The Case Study Examination provides a simulated context which allows learners to demonstrate that they have acquired the required knowledge, skills, techniques and mindset for that role. Those six core activities are:

1. Prepare costing information for different purposes to meet the needs of management. 12-18% of syllabus weighting
2. Prepare budget information and assess its use for planning and control purposes. 17-25% of syllabus weighting
3. Analyse performance using financial and nonfinancial information. 17-25% of syllabus weighting. 12-18% of syllabus weighting
4. Apply relevant financial reporting standards and corporate governance, ethical and tax principles.
5. Prepare information to support short-term decision-making. 17-25% of syllabus weighting
6. Prepare information to manage working capital. 7-13% of syllabus weighting

The core activities are linked to associated assessment outcomes expressed in terms of ‘I Can’ statements that speak directly to the skills and competencies that drive the employability of successful learners

• The examination lasts three hours. A 15-minute tutorial is available before the start of the examination to allow candidates to familiarise themselves with the test driver.
• The examination has four sections (tasks), which are each 45-minutes long. All sections are equally weighted. Candidates may finish a section early and move on to the next but cannot return to previous sections in the time remaining.
• There may be more than one sub-task within each section and an indication of how long to spend on each sub-task will be given to allow candidates to manage their time. If no weighting is given, then candidates should assume that the sub-tasks are equally weighted.
• More than one core activity will normally be assessed in each section/task and the order of core activities and assessment outcomes in the blueprint does not reflect how these might be structured in the examination.
• All core activities will be assessed in each form of the examination in line with the weightings. 
• The examination requires constructed, written responses from candidates in the format of a range of business communications (for example, emails, memos, reports and briefing notes).

• The Case Study Examinations are human marked.
• The Case Study results will contain the following information:
  • Grade: Pass or Fail
  • Scaled score: 0 to 150 with 80 and above being a Pass
• There is no requirement to obtain a pass or meet a minimum threshold for each core activity.
• Feedback on performance against each core activity will be provided so that learners know their areas of weakness for further study.

• There are four examination windows per year, in  February, May, August and November. For details of upcoming Case Study Examination dates, visit cimaglobal.com.
• Pre-seen material will be published on the CIMA website ahead of the examination. Candidates must use the material to prepare for the examination, immersing themselves in the simulated scenario and considering the organisation’s current position and future strategy.
• During the course of the examination, new information will be provided at the start of each section (task). In response, candidates will have to consider the new information that’s been given, as well as their previous analysis of the pre-seen material.
• Results will be available in MyCIMA about six weeks after the examination.