cma exam essay example

How to Prepare for the Essay Questions

The essay portion of the exams is worrisome to many CMA candidates, and this is for good reason. The essay questions consist of written and quantitative analysis and responses. Because of this, all CMA candidates should be well versed in word processing and electronic spreadsheet programs.

What to Expect on Exam Day

Each CMA exam has two essay questions, and each question presents a business scenario that will have multiple questions. You have 1 hour to answer both essay questions. You have 3 hours to finish the multiple-choice question section of the exam before starting the essay portion. If you finish the multiple-choice questions section before the 3-hour limit, the remaining time gets carried over to the essay section. The focus of the essay questions is on the CMA candidate’s ability to understand and apply concepts presented in the part being tested to a business scenario.

How Your Essay Responses Will be Scored

The subject matter experts who will score your essay responses will use a grading guide. There are more points in the grading guide than points that can be awarded. For example, there may be 120 possible points but only 100 can be awarded in total. The expert’s goal is not to deduct points from your essay answers, but to award you points.

Partial answers will also award you points. For example, if you had to calculate 10 ratios but were only able to calculate 6, the experts will award you partial points for your answer. So if you get a tough essay question, try to work on it as much as possible, even if you don’t complete it. You’ll be able to get some points. Be sure to show your calculations.

What You Can Do to Prepare

The essay section represents 25% of your overall score. It’s very important that you diligently prepare for it by including the following tips in your preparation:

• Practice, practice, practice. Understand what essay questions ask of you and practice answering them. It’s very easy to go on a tangent on a response. Practice staying focused.
• Calculate what is asked of you, not what you think is asked of you. For example, if you are asked to calculate liquidity ratios, don’t calculate activity or solvency ratios because you think they’ll be needed. Stay focused
• Know your formulas very well. You may need to calculate many figures before you can begin to answer the question at hand. The best way to memorize formulas is to write them down repeatedly and being mindful of them. Don’t daydream while you practice.
• Get your hands-on essay question samples to get familiar with the format.

Exam Secrets Handout

The Most Important Advice

The most important advice that I can give you is to understand the material that you are studying. If you are just memorizing without understanding the WHY of things, it’ll be difficult to pass the exams, much less do well in the essay questions. The essay section will test your comprehension of the material in a real business scenario.

Many have passed the exams. I’m confident that with good preparation, you will too!

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If you have any comments and/or questions, feel free to drop them in the Comments section below. I will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for making this community the most vibrant CMA community online. I hope to connect with you soon and guide you to exam and career success!

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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28 Comments on “How to Prepare for the Essay Questions”

Hi Sir Nathan. What are the steps needed to apply for the CMA Admission? From registry to taking the EXAMS? THANK you.

I listed all the steps to becoming a CMA in this blog post .

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks Nathan.Can u give me a quick advise on things to keep in mind while facing the exam, as I writing CMA part 1 tomorrow.

You can find some exam tips here .

Best of luck on your exam!

Hello Nathan , Thanks for this very insightful article , i have a masters degree in finance and treasury management from a French University and i wonder of i’m eligible for the CMA … is there a way to know please ? Thanks 🙂

You meet the educational qualifications for the CMA, and there is also a work experience requirement that you can fulfill later on. Click here to learn more about it.

If you have any follow-up questions, just hit reply 🙂

Thanks, Nathan

Hi Nathan.. I’m Faiyaz, can you please give me some exam tips for CMA part 1 .. Your tips will be helpful Sir.

Check my Study Guide here . It’s packed with valuable exam tips and a weekly study plans that will help you prepare for the exam more efficiently.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi Nathan, I am planning to do CMA and I have some old 2010 CMA material of Hock and Gleim (books, power point slides, flash cards, assumed knowledge, Practice question & answers, Study plan and supplemental problems). Is it outdated? should I buy new addition. And please guide me which is best Gleim or Hock?

With the recent change in CMA curriculum in 2015, I suggest that you buy the new CMA materials. But on the other hand, these review materials are still useful.

To guide you on which course to pick, please see my article using this link .

Thanks a lot Nathan. You are Good. Stay blessed.

Hi Nathan…thank You so much..whatever be the doubt i have regarding essay question..all are solved after reading Ur article.thnks

You’re welcome, Shagufta. Thanks for the feedback.

Hi Nathan, I am Aditi and want to enrolled for CMA exam in USA. But I didn’t get the continuing education thing? As to how it works and is it important for getting the CMA licence? Also, I have done my Bachelor’s degree in India and have 2 years work experience, so am I eligible to write CMA exam in USA?

Would appreciate your response.

Thanks Aditi

You may fulfill your CMA experience requirement after passing the CMA exam within seven years.

According to the CMA Handbook,

“Candidates for the CMA Certification must complete two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting and/or financial management. This requirement may be completed prior to or within seven years of passing the examination. Academics can meet this requirement if at least 60% of their course load is in accounting and corporate financial management courses above the principles level. Professional experience is expected to be gained in full-time employment. However, continuous part-time positions of 20 hours per week meeting the definition of qualified experience will count toward this requirement at a rate of one year of experience for every two years of part-time employment.

Qualifying experience consists of positions requiring judgments regularly made employing the principles of management accounting and financial management. Such employment includes: • Preparation of financial statements • Financial planning & analysis • Monthly, quarterly, and year end close • Auditing (external or internal) • Budget preparation & reporting • Manage general ledger and balance sheets • Forecasting • Company investment decision making • Costing analysis • Risk evaluation

Employment requiring the occasional application of management accounting principles such as in computer operations, sales and marketing, manufacturing, engineering, personnel, and general management will not satisfy this requirement. Internships and trainee, clerical, or non-technical positions do not provide appropriate experience to fulfill this requirement.”

For complete details about the CMA exam, you may check the link below:

http://www.imanet.org/docs/default-source/cma-lib/cma_handbook_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=8

Yes It was a nice article…everything now is in our hands to work hard to get through this hard target.. Regards Mukaram

Hello nathan…. My name is shweta frm muscat, oman i appeared for cma part 1 exam ystrdy and cleared multiple choice quetsns n moved to essay…bt i have a small querry and its bothering me a lot i answered both d essay questns bt i dint save it and my tym was up… So wantd to knw if u dont end ur test n ur tym is up watevr ans u r writing dt tym dey wil consider it ? And wil it get saved automatically or not ?

Waiting for ur reply….

I believe that the system automatically saves your work but I’m not 100% sure of it. Sorry I can’t be of help.

really Im very thankful for you … you are doing a great favour for CMA candidates .

please first let me tell you about my experiences in studying CMA.

I start studying CMA in 2004 with Gliem Materials . for me , I found Gliem topics well ordered but not deeply explained.

when I did my first exam try in 2005 I felt disappointed because I found the exam questions totally different than Gliem’s questions.

so I stopped studying CMA and decide to study MBA . in 2014 I graduate as an MBA from Liverpool University , and directly

planned to restudy CMA but from Hock materials this time.

to be honest with you , I found hock better than Gliem because it gives detailed explanations as well as excellent examples.

I almost finish reading part 1 and answering its questions ( remaining section E – Internal Controls) but yet I did not know anything

essay questions.

please Nathan I need some advices and recommendations from you because still I have some fears from the exam .

thanks a lot to you Nathan .

Mohammad Adnan Kuwait .

Hello Mohammad,

You can check out the guides and coaching programs I currently offer to candidates who are finding great success at passing the exam: http://www.cmaexamacademy.com/start-here/ The second way is to join me in a webinar I host each week here: http://www.cmaexamacademy.com/webinar Finally, I have a lot of free content in my blog and my FAQ page. You can browse here: https://www.cmacoach.com/cma-faq/

At present I am living in Canada. I am not a computer guy. I am interested to enroll in CMA and has intended to appear in June 2016 attempt but due to financial crunch I can’t afford the cost of study material and due to scarcity of resources, I have lack of confidence to decide from where I have to take start and how should I track down the path/method to achieve my target including preparation and pass the exams. Although my educational background is in accounts & finance but starting again after gap of 5 to 7 years. Any help/guidance will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Hello Kamran,

I understand that the $997 price is out of reach for you at the moment. I’d also like to mention that I have another course at $597 if you are interested. It’s called Self-Study Mastery and includes all the tools you’ll need to self-study for the exam. You can learn about this program here: http://www.cmaexamacademy.com/cma-courses/

Either way, you can always check out my blog for free content, and I’ll continue sending you emails packed with valuable content about the CMA exam.

Hello My name is Ahmed Zawar and i am from dubai UAE .i completed My BBA and now i am interested for CMA to start My career in finance field.Kindly can u advice me for this course..How it will be benefit to me…and also wana tell u that i dunt hve a background in accounts field..so wether it will be a good option for mee to go for CMA course..what r the opportunities that i will get ?? kindly reply mee

Thanks Ahmed

can you send my email CMA essay questions samples to improve my self and avoid any worrisome in exam

Hello Mohamed,

I currently haven’t developed sample questions. I’ve been focused on finishing up the study guide. Which study material did you purchase? Normally, they come with mock exams that include essay questions. If you didn’t get one, a quick email to their support team asking for it will get you one.

If you have studied diligently and done your very best, don’t worry too much. Just take mock exams as many times as needed to score at least 80% in each section.

Hi Mohamed,

I was able to find free essay questions and answers online that you can use to practice. Please click on this link to get to the article. I hope this helps 🙂

Dear Mr. Nathan i am searching about many sample of Essay question for helping me in the exam , i am try to get your advises for studies planing within this site. could you help me for my above requests ,

regards and thanks [email protected]

Badr Izz, check out the essay sample questions here .

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Free CMA Exam Study Tips

There are many ways to study for the CMA exam. Your success is dependent upon your available study time, your preferred study approach, your familiarity with the CMA exam study material, and how practiced you are at writing a formal exam. Here are some free CMA study tips to help you along the way.

Ready to start studying? Try our course free for 14 days and discover why more people pass with Wiley CMA.

Start My Free Trial

1. Learn How to Navigate CMA Exam Essay Questions

• Organize your essay with an introduction, body, conclusion.
• Use key words from the question in your solution
• Learn how points are awarded for essay answers, ensuring that you get the most points possible for each answer, even when you are challenged by a question. Access video lesson content on how to be successful on essays in your CMA study materials.
• Practice essays in the actual test interface. The Wiley Platinum CMA Exam Review Course provides 30+ sample essays for each exam part for real-world practice.

2. Create a CMA Study Plan and Stick to It

3. use different study formats.

• Read all the choices carefully but try to answer the question before reading the choices
• Make sure you’re answering the right question. Some choices are correct but off topic. Others are only partly true.
• Watch out for unnecessary information.
• Watch out for negative words like “NOT”.
• Don’t over-analyze MCQs, the CMA exam typically doesn’t try to trick you.
• Use CMA practice tests in your CMA course to test your ability to answer multiple-choice questions in each section. After completing the first block of questions presented, review the study materials in the areas where you were weakest. Then try another practice test.

4. Remember These Tips on Exam Day

Learning how to complete multiple-choice questions and essays, and being mentally and physically prepared, will ensure your success on the CMA exam. The Wiley Platinum CMA Exam Review Course gives you all the tools, CMA study materials, and confidence you need to pass your big exam.

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Prefer to talk it out, more ways to connect, start today, see surgent in action, have a question, 5 things you need to know about cma exam essay questions (and how to make them work to your advantage).

The CMA Exam essay questions are one of the hardest and most intimidating parts about “becoming a Certified Management Accountant . Even the best writers can get stumped because of the vast subject matter knowledge required to pass the CMA Exam, and the topics are all fair game on all exam questions. But with a little knowledge about how the CMA Exam essay questions work, and a little practice on your writing skills, you can walk into exam day completely prepared to write two stellar answers. Check out our top 5 things you need to know about the CMA Exam essay questions to help you gear up to pass on exam day.

You Need to Get At Least 50% on the CMA Multiple Choice Question Section

Let’s cover the basics of the exam before you even get to the essay section. There are two exams each with two sections. The first section of the exam consists of 100 multiple choice questioeans that need to be answered over the course of 3 hours. The multiple choice questions make up 75% of your total score. The essay section consists of two questions and you’re given 30 minutes per question. This section makes up 25% of your score.

Having said that, before you even get to the essay portion, you’re going to have to put in a good effort on the multiple choice questions. Since they make up 75% of the total score, you can’t pass the exam if you get less than 50% on the multiple choice. In fact, the actual exam won’t even let you proceed into the essay section if you get less than 50%.

CMA candidates should keep in mind how important passing the multiple choice question section can be; if you don’t pass, everything you’ve learned and prepared for related to essay questions will be moot during this exam attempt. The good news is, if you prepare well enough for the multiple choice, you’ll be more prepared for whatever topic you receive on the essay section. The key takeaway: make sure you’re completely solid on multiple choice questions before exam day.

There Are Several Types of CMA Exam Essay Questions

The IMA wants to test a CMA Exam candidate’s knowledge, as well as their ability to apply exam concepts in real-life scenarios — which is why essay questions are part of the exam. Consequently, candidates will run across a variety of essay questions, which may include writing a memo, performing a calculation, or comparing and contrasting certain concepts. Some essay questions will be fairly straightforward while others will have several parts the exam candidate will need to clearly navigate – just like in the real world.

To sufficiently prepare for the essay exam part, candidates should practice using a wide variety of essay questions and CMA practice tests. Their test prep should also include all of the various CMA Exam topics, from financial statement analysis and corporate finance to internal controls and decision analysis. That’s whyit’s important to make sure your study guide has a test bank or test questions that suffice. Surgent offers 65+ essay questions on all CMA Review Courses to help candidates become well-rounded in both the exam concepts and the type of essay questions offered, and a one-of-a-kind score report feature called ReadySCORE . This feature takes your questions and answers to determine what score you would get if you were to take today – this helps you to know when you’re at a passing score and ready to take the CMA certification exam.

You Get 30 Minutes to Complete Each CMA Exam Section (For the Most Part)

The exam breakdown is 3 hours for the multiple choice questions and one hour for the essay questions (or two 30-minute time periods for each essay question). However, if you finish the multiple choice section early, you’ll have more time to work on the essay section.

As you consider having more time to write your essay questions, think about what we mentioned above regarding exam section weighting. The multiple choice questions are 75% of your score. If you do poorly on the MCQs, it may be difficult (and in some cases, impossible) to make up that score difference in the essay section. Weigh your options as you go through the exam when it comes to time. If you feel great on the multiple choice questions and finish early, then go ahead and take the extra time on the essay questions. If the multiple choice questions are really tough, take your time to ensure you’re answering each one to the best of your ability before moving on to the essay section.

Either way, we strongly recommend taking practice cma tests on your CMA Exam Review course ahead of time, the cma exam questions that make up these practice exams actually replicate the real style of the CMA Exam, and allow for real world prep that can help you get your CMA certification on your first attempt.

CMA Exam Essay Questions Are Manually Graded

Unlike the CPA Exam’s BEC Written Communication question, which uses a combination of computer and manual grading, the CMA exam still relies on human graders. Answering each question in a logical way, using standard English, and including proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation will make it much easier for human graders to go through your answer and look for relevant points. Again, this is very similar to real-world scenarios, where written communication will be going to people within or outside of your organization.

The difficult part about human graders is that humans can be subjective. But the great part about human graders is you’ll have plenty of people to practice with. When you write practice questions leading up to exam day, write them as if you were sending them to a superior, and have friends, family, and/or coworkers read through them to make sure they are clear and logical for human graders.

CMA Exam Scorers Are Looking to Give You Points

You get points for the relevant information you give surrounding an answer, which means you can get partial credit on each part. Since each essay question can have multiple parts, it’s important to make sure you answer each part of the question and include as much of your thought process as possible.

The best way to start this process is by reading the question thoroughly before you start writing. Figure out what the question is asking by paying particular attention to the verbage used. Are you being asked to compare and contrast or are you being asked to define? Do you need to include any calculations? Once you figure out where the direction of your answer needs to go, use bullet points or outlines to organize your thoughts. Scorers may even give you more points for answers in a bullet point format because it gets the point across in a logical way. Once your thoughts are organized, go ahead and start writing your answer.

Ideally, you’ll get as much of your thought process on paper as possible because the more you have, the more likely you’ll receive points. But keep in mind that the IMA is looking for clarity and efficiency. You aren’t going to get points if you have all the information but don’t present it in a logical way. This is where it’s good to take some time to reread your answer and make sure it gets every point answered while still making sense.

Whether you’re an awesome writer or not, by taking some time to learn about the essay portion in your test prep beforehand you’ll be a better position to pass the CMA Exam on your first attempt, putting you on the fast track to your new career as a Certified Management Accountant. We recommend practicing on sample questions as often as possible.

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Megan Bierwirth graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and passed the CPA Exam within 6 months of graduation. She worked in both public accounting and industry while becoming a CPA and now runs a virtual bookkeeping company focused on preventive, integrative and complementary medicine professionals.

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Understanding (and Mastering) Your CMA Test Questions

Over the years, I have found that there are two types of CMA candidates: those who excel at CMA test questions and those who loathe them.

For many, multiple-choice questions (MCQ) can be stressful because you’re under a time crunch, and you are being asked to cover a ton of material. Not to mention, how easy it can be to overthink and second guess yourself when looking at the possible MCQ answers.

Unfortunately, if you plan on earning your CMA accounting certification , you cannot avoid them.

The good news is there are plenty of practice CMA test questions and resources available to help you build your confidence.

And if that isn’t inspiring enough, keep reading for my top tips on how to navigate the MCQ portion of the CMA test questions.

Originally published in 2019, this article was updated and republished on July 26, 2022.

CMA Exam Format

The CMA exam is divided into two parts, and candidates can choose whichever part they want to take first, as long as it’s within the scheduled CMA exam dates .

Each exam part includes 100 multiple-choice questions and a CMA exam essay part . Candidates are given two essay scenarios with 4 to 6 questions in each essay scenario, but to make it to the essay section, they must first get at least 50% on the MCQ portion.

All CMA test questions are computer-based. For MCQ this means selecting the correct answer, and the essay section is written using a word document program similar to Notepad.

For each MCQ, you are given a question and four options to choose from. You must read the question carefully before selecting your answer, but there are a few more things you can do to boost your chances of passing the exam.

Candidates must complete both Part 1 and Part 2 in order to earn their designation, and each part is made up of different fundamental topics. Some content topics get more coverage than others, so let’s look at a quick breakdown:

In CMA Part One – Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics, six core topics are covered:

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

In CMA Part Two – Strategic Financial Management, six additional core content topics are covered:

• Financial Statement Analysis – 20%
• Corporate Finance – 20%
• Decision Analysis – 25%
• Risk Management – 10%
• Investment Decision – 10%
• Professional Ethics – 15%

Use Practice Tests to Prepare for the CMA Test Questions

One of the best ways to study for the CMA exam is to take a practice test, containing realistic CMA exam samples. Or better yet, retired CMA test questions.

CMA practice exams can help you get a much better feel for what CMA test questions are like, and where your strengths and weaknesses currently lie. Most high-quality CMA review courses offer CMA practice tests that you can use as practice.

One of the best ways to access CMA study materials like these is to take a review course that includes everything you need.

(Check out my Best CMA Review Course Comparison Guide to find a course that will fit your needs best.)

7 Strategies for Crushing CMA Multiple-Choice Questions

Here are seven of my top tips and strategies to apply when doing CMA practice exams with CMA test questions that will prepare you for exam day.

1. Analyze Every Question

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make when working through CMA test questions is that they don’t take the time to read the question correctly.

In order to answer questions effectively, you will need to break it down into relevant information and non-essential details. MCQs are made up of two parts:

• The stem, which identifies the actual question or problem, and
• Other key information to help you identify the best answer.

All other information is considered distractors that may sound plausible, but are in fact, incorrect.

I find it best to identify the stem question and separate the distracting information.

If it’s easier, write down the important information so you can use it to help you narrow down your potential answer choices.

2. Watch the Clock

Three hours may seem like a lot of time to answer 100 CMA multiple-choice questions, but it will fly by quickly.

It’s imperative that you put your time management skills to use, so you don’t run out of time.

Aim for 90 seconds per question, and don’t get hung up on questions that you feel totally stumped on. If you stick to this time frame, you should have 30 minutes at the end of your exam to review your answers or go back and complete the questions you missed before.

There is no better way to practice your time management skills than by using online CMA test banks or a solid CMA review course and timing yourself.

The key is not to get hung up on complicated questions. You do have the ability to skip ahead, so answer the easier ones first and then go back through the entire section and tackle the harder ones.

Remember, all questions carry the same weight in points, so you want to answer as many as possible before losing precious time. Trying to figure out one tough question may mean potentially missing out on the opportunity to answer easier ones where you could have quickly earned the point.

3. Be Mindful of Negatives

There is nothing more aggravating than negatively phrased sentences. More than any other question, ones featuring negative words make you second guess yourself.

You will absolutely find CMA test questions like these in both CMA test banks and on the actual exam. Three of the answers will be truer than the fourth, but the featured negative word(s) will make it stand out more.

Here is an example of a negatively worded MCQ:

Which of the following is not true in regards to the working capital method of financing international trade? All of the following examples of financing international trade are true except…

Being aware of this will help you avoid falling for this sneaky tactic.

4. There Is Only One Right Answer

Speaking of answers that are “truer,” it is equally important to remember that there is always only ONE correct test question answer.

While some answers may appear to be true, there will only ever be one that is an entirely true statement. Weed away answer selections that are not wholly true, and this will help you make the right choice.

Exam Secrets Cheat Sheet

5. Make An Educated Guess

As I said earlier, you will never get negative points for choosing the wrong answer. If you find that you are running out of time, do your best to make an educated guess on all remaining questions.

More than anything, don’t let unfamiliar questions affect your confidence. You will, without a doubt, come across questions that feel entirely foreign to you.

For example, the ICMA includes 10 “test” questions in each exam that are not scored. These are completely new questions, and the reason they are not scored is that the ICMA wants to gather information on whether or not it is actually a good question. If results come back positively, these not scored test questions will be added to future exams as actual marked questions.

Like I said above, make your best guess and move on.

6. Learn From Your Mistakes

55% of people don’t pass the CMA exam the first time. If you’re part of this group, it means you got too many CMA test questions wrong. It also means you’re in good company, and you should feel motivated to study hard for round two.

Part of taking the CMA exam again (and passing this time) is evaluating what you did right versus what you did wrong.

Figure out where you went wrong and develop a strategy to address your mistakes.

Now that you’re familiar with the format, you’ll discover better tactics for achieving success in round two.

7. Review, Correct, and Go Back

There’s a massive benefit to meticulously analyzing practice tests and practice test questions.

Don’t simply “get it right” and move on – this is especially true for the more challenging MCQs.

The highest value you can get out of practice CMA test questions is in reviewing what you got wrong as well as what you got right.

Doing so well helps you uncover patterns about the way you think that will help you improve.

By comparing your right answers to your incorrect ones, you can learn about where your mind goes and where it doesn’t when tackling CMA test questions. This allows you to focus on your blind spots and ensure you do better at the next pass.

Your Next Step for Mastering CMA Test Questions

You’ve mastered the MCQ portion of the exam – now what?

Well, now it’s time to put all that mastery to work and register for the exam in an upcoming CMA exam testing window .

Earning your Certified Management Accounting (CMA) certification – or any professional certification for that matter is meant to be difficult. You have to work hard to learn the material and be able to apply it in real situations in your CMA career .

To give yourself the best chance of passing, check out my Complete CMA Coaching Course which provides access to one-on-one coaching and a step-by-step study plan, including a large number of practice exams.

If you are planning a career in financial accounting and strategic management, then becoming a CMA may be the right path. Just remember it will require a lot of studying, but I promise you it is worth it.

Do you have more burning questions about MCQ strategies and exam hacks? Don’t hesitate to drop them in the comment section below.

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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11 Comments on “Understanding (and Mastering) Your CMA Test Questions”

Hi Mr. Nathan Liao,

I recently passed the part 1 with a score of 390, I am now waiting for my part 2 results, fortunately I made it to the essay portion.

I would like to have a clarification in regards to those 10 questions that are unscored, does that mean that even if we have answered correctly or not we will not have any points or bearing on that? If not, would that mean that the actual MCQs is over 90 questions, so in order to make it to the essay part we would need a correct answer of 45?

John Paul S. Gonzales

Congrats on finishing your exam. It’s a very good sign that you made it to the essay section.

The 10 multiple-choice questions that are not graded are sample questions being tested for future exams and don’t impact your exam score. How you answer the remaining 90 impacts 75% of your score.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to hit reply.

I am currently an undergraduate student pursuing my CMA. I am using the Wiley material and i seem to be understanding the study material well. Unfortunately, when i attempt the MCQs, i am unable to understand them. How do I go about this ?

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.

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Hi I I just wanted to know will the same questions will be asked , questions i have been practicing from Gleim online?

Hi Patterson – although similar because they cover the same subject matter, the questions on the CMA exams will NOT be the same as the questions from your test bank. No one outside of the ICMA knows the actual questions that candidates will be tested on in the exam.

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CMA Part 1 Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification exam is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of accountants. This page covers all of the information you need to know about Part 1 of the exam: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free CMA Part 1 practice test, and check out our premium-quality CMA test prep resources by clicking the links below!

What’s on the CMA Exam Part 1?

The first part of the CMA exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and two essays, and you will be given a time limit of 4 hours.

The CMA exam Part 1 topics are as follows:

• Financial statements
• Recognition
• Measurement
• Strategic planning
• Budgeting concepts
• Forecasting techniques
• Budgeting methodologies
• Annual profit plan and supporting schedules
• Top-level planning and analysis
• Cost and variance measures
• Responsibility centers and reporting segments
• Performance measures
• Measurement concepts
• Costing systems
• Overhead costs
• Supply chain management
• Business process improvement
• Governance, risk, and compliance
• System controls and security measures
• Information systems
• Data governance
• Technology-enabled finance transformation
• Data analytics

How many questions are on the CMA exam Part 1?

There are 100 multiple-choice questions and two essays on this part of the exam.

How long is the CMA exam Part 1?

The time limit for this part of the exam is 4 hours.

What is the passing score for the CMA exam Part 1?

To pass this part of the exam, you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 360.

By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

CMA Practice Exam

by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: July 20, 2023

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CMA Exam Parts

The goal of the CMA exam is to validate that candidates have skills necessary to meet the demands placed on CMAs by their industry. To best accomplish this, the CMA exam is split into two parts that test different topics that CMAs need to be skilled in.

Part 1, Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics, tests whether you have the knowledge and skill to perform the accounting-related CMA job duties at a high level.

Part 2, Strategic Financial Management, tests your ability to bring your knowledge and skill to business management contexts. There is still technical content, but you can expect more questions that require you to understand the “big picture.”

How is the CMA exam structured?

How can I find out what is on the CMA exam?

What is tested on Part 1?

Part 1 content outline

What is tested on Part 2?

Part 2 content outline

Which part should I take first?

How are topics tested on the CMA exam?

Multiple-choice questions, essay scenarios, topic difficulty levels.

The CMA exam is a two-part exam. Each part tests different topics, but they have the same structure. Each part of the CMA exam is four hours long and has 100 multiple choice questions and 2 essay scenarios. You will have three hours to complete the multiple-choice questions and 1 hour to complete the essay scenarios. If you finish your multiple-choice questions early, your remaining time will carry over to the essays.

NOTE: If you practice a time management strategy , you will be able to use your time when it counts.

How can I find out what is tested on the CMA exam?

IMA conducts regular studies to find out the scope of work CMAs are expected to perform. ICMA, the certification branch of IMA, uses this information to keep the exam up-to-date. They release two documents that serve as the syllabus for the CMA exam—the Content Specification Outlines (CSOs) and the Learning Outcome Statements (LOSs).

Content Specification Outlines (CSOs)

• Establish the foundation from which each examination will be developed.
• Provide a basis for consistent coverage on each examination.

Learning Outcome Statements (LOSs)

• Specify the tasks a CMA should be able to perform within the context of the CSOs.
• Provide more specific and detailed explanation of the skills a successful candidate needs to possess.

In addition to the information specifically called out on the CSOs and LSOs, CMA candidates are expected to possess a minimum level of business knowledge. This minimum level includes knowledge of basic financial statements, time value of money concepts, and elementary statistics.

The best way to ensure your prepared for the CMA exam is to work with a review provider that will do the heavy lifting for you. Mapping your studies to the CSOs and LSOs can be a full-time job on it’s own and would waste valuable time you could be spending preparing for the CMA exam.

NOTE : If you are looking for specific information about the CMA exam, check out our CMA FAQs!

What is tested on Part 1 of the CMA exam?

Part 1 of the CMA exam tests your accounting knowledge and skills. It has six content areas, or “domains.”

Here is a high-level overview of what to expect from each domain in Part 1. It is not exhaustive. For a list of specific tasks, check the LOSs .

External Financial Reporting Decisions

The goal of financial reporting is to provide information that is useful in making decisions. There is the technical aspect of acquiring and consolidating data, but CMAs are expected to go further and make use of the financial statements and their components. An understanding of integrated reporting (IR) is increasingly important.

NOTE: The CMA is an international designation, so CMAs must be aware of the major differences in reporting under IFRS vs. GAAP and the impact each has on analysis. Many large corporations have growing presences internationally, so to advise these companies, CMAs should be able to function effectively in reporting environments across the globe.

Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting

CMAs should be able to use financial information to set long-term goals (as well as short-term goals that will help accomplish them) in service of their organization’s strategic plan or mission. This includes budgeting for proposed initiatives and forecasting how they will effect future revenues and expenditures.

Performance Management

CMAs need to be able to determine whether performance standards are being met with respect to operational goals. This includes topics such as standard costing, flexible budgets, variance analysis, the balanced scorecard, etc.

Cost Management

Being able to monitor and manage costs is crucial to goal setting and project management. As a CMA you will need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of cost behavior, supply chain management, benchmarking, product costing, etc.

Internal Controls

Designing internal controls and ensuring they are being maintained is a vital for all decision makers. New projects and goals must comply with existing controls and fall into the organization’s existing risk strategy.

Technology and Analytics

CMAs are playing less of a role in internal auditing and increasingly involved with managing controls. Newly added for the 2020 CMA exam, this domain is a testament to how technological advancement is rapidly changing expectations of CMAs. As time passes, a CMA’s role is being defined as more of a data reporter and critical decision maker.

NOTE: If you’ve taken the CPA Exam, Part 1 is most similar to FAR with a bit of AUD and BEC thrown in. The BEC topics are tested more in-depth on the CMA exam than they are on the CPA Exam.

The Part 1 domains are further broken into specific tasks CMAs are expected to perform in the LOSs.

Gleim Review Systems are mapped to CMA CSOs and LOSs, so you are guaranteed 100% content coverage. What’s more, our SmartAdapt TM technology directs you to areas that need improvement, taking the guesswork out of studying.

Part 1 of the CMA exam changed in 2020

A new section , Technology and Analytics, was added. Integrated Reporting was added under “Financial Statements” in the External Financial Reporting Decisions section.

For detailed, up-to-date information on CMA exam changes, check our guide.

CMA Part 1 exam content outline

Cma exam part 1: financial planning, performance, and analytics, external financial reporting decisions – 15%.

• Financial statements
• Recognition, measurement, valuation, and disclosure

Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting – 20%

• Strategic planning
• Budgeting concepts
• Forecasting techniques
• Budget methodologies
• Annual profit plan and supporting schedules
• Top-level planning and analysis

Performance Management – 20%

• Cost and variance measures
• Responsibility centers and reporting segments
• Performance measures

Cost Management – 15%

• Measurement concepts
• Costing systems
• Overhead costs
• Supply chain management
• Business process improvement

Internal Controls – 15%

• Governance, risk, and compliance
• Systems controls and security measures

Technology and Analytics – 15%

• Information systems
• Data governance
• Technology-enabled finance transformation
• Data analytics

What is tested on Part 2 of the CMA exam?

Part 2 of the CMA exam tests your business management knowledge and skills. It’s where the nuts and bolts of Part 1 come together to support CMA decision-making. You’ll still be tested on your ability to calculate, but in service of making a strategic recommendation to management. It has six content areas, or “domains.”

Here is a high-level overview of what to expect from each domain in Part 2. It is not exhaustive. For a list of specific tasks, check the LOSs .

Financial Statement Analysis

CMAs take the basic information reported in the financial statements and extrapolate data for use in decision-making. You will need to calculate and understand the uses of the current ratio, the quick (acid-test) ratio, the cash ratio, the cash flow ratio, and the net working capital ratio. Advanced accounting knowledge is a prerequisite to recommending or defending a course of action. You have to know how the numbers support your claims.

Corporate Finance

CMAs should know how to raise and work with capital. You will need to understand how organizations generate a return long term, how interest and exchange rates affect revenues over time, and how international diversification can offset the costs inherent to cross-border transactions.

Decision Analysis

CMAs need a firm understanding on product and production decisions. CMAs must employ cost-volume-profit and marginal analysis at an advanced level. The exam may ask you to calculate a break-even point, calculate the effect of operating income on a make-or-buy decision, evaluate and recommend a pricing strategies, etc.

Risk Management

Risk assessment involving different types of systematic and unsystematic risks is integral because risks are a factor in every high-level business decision. An understanding of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) generally (and more specifically, COSO Enterprise Risk Management – Integrated Framework ) is required.

Investment Decisions

CMAs should understand capital budgeting with regard to investment decisions and be able to use the two main discounted cash flow (DCF) methods, net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR), to recommend project investments. This is an extension of the ideas established in Corporate Finance, but with an applied focus on investment decisions.

Professional Ethics

Underpinning all of this is the IMA’s focus on professional ethics, which may be tested in conjunction with any topic area.

NOTE: If you’ve taken the CPA Exam, Part 2 is most similar to FAR and BEC, but it is difficult to make an exact match.

The Part 2 domains are further broken into specific tasks CMAs are expected to perform in the LOSs.

Part 2 of the CMA exam changed in 2020

Business ethics was added to the Professional Ethics section. Sustainability and social responsibility are now included under “ethical considerations for the organization.”

CMA Part 2 exam content outline

Cma exam part 2: strategic financial management, financial statement analysis – 20%.

• Basic financial statement analysis
• Financial ratios
• Profitability analysis
• Special issues

Corporate Finance – 20%

• Risk and return
• Long-term financial management
• Raising capital
• Working capital management
• Corporate restructuring
• International finance

Decision Analysis – 25%

• Cost/volume/profit analysis
• Marginal analysis

Risk Management – 10%

• Enterprise risk

Investment Decisions – 10%

• Capital budgeting process
• Capital investment analysis methods

Professional Ethics – 15%

• Business ethics
• Ethical considerations for management accounting and financial management professionals
• Ethical considerations for the organization

Which part of the CMA exam should I take first?

You can take CMA exam parts in any order. To decide the best plan for you, review the CSOs and decide which best corresponds to your experience or which interests you the most, then take that one first.

NOTE: While many candidates may choose to take Part 2 first because the pass rate for Part 2 is regularly about 10% higher than for Part 1, it doesn’t necessarily mean Part 2 is easier. This difference could be explained by the “weed-out effect” of Part 1.

Anyone can pass with adequate preparation, so taking the part that requires the least study time or the one that you’ll find it easiest to set aside time for will make your first time testing much easier. After you pass one part, you’ll have the confidence you need to keep going.

Gleim’s Recommendation

We recommend most CMA candidates take Part 1 on the CMA exam first. Part 1 of the CMA exam can provide you with the foundational knowledge required to study for Part 2. This will help you maximize your study time and learn all of the exam content efficiently.

The exceptions to this rule are candidates with a strong background in finance and students who want to sit for the CMA exam during college.

Working Professional Exception

If you’ve been working in the fields of corporate finance, financial planning, commercial or investment banking, or money management for at least a few years, your experience will give you a head start on the Part 2 topics.

Student Exception

If you’re a junior in a university accounting program, your fall and spring semester courses can really help you get ready for Part 2, so we recommend you sit for it during the summer before your senior year.

Check out this infographic that breaks this down in detail .

Each part of the CMA exam will have 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 essay scenarios. These questions can be grouped into different types of questions—4 broad types of multiple-choice questions and essay questions.

NOTE: The CMA exam is nondisclosed, which means exam questions and solutions are not released to outside parties until they are retired by the ICMA. All review providers use retired questions as a model to create our own of the same quality and rigor.

There are four different types of MCQs you might encounter on the exam:

Direct questions

Everyone is familiar with this type of question, and it’s the most common type on the CMA exam. You’ll either have to complete a sentence or be asked a straightforward question. You’ll have four single-statement answers to pick from.

Negative questions

These are questions that include negative phrasing, like except , not , unless , least , etc. You’ll be given four options. Three of them will be correct, and you’ll have to choose the one that’s wrong. They can be tricky under a time crunch, but negative words should be bold .

Questions with two or three answer options

The exam will pose a question stem give you a list of numbered statements that are distinct from the answer choices. The answer choices will have you decide which of the statements answer the question. It could be one, multiple, or none. Candidates agree this is the most difficult type of question to answer, so we’ve created a video to help .

Questions with several variables

These are actually almost the same as questions with two or three answer options, but their presentation makes them visually distinct. Rather than a list of numbered statements, your answer choices will have columns.

These different kinds of questions will challenge you to think about the CMA subject matter in different ways. But if you master the material, you’ll be able to find the right answer no matter how the question is posed.

For tips on how to study for the CMA multiple-choice questions, visit our CMA study strategy resource page .

The CMA essays don’t sort so neatly into categories. Broadly speaking the essays will be calculations, analysis, and explanations.

• Calculation questions will require you to make a calculation. You don’t need to provide much, if any, explanation for these questions, but you will want to show your work and clearly indicate what the final answer is.
• Analysis questions will usually require you to come to some sort of conclusion and justify your position. These may require calculations along the way, in which case you’ll want to show your work, but the focus will be on applying the correct concepts and rules to reach your conclusion and justify it.
• Explanation questions will require you to explain different concepts or topics. You will often need to explain the relationship between multiple concepts as a part of these questions.

For tips on how to study for the CMA essays, visit our CMA study strategy resource page.

Why does the CMA exam have essay scenarios?

CMA exam essays exist to test your “real-world” skills in a way that MCQs cannot. You’ll have to evaluate data, make a judgment, and defend your position. Essay scenarios typically ask 4-7 questions each and you can receive partial credit, so make sure to show your work if a calculation is involved and include everything on-topic that you can think of.

Check out our CMA essay tips to help you prepare for the CMA essay sections.

The ICMA defines three levels of knowledge that candidates are expected to have— A , B , and C . Each level is cumulative and requires the skills of the lower levels.

NOTE: These levels aren’t for specific topics (all topics on the CMA exam are considered Level C). They apply to individual questions. There is no way to tell which topics will be tested at what level. The only way to pass is to learn all of the CMA exam content.

The lowest level of understanding. Consists of knowledge and comprehension.

• Knowledge test memorization by requiring candidates to identify, define, and list principles.
• Comprehension tests understanding by requiring candidates to classify, explain, and distinguish between different principles.

The middle level of understanding. Consists of application and analysis.

• Application tests the ability to use principles by requiring candidates to demonstrate, predict, and solve problems.
• Analysis tests the ability to recognize cause and effect, discriminate between behavior, and identify elements that a relevant to a judgment.

The highest level of understanding. Consists of synthesis and evaluation.

• Synthesis tests the ability to relate ideas and formulate hypotheses by requiring candidates to discuss and formulate ideas and solutions based on principles.
• Evaluation tests the ability to make judgments using the learned principles by requiring candidates to make justifications or draw conclusions on specific situations.

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CMA Exam Scoring Guide: CMA Scores and Grading System Uncovered!

• By Stephanie Ng
• / 65 COMMENTS

The CMA Exam Score and Grading System

The IMA CMA exam uses a scaled score, so candidates are sometimes confused about their final CMA scores. However, the system is easy enough to follow if you know the basics of US CMA passing marks.

But before going over an average CMA exam score, you must know the format of the exam and the types of questions.

CMA Exam Scores and Question Format

The CMA exam is actually a two-part test:

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

The CMA exam format is the same for both parts, each with 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and two essays. So between Part 1 and Part 2, candidates must answer 200 MCQs and four essays.

On test day, you tackle the MCQs first. If you answer at least 50% of the MCQs correctly, you can move on to the essays. On the other hand, if you incorrectly answer 49% or fewer MCQs, you cannot attempt the essays and will automatically receive a failing CMA score.

Additionally, you are allowed 3 hours for the MCQs and 1 hour for the essay question. If you manage to finish early in the MCQ section, then you can use the extra remaining time on the essays. Once you confirm that the MCQ section is completed, you cannot go back and make changes.

How Is the CMA Exam Scored?

In your final CMA scaled score, 75% of points come from the multiple-choice questions, and 25% are from the essays.

Nevertheless, the CMA pass mark isn’t as simple as correctly answering a certain percentage of questions. Why? Well, the IMA actually uses several different versions of the CMA exam each year to discourage cheating. Although the IMA tries to keep the difficulty level the same between the exam versions, some minor differences are possible. For example, the passing score could be 70% for one particular version but 65% for another.

As a result of the variations in exam versions, CMA exam scoring uses a scaled system. Basically, the IMA takes your raw score (the number of correctly answered MCQs and essays) and converts it to a uniform scaled score between 0 and 500. Furthermore, the passing score for the CMA exam is 360.

However, because of the scaled system, don’t assume that a 360 means that you answered 72% of the questions just because 360/500 = 72. In other words, if you get a 400, it doesn’t mean that you got 80% (400/500) correct, either.

Reaching the 360 CMA Pass Score

The CMA exam score scale was developed to ensure that scores accurately reflect candidates’ potential as Certified Management Accountants. Here are a few tips for reaching a passing grade:

How to get a CMA passing grade on the MCQs

Although each CMA exam part has 100 multiple-choice questions, only 90 are graded and included in your score. The other 10 questions are being tested for future exams. But don’t try to guess which MCQs are the test ones and skip them. Instead, the best way to get a high CMA score to pass is to answer each and every MCQ.

Getting good CMA passing marks on the essays

Some candidates struggle with the CMA essays , but they aren’t as intimidating if you practice the essays in your review course first. Plus, keep in mind that candidates are awarded points for each correct partial response. So even if you don’t answer an essay 100% correctly, you can still build toward a CMA pass mark. You should show your work, too, because that can help you receive partial credit.

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Who Grades the CMA Exam?

The IMA relies on both computer algorithms and human graders to determine your CMA score. First, your MCQ answers are analyzed by a computer, and your raw MCQ score is calculated. Then, specially trained graders review your essays. All essays are graded simultaneously to ensure fairness and consistency in the CMA test scores. What’s more, the graders first examine a selection of sample essay responses to make sure they have accounted for all possible solutions. In fact, they even re-examine essays on the pass border to make sure candidates receive the correct CMA score.

What Is the CMA Exam Score Scale?

Your raw score on the MCQs is added to your raw score on the essays to equal your total raw score. But remember, the MCQs account for 75% of your raw score, while the essays are worth 25%.

The IMA doesn’t make any additional information about the CMA exam score scale public except to say that your raw score is converted to a scaled score between 0 and 500.

Is The Exam Adaptive Like The CPA Exam?

No. Each question on the CMA exam is equally weighted, unlike the CPA Exam , which has adaptive questions based on your performance. Besides, since each MCQ on the CMA exam has the same weight, “easy” questions count toward your score the same as “hard” ones.

• Tip: If you run out of time on the MCQs, skim through the remaining ones and look for easy questions. Answer them the best you can, and then guess on the hard ones. This will help maximize your CMA score.

What Does This Mean to You?

I don’t think you need to dwell on analyzing the CMA exam score and grading system. In any case, it is robust enough to give you a fair score. Having said that, there are test-taking strategies that you can use based on this particular scoring mechanism:

1. The Exam Is Positively Graded

There is no penalty for wrong answers. Therefore, you should attempt all questions — even blind guessing if you run out of time.

2. You Only Need an Overall Passing Mark

You don’t need a passing mark for BOTH the multiple-choice and essay sections, but this means that you need to do relatively well on both. In terms of study strategy, you should pay attention to the multiple-choice questions AND to answering the essay questions properly. The post “ Part 2: How the Essay Section Is Graded ” gives you everything you need to know to CMA passing marks on your essays.

Save with this Becker CMA Pro discount code.

FAQs about CMA Scores

What is the highest score you can get on the cma exam.

CMA test scores range from 0 to 500, with 500 being the highest.

What Is the Passing Score for the CMA Exam?

The US CMA passing score is 360 out of a possible 500 points.

Is the Certified Management Accountant Passing Score Same for Both Parts?

Yes! The CMA Part 1 passing score is 360, the same as the score needed to pass Part 2.

Is the CMA Exam Multiple Choice?

The CMA exam includes both multiple-choice questions and essay scenarios with 4-8 questions per scenario.

How Many Questions Can You Miss on the CMA Exam?

The most important thing to remember is that you must correctly answer at least 50% of the multiple-choice questions before moving on to the essays. Plus, if you take several practice tests in your CMA review course, you’ll better understand what it takes to pass the exam.

How Does the CMA USA Pass Mark Compare to Other Accounting Exams?

The CMA US pass marks are comparable to other accounting credential exams, such as the CPA Exam. For instance, the CMA exam pass rate is about 45%, just under the CPA exam pass rate average of about 50%.

Will the CMA Passing Score in 2023 Be the Same as in 2024?

The CMA exam passing score has historically been 360 out of 500 points on a scaled system. Furthermore, it does not seem that the IMA plans to change the passing score for the CMA exam anytime soon.

How Is the CMA Exam Graded? Explaining the CMA USA Passing Marks

Here is an overview of the CMA exam grading system and testing strategies:

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CMA Essay Question

by Apex Editorial Team CMA Knowledge Base

In this blog post we will discuss following topics related to CMA Exam Question:

• Purpose of CMA Essay Question
• Structure of Essay Type Question
• Time Management for CMA Essay Question
• Familiarize with CMA Essay Question Screen & Navigation
• Essay Question Tips & Techniques
• Essay Question Grading

Purpose of CMA Essay Questions  

Following are the main testing objectives of CMA Essay Question :

• Situation evaluation competency
• Decision analysis under alternative solutions
• Logical and technical justification of action proposed

CMA Exam Question test candidate’s real-world problem solving, analysis and recommendation skills. One the other hand, multiple-choice questions are more focused on book knowledge and syllabus.

Structure of Essay Type Questions

CMA exam has two parts and each part consists of two sections :

Section 1: 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in each part Section 2: Two essay / scenario-based questions in each part  

The essay section contains two scenarios describing typical business situation. Each scenario can have three to six written response or calculation questions.

Time Management for Essay Type Questions

Total duration for each CMA exam part is four hours. Three hours for MCQs and one hour for two scenario questions.

Important: You have to score at least 50% in MCQs to access essays. If you score is less then 50% in MCQs, you will not move on to the essay section .

Please note that if you complete MCQs section before three hours, remaining time will be added in essay section. We recommend 1.5 minutes for each MCQ which will give you sufficient extra time to review MCQs for respond essays.

Important: Please keep in mind, MCQs section cannot be accessed once you entered essay section.

Essay scenario Real Exam Screen and Navigation

Complete: Dark gray rectangle indicate that you have selected an answer.

Incomplete: Green rectangle indicate that no answer is selected yet.

Flagged: A green rectangle with flag indicate that you have not answered and have marked for review.

Essay Scenario Screen