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Many students often find the CIMA Gateway Exam Routes confusing. Common questions include: What is it? How many papers or levels are exempted? What are the costs? How do I get started? This article will answer these key questions for the three most recommended gateway routes to CIMA.
 What is the professional gateway route to CIMA?
The CIMA professional Gateway Route is an accelerated entry route to the CIMA Professional qualifications and the globally recognised CGMA destination. The first exam for you to be attempted will be the
Management Level Case Study Exam.
If you are a member of an International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) or belong to an examining body, then you are welcome to the professional gateway route to CIMA.
The individuals who meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above are required to take the CIMA Gateway exam. The CIMA Gateway exam is a three-hour-long, computer-based exam (CBE). If you are new to CIMA, it’s helpful to learn some of the jargon. It assesses the knowledge and competencies covered in the management level of the CIMA Professional qualification. It is the management level case study program for those who are not on the accelerated route. The CIMA Gateway exam is available 4 times per year: at the end of February, May, August, and November.
If you pass the CIMA gateway exam, you will be awarded with 12 exemptions including:
The exams you will need to take within this route are:
The cost for the professional gateway assessment route is GBP 425 including the CIMA student registration fee for one attempt at the exam. It also includes all of the 11 exemptions from the certificate, operational and management level exams after passing the CIMA gateway exam.
I’ve done the math, it is half price if you consider the costs of all the exemptions you are going to get:
4×56 GBP (certification level) + 6×73 GBP (all the OT exams from operational and management level) + 1×120 GBP (operational case study) + normal fee for a management case study (depending on a country where you’re from) between 104-136 GBP = around 900 GBP plus the annual subscription fee.
Just a little disclaimer here – it’s important to note that CIMA periodically reviews and adjusts its fee structure. Therefore, for the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s advisable to consult the official CIMA website or contact their support services directly.
This is an exert from the CIMA website just to prove my point:
In order to complete this exam:
Upon the approval of your documents, you will be confirmed onto the gateway route and will be eligible to schedule the CIMA gateway exam.
You need to submit the following documents:
The case study exam will be used to assess a variety of skills including the research and analysis, the presentation of information and the communication skills. It will reflect a real life business scenario, comprising a series of time-bounded tasks set for the students to complete based on pre-seen materials. This material is released to the students 7 weeks prior to the exam window. In the management/ gateway case study exam, your role will be that of a finance manager and focus will be on the medium term and monitoring and implementation of the strategy. Therefore, the students need to understand their role within the case study exam in order to produce a good answer demonstrating the knowledge and skills from across the syllabus.
Understanding the Gateway Case Study Format
The Gateway Exam challenges you to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. For example, you might be presented with a fictional company facing issues such as declining profitability or inefficient supply chain operations.
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Here’s a brief example:
Scenario:
ACME Manufacturing Ltd. is experiencing a 20% increase in production costs due to inefficient processes and outdated machinery. You, as a management consultant, are tasked with recommending strategies to improve operational efficiency while ensuring the company remains within budget constraints.
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Requirements:
This type of scenario mirrors real-world business challenges, testing your ability to think critically and make informed decisions based on E2, P2, and F2 concepts. Practice scenarios like this will build your confidence for exam day.
The CIPFA gateway route is an accelerated entry route to the CIMA professional qualification and the globally recognized Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation for the CPFAS. It is a fast track route that is exclusively designed for the CPFAs.Â
For the eligible candidates it provides the 14 exemptions and then you become a CGMA in addition to CGMA.
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The eligible candidates will be taking the CIMA gateway exam also known as management case study exam. Upon successful completion, the candidate will accelerate to the strategic case study exam bypassing the three strategic level objective test exams.
So what you need to pass in order to get CIMA qualified is:
The case study exam will be a three hours long computer-based exam available in four windows i.e. February, May, August and November at any of the 5,000 Pearson VUE Centers around the world or at home.
The registration for CIPFA gateway costs GBP 600 including the registration fee, first year student subscription fee, 2 case study exam fees and 14 exemptions from the certificate level through to the strategic objective tests.
Management accountant gateway route is an accelerated entry route to CIMA professional qualification and the globally recognised CGMA designation.
The accelerated route is designed for the members of the following professional bodies:
Candidates are required to take the CIMA gateway exam (management level case study exam for those who are not on accelerated route). The CIMA gateway exam is a three hours long computer based case study exam available in four windows of the years. It assesses the knowledge and competencies covered in the management level of the CIMA Professional Qualification.
Upon successful completion of CIMA Gateway Exam, the candidate will be granted 11 exemptions including subjects from the certificate level, operational and management level exams. It will accelerate your progress straight to the strategic level of CIMA Professional Qualification.
The exams you will need to take within this route are:
The candidates are required to pay GBP 77 as a CIMA student registration fee and GBP 120 as a fee for each exempt attempt.
This is an imagine illustrating what I have written above (in case you are a visual person).
Hope that article has shed some light on the whole CIMA Gateway mystery. Exemptions are always allowed at the beginning of your CIMA journey. Depending on your degree and other certifications you have done, you might be eligible to take the exelerated CIMA Gateway Route.Â
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