remaining time will be carried over to the 1-hour essay section effectively giving you extra time in Essays. But this doesn’t work the other way around since the MCQ section is the first section of the exam. Thanks, Nathan

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Hello sir . My exams for part 2 will be held February 2019 .I want to ask you whether my Wiley material edition 2017 is good enough to prepare . Or I should purchase new material

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Dear NATHAN LIEO

is it necesssary to save the essay answers or can it saved automatically?

Hi Mohammed – the essay answers will be saved automatically when you proceed to the next one.

Hi Nathan. Is there grammar check in the writing section of the exam? Do they underline the words you spell wrong and provide the potential words you meant like in Word? Thanks.

No, unfortunately there is no grammar check in the essay section.

I am using Wiley… should I go for another online test bank. I would like to have more question bank only. I am fine with books but looking for more question for practice

Dear Nathan Liao,

How important to be proficient in English language to pass the CMA examination. i just thinking about how to pass essay questions. will it hard for the people who are bit weak in english writing? Appreciated your answer on this point.

It surely helps, but most candidates improve significantly their English as they study for the exam and practice answering essay questions. You may also take some additional business English classes if you feel you need them.

Do we have options in Essay question? Like out of 3 we need to answer 2.

Hi Khaleel,

We don’t. It’s best to answer all questions to get the most points.

Hi Nathan I am take the exam on 21/2/2017 and get score 340 after this time i stop reading CMA part 1 before two month i started again but i found some problem in section E and i need suitable material for it instead of hock and gliem. and when it possible for me to repeat the exam ? Thanks . Motwakel

Hi Motwakel,

You can repeat the exam anytime you’re ready.

I recommend you to check my video coaching course here . I’ll be there for you to answer any questions you have along the course and help you pass the exam the next time around.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

Hi Nathan Need more clarity on the essay questions. From the various comments above, I gather it is critical that we save the essay question as and when we move to the next one – is that right? Also, when asked to prepare Income Statement or Balance Sheet – how do you go about doing it in word? Do we first work it out on a paper and type it in? Is formatting mandatory?

Many thanks, Savita

Yes, save the essay questions. The system is designed to autosave but it’s best to do it yourself anyways for peace of mind.

All questions should be worked out on paper first except for theoretical ones of course.

Wish you best of luck on your exam!

Sir, How many marks carries a single multiple question….???? And howmany mark carries a single esaay question….????

Each mutiple choice question or essay question will have the same weight regardless of difficulty level.

Thanks and Regards, Nathan

I have written essay questions and when i moved to next and previous they were there. But I didnt click save button. Will it be saved? Furthermore, If I score 360 in MCQ without essay Q. What is the chance to pass?

Thanks and Regards,

The passing mark is 360 out of 500 scaled score. If you have scored 360 in MCQ, then you will surely pass the exam but you must finish the essay part to get a better score.

For a complete discussion on the grading system, you may check the link below:

https://www.cmacoach.com/cma-exam-graded/

As per IMA, for the period May 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016, the passing rates for Part 1 and Part 2 are 35% and 52% respectively.

dear , i wanna know that if a person has completed 50% score and he moves to 2nd window but there are remaining questions which are not answered yet then what will be the criteria for getting back and resolve them

Hi Muhammad,

You cannot get back to the multiple choice (MC) questions once you moved to the 2nd section. Unanswered questions will be graded as incorrect. That is why, it is advised to make educated guess if you do not know the answer or how to solve a particular MC question or you’re running out of time.

Regarding P1 essay questions, if I say that the two essay questions will be about internal control and budgeting planning & forecasting respectively, would it be a safe bet? from a scale of 1 to 10. I mean, what’s the chance of each section being essay questioned.

Hi Wenhao, thanks for your question. It’s really hard to predict what will be covered in the essay questions. Your best bet is to be fully prepared and know every section really well. Let me know if you have any follow up questions. Nathan

Hello, Please how many questions are there in the essay session? Are there just two compulsory questions or they are more?

Hello Jawula,

There are two essay scenarios and each one may contain more than one question.

Are you allowed to have a notepad to write notes and work calculations?

They will provide paper for you and pencil too!

Hello I have 2013 books where can i get the new added topics only instead of buying new books again?

Moza, it’d be probably best to get newly updated textbooks. The exam changed quite a bit in 2015 so any edition prior will not be the best tool to use.

Click here to get your updated textbooks and also test bank .

I’m a college student and I have my part 2 exam on the 25th of February. However, I’m really short on time because we are required to do a research paper as well during the coming month. I wanted to to know if it was honestly possible to study for part 2 in the remaining time with some hope of passing. It should be noted, most of the topics have been covered in my college syllabus.

Hi Jessica,

If you have covered these topics in college recently, then I think it’ll be possible to take and pass the exam if you dedicate enough hours from now until exam day. How many hours can you devote each week to study for your CMA exam? I would suggest at least 10 hours or more if you can, depending on how comfortable you are with the subject matter.

Have you taken mock exams at all yet?

which one is the best test bank Gleim or Hock?

Hi Ali, Both have excellent test banks. Are you looking strictly for a test bank only, or also textbooks?

How to prepare exam please share some techniques.

What is the probability of passing Part 1 of the CMA exam by knowing the theory 100% and just a little portion of the calculations?

Hi Rilky, it’s hard to predict but if you are not ready to perform calculations during the exam, your chances of passing are very slim.

What if we add more than what is required from us in the essay is that ok? eg. the essay question is asking to list 3 actions then I list 5 or 6 just to broaden my answer and to cover as much possible!

If you have time to add more answers go ahead. It doesn’t hurt to give graders more information to grade you with. But do this only if you have extra time. Otherwise focus on finishing the exam on time and completing ALL answers.

I have written essay question and when i mood to next and previous they were there. But I didnt click save button. How will it be. Furthermore, If I passed MCQ without essay Q. What is the chance to pass?

Thanks and Regards, Alto

Your tips have been helpful for me.

Wondering if Cost allocation techniques, Equivalent Unit ( conversion costs) have come up on essays over the last 3 -4 Part 1 exams??

Count on it. Study every single topic. Don’t skip any.

Dear Nathan

What should be the strategy to pass the CMA exam? Does practicing the online question bank provided by Wiley material sufficient to score 75% on the MCQs? Will the exam questions on the final exam day be based on the question bank provided by WIley? Kindly share your experience.

Is not enough to practice with the online test bank. You will also need to read the textbooks, use flashcards and get coaching if you need it.

The MCQs in the test bank are retired questions so you will not see exactly the same ones on the exam. If you score above 80% consistently using your test bank, I think you’ll be in good shape.

Hey! Your article is really helpful. However, I am worried about one thing. Will we have the facility to make a table to document our response for the essay question? In other words, what does that response box allow other than plain text?

I don’t believe you’ll have the option to create tables.

I am preparing for the Part II exam and my exam date is on 22.10.2014. I almost cover the topic and essay writing practice is pending. Now I am getting 80-85 score for gleim online.Expecting your advice for final review…

I NEED TO DOWNLOAD MCQS

Your best bet is to purchase a test bank from Gleim or Wiley . There are no free MCQ test banks to my knowledge.

I didn’t press save in the text box of the essay question .dose it saves automatically or my reply will be blank?

If you don’t press the Save button, I believe it won’t save your answer unfortunately.

I’m curious, in order to pass part 1 and/or part 2, one needs to score a 360+ out of 500. If the multiple choices account for 75% of the test, theoretically, I can pass both parts by answering all the multiple choices correctly. 75% of 500 is 375. I understand the degree of difficulty and improbability of answering all the multiple choices correctly, but I’m just speaking hypotheticals here.

I think it’s not correct. 75% of 500 is 375. Hense, the essay section would have 125 points (500-375=125). If you pass the MCQ section with 50% and essay section with 100% correct answers, you will get only 313 points (375/2+125=313), which less thn required 360.

Must earn at least 50% on multiple-choice section in order to advance to essay section. If in the exam you are not advanced to the essay section, it means that you failed the exam. –

If student gets 50 or more % in MCQs than does it mean that student has passed the exam or what ?

Candidates must earn at least 50% in the MCQ section in order to advance to the essay section. That does not mean you have passed the exam. It means that you have earned sufficient points to move onto the essay section. If a candidate scores below 50% in the MCQ section and scores 25% in the essay section, the candidate will have failed the exam due to insufficient points. This is why the IMA doesn’t let candidates with a score below 50% move onto the essay section because they have already failed.

have got part 1 & 2 ver3.0 books of IMA from one of my friends.

Would request you to suggest if these books are okay for studying or do I need to buy new books for taking exam in may14…?

Awaiting your response.

With borrowed books you won’t have access to the online test bank, which I think is very important for your preparation.

Did the writing skill ,spelling and grammar effect the the answer if it is correct, specially for those the English in not the mother tongue ? thank you

When are you going to post the essay notes part 2?

Ali, not anytime soon unfortunately. I’m working on videos at the moment.

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CMA Exam Results

So, you took the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam (or are planning to). First of all, congratulations! Secondly, you’re in the right place. We’ve laid out all the information you need to be prepared post-exam day right in this article.

Ready to start studying? 80% of our students pass (double the global pass rate of 40%). Compare Wiley CMA Review Courses Today.

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CMA Exam Results Quick Facts

• The CMA exam score is a scaled score between 0-500, 500 being a perfect score and 360 being the minimum passing score.
• It usually takes around one month for your CMA exam results to be posted.

There are three performance ratings: Satisfactory (S), Marginal (M), and Unsatisfactory (U).

• If you fail, you are only required to retake the portions you did not pass.

Knowing how to properly interpret your CMA exam results is key to moving forward. Keep reading to learn how to understand your score.

Waiting for the CMA Exam Results

Be confident that you did the best you could, especially if you prepared with our Wiley CMA review course. Also, know that if you do not pass, we’re here to help you get back on your feet. With top-notch resources and study materials, we’ve got your back no matter your results.

What To Do While Waiting for CMA Exam Results

• Relax: Phew, you did it! Pat yourself on the back for getting through exam day. Now’s the time to enjoy a break from study time before plotting your next steps toward earning your CMA certification.
• Maintain your routine: Going from rigorous exam prep to a mundane waiting period can feel like quite a shock. Once you’ve enjoyed a week or two off, maintaining a portion of your previous schedule can provide a sense of normalcy and keep you on track to achieve your goals. If you just completed CMA exam part 1, it may be helpful to browse exam part 2 materials to get a head start. Or, if there was a particular section you feel you may need to retake, check out some study materials for the topic areas you struggled with. Be sure to ease in slowly and take breaks when you need.
• Practice good mental health habits: Simple daily habits like drinking enough water, eating fruits and vegetables, and getting a good night’s sleep are natural ways to alleviate stress while you wait for your CMA results. When thoughts of doubt sneak in, focus on calming your breath and staying positive.

CMA Exam Passing Scores

Note: You must earn a 50% on the MCQs correct in order to move on to the essay questions.

CMA Exam Score Release

The ICMA email provides all the information necessary to find out if you achieved a CMA exam passing score. At the time grades are released, results are also available online in your Account Profile transcript. Unfortunately, the ICMA does not share exam scores via telephone.

(*) Please note there are no official, set score release dates.

The CMA Exam Scoring Scale

It is solely a score, not a percentage. The scaled score allows CMA candidates to know how they performed in relation to the passing standard of 360.

Your CMA Exam Performance Report

Candidates who do not achieve a CMA exam passing score will receive a report that indicates their performance on each of the key topic areas in the multiple-choice section as well as their overall performance on the essay section of the exam.

What if I don’t get my CMA exam results?

What if i failed the cma exam.

Study for the CMA exam with trustworthy materials from an IMA Strategic Partner.

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CMA Exam Results – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to get cma exam results.

• CMA exam score release dates are approximately 6 weeks, or just over one month, to be posted.

How do I know if I passed the CMA exam?

• You will know if you passed the CMA exam upon receiving your results. Candidates must receive over a 360 to pass.

What is a good CMA score?

• A passing score is a good score on the CMA exam.

What is the CMA passing score?

• The minimum CMA passing score is 360.

What is the pass percentage of CMA?

• The CMA pass rate, as of 2020, was 45% according to the IMA .

Can I retake the CMA exam?

• Yes, CMA candidates are allowed to retake either part of the two-part CMA exam. Note you are required to pay the exam registration fee again.

Related Articles

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Decoding the Exam Pattern of CMA USA: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Cma usa: overview, benefits of cma usa.

• International exposure: CMA professionals have opportunities to work in countries across Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, with these regions being among the top destinations for them.
• Higher-paying entry-level job to top management level: CMAs often start with higher-paying entry-level positions and can progress to top management roles in their careers.
• Versatile work opportunities: CMAs can work at top accounting firms, multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
• Distance learning course: You can attain the CMA USA certification through a distance learning course, which allows you to complete the program within one year.

CMA USA Eligibility

• A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a reputed university/institution.
• 200 hours (roughly 2 years) of work experience.

CMA USA Syllabus

• Technology and Analytics (15%)
• Performance Management (20%)
• Internal Controls (15%)
• External Financial Reporting (15%)
• Budgeting, Planning, and Forecasting (20%)
• Cost Management (15%)
• Corporate Finance (20%)
• Investment Decisions (10%)
• Decision Analysis (25%)
• Professional Ethics (15%)
• Financial Statement Analysis (20%)
• Risk Management (10%)

CMA USA Exam Pattern

• January/February 2023: 1 January to 29 February (candidates can register until 15 February)
• May/June 2023: 1 May to 30 June (candidates must register by 15 June)
• September/October 2023: 1 September to 31 October (candidates need to complete their registration before 15 October)

CMA Course Details

1. what is the paper pattern for the us cma exam in india, 2. is the usa cma easy to crack in india, 3. what are the passing marks for cma usa, 4. what are the tips for passing the cma exam, 5. can i clear cma usa without coaching in india.

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