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Exams

You'll find all the exam-related information you need here, including details of exam dates, fees, deadlines and how to book.

Objective Tests for the Certificate in Business Accounting and Professional Qualification are available on-demand, all year round. Professional Qualification Case Study exams are available four times a year.

What to expect 

Certificate in Business Accounting exams are 120 minutes long. BA1, BA2 and BA3 will each contain 60 objective test questions, while BA4 will contain 85 objective test questions.

Objective Tests are available on demand and computer marked, so as soon as you have completed your Objective Test you will receive a provisional exam result of either ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ at the Pearson VUE assessment centre. This result will then be ratified in your MyCIMA account within 48 hours.

There are two types of computer-based exams in the Professional Qualification:

  • 90 minute Objective Tests for each of the three subjects within each level, available on-demand. Objective Tests are computer marked, so as soon as you have completed your Objective Test you will receive a provisional exam result of either ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ at the Pearson VUE assessment centre. This result will then be ratified in your MyCIMA account within 48 hours. 
  • 3 hour Case Study exams at each level after you have passed all three Objective Tests. Case Study exams use pre-seen material, which is available on the Study Planner, and assess your application of knowledge to real world scenarios and are available four times a year. Case Study exams are human-marked. You will receive your results on your MY CIMA account 6-8 weeks after the close of the Case Study window. Check the exam timetable for the date the results are published. 

Exam timetable

View key dates to help you plan your studies.

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Scheduling your exam

You can schedule all Certificate in Business Accounting and Professional Qualification exams online and over the phone.

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CIMA exams

We are continuing to offer online CIMA exams and in many countries you can now schedule at test centres. You now have more choice than ever.

Student FAQs

Case Study exams:  Pre-seen material 

As part of the Case Study exams, you are expected to have prior knowledge and understanding of the pre-seen material. The pre-seen is at the core of every case study and it's essential that you fully understand the scenario to be successful in the exam.

The pre-seen material is available to download via the Study Hub. You will need your MY CIMA details to log in. 

Study Planner

Have a look at this short video and find out what to expect when you go to take your exam.

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Exam Pass rates

View the pass rates for the last year.

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