Management Accounting Mastery

Master the skills needed to pass the cima exams and become a chartered global management accountant, cima operational case study: a winning study schedule.

I mage: Courtesy of Flickr user Dafne Cholet

CIMA Operational Case Study (OCS) Overview

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that there’s a lot to do in preparation for your CIMA operational case study

As you will have seen from an earlier blog post I wrote, your approach needs to involve:

  • Careful analysis of the pre seen material
  • Familiarity with what is going on in that industry in the real world
  • Thorough revision of your technical knowledge from the three objective test papers
  • A good understanding of your “role” in the fictitious organisation
  • Practicing the many elements of exam technique needed to pass

Now you’re probably pretty scared of awaits you in the CIMA Operational case study, right?

And you’re wondering: is it even possible to be fully prepared in such a short space of time?

But don’t worry, I’ve broken down what you need to do in a step-by-step, week-by-week, structure for you to follow.

It’s based on the same blueprint that CIMA case study experts Astranti use on their CIMA OCS Exam Course .

And this schedule has been proven to work over and over again by students who have passed their CIMA Operational case study exam, despite working full time and having other commitments taking up their time.

Now it won’t be easy.  Preparing for CIMA exams never is.

But if you follow the plan below over the coming weeks it will set you up for success…AND don’t worry if you feel you are falling behind.   You will soon catch up if you are determined to pass.

Activity #1: CIMA Operational Case Study Pre Seen Analysis

In particular you are looking to find out:

  • A clear picture of what the organisation does and the industry it operates in
  • How the business is performing and where it is currently heading
  • The potential threats and opportunities for the business
  • Who the stakeholders are and how you would advise they be managed
  • A list of the key issues facing the organisation that are likely to come up in your exam
  • How you would deal with such issues to provide practical business advice
  • The key topics from the E, P and F papers that are relevant to this particular case
  • Your own interpretation of the figures provided (what they mean for the business)
  • Any potential ethical issues that may arise
  • A list of key facts you can summarise onto one page and read over regularly

Activity #2: Start Learning More About the CIMA Operational Case Study Exam

In particular you’ll want to discover:

  • The key ingredients to passing the Operational Case Study
  • A general overview of the exam format
  • Your Role and how it will shape your exam answers
  • How to analyse the pre seen
  • How to Identify ALL the requirements
  • Why you must plan your answers
  • The 9 stages of exam planning
  • How you can practise your answer plans
  • The best approach to typing up your answers for a clear pass
  • How to practise your writing style
  • How the OCS exam is marked
  • How to master time management in your exam
  • The optimum approach to preparing for the OCS exam

Recommended resources:

  • Relevant OCS Pre Seen Material from CIMA Connect
  • Matt’s FREE guide to analysing the pre seen quickly and effectively
  • Astranti Detailed Video Guides walking you through the OCS pre seen
  • Astranti OCS Study Text no.1 covering in depth what is needed to pass the exam
  • Astranti OCS Tuition Videos on exam time management, writing style and answer planning
  • Recent OCS Examiner reports from CIMA Connect

Activity #1: Start Revising Theory from Papers E1, P1 and F1 (and how to apply it)

Your CIMA Operational case study exam is not just testing your technical knowledge but also your application of this knowledge.

“Application” basically means knowing when and how to use a theoretical model appropriately in your exam so that you can provide the best advice possible to your boss in the case.

Here you’ll want to learn:

  • Which theories are most applicable to the CIMA Operational case study exam
  • The underlying concepts of those theories so you can explain them
  • The pros and cons of using them in different business scenarios
  • What the examiner is really after when it comes to earning marks for technical skills
  • How to interpret and analyse key financials to help the decision making process
  • How to apply different theoretical models to the pre seen
  • How to use theory as a useful tool for providing sound business advice in the exam

Activity #2: Start revising the different aspects of Ethics (an area often examined)

Ethical issues can come up in any CIMA Operational case study exam.   Such as the ethics of trying to manipulate a tax bill (February 2017) or producing the primary financial statements in an ethical manner (February 2015)

The CIMA Operational case study examiner has also made a point of saying that Ethics needs to be dealt with better by students as  “Many candidates demonstrated a lack of technical knowledge in this area.”

So if you want to score well in your exam you need to be prepared to deal with the different aspects of ethics should they come up.

In particular you want to learn:

  • Why ethics is so important at case study
  • Ethics – the theory and how to apply to the exam
  • Corporate Social responsibility – the theory and how to apply it
  • How to use CIMA’s ethical code – which the examiner for the CIMA OCS exam said could come up at any time
  • Controlling ethics – a checklist on how to deal with ethical problems faced in the exam
  • Why students ethical sections are typically so poor
  • A checklist of ethical headings to consider to analyse ethical issues in depth and maximise marks
  • How to write ethical recommendations in depth
  • What the examiners say about ethics and the exam
  • A standard structure to use in the exam to maximise marks on ethics questions

Activity #3 (Optional): Watch a live/recorded webinar on the keys to passing the CIMA OCS exam.

Here you’ll by taught by an expert tutor where you’ll learn:

  • What it takes to prepare fully for this exam, and what YOU will have to do between now and your exam date
  • What the examiner says you must do to pass AND what you must avoid
  • The skills of effective planning with a live demonstration of answer planning
  • A good understanding of the key points from the current pre-seen
  • How to use your knowledge of the pre-seen to score marks in the exam
  • The 10 theoretical models most likely to be examined, based on the current pre-seen
  • The writing style that maximises your marks in the exam
  • How to master your time management – often the biggest roadblock to passing this exam
  • Astranti OCS study text no.2 which covers all the key areas of the syllabus from E1, P1 and F1
  • Astranti’s OCS Ethics pack which goes into detail about how to deal with Ethics confidently
  • Astranti Masterclass 1 where you’ll be taught the keys to passing the OCS exam

Activity #1: Attempt Your First CIMA Operational Case Study Mock (and submit for marking)

Without doubt the difference between passing and failing the CIMA Operational case study exam comes down to one thing: How well you have practiced your exam technique under exam conditions.

Mock exams help you with just that.

But also, mock exams help you determine whether the hours you have already spent revising have worked in terms of committing the vital information to your long term memory.  After all, in the heat of your exam, you need to be able to quickly and easily recall how to approach the answers.

As each exam window is based on a different case, you’ll want to make sure that the mock exams you are attempting are on the latest pre-seen and contain realistic scenarios which could occur in the real exam.

Because taking your first mock is always quite an overwhelming task, this mock exam should be “moderate” in terms of difficultly level.   This means it will test your exam skills to date but at the same time should also be quite manageable.  This is provided you have already undertaken the steps above.

Once you have attempted your mock, you’ll want to get your mock marked by an experienced tutor.

It’s really hard to tell by yourself whether you would have picked up marks or not throughout your script and also it’s hard not to be biased.

Your marker will give you a good outside perspective as to the level of knowledge and exam technique you have displayed in your script.  And also point out which areas of improvement you need to focus on most and how to go about making those adjustments.

Activity #2: Review First Mock solution

Here you want to review what a high quality answer looks like as well as the best way to structure your exam answer to the different requirements you are faced with.

It’s important that you don’t simply copy out the solution.  Instead as you read through, think about and note down any key insights you learn.  In particular ask yourself:

  • Did I spot ALL of the same requirements?
  • Did I format my answer in a similar way?
  • Did I apply the same or similar theory to each requirement?
  • Did I make roughly the same number of points in each section?
  • Did each of my points have a similar amount of depth to them?
  • Was my overall advice in each section in line with the solution?

It’s also important to remember that mock exam practice is all part of the learning process.  You’re not expected to be writing a strong answer just yet.   And it’s also better to find out where your strengths and weaknesses lye right now rather than on your actual exam day.

Activity #3: Keep Revising Theory from Papers E1, P1 and F1

Keep testing yourself on how well you explain the theories you cover and your ability to apply them to potential scenarios affecting the case.

Activity #4 (Optional):   Keep Revising Ethics

Keep working on how to deal with ethical issues successfully in your exam

 Recommended Resources;

  • Astranti OCS Mock Exam 1 and Solution
  • Marking and feedback from experienced Astranti tutor
  • Astranti OCS Text Books

Activity #1: Review First Mock Feedback When Returned by Marker

Your experienced marker will review your script in detail, paragraph by paragraph.

They will give specific feedback for each paragraph and determine your areas for improvement. This will enable you to identify weaknesses in your answers and how you can improve on them to get those vital marks.

Specifically they will give you feedback on:

  • How well you applied the case to the unseen scenario – are you scoring enough application marks?
  • Your application to the pre seen – are you using pre seen information enough?
  • The balance of your points under technical, people, business and leadership skills
  • Your exam technique – focusing on what you need to do to score more marks
  • Your writing style – is the way you make your points scoring good marks?
  • Whether you are writing enough to pass – do you need to make more points and in which sections?
  • Any key areas of technical weakness that you need to revise.
  • Whether your point’s long enough and your explanation’s detailed enough.
  • Your overall performance with your final mark – and whether you are on track to pass

Activity #2: Attempt Your Second Mock (and submit for marking)

Use what you learned from your first mock to your advantage.   Particuarly look to put into place those improvements identified by your marker.

In this mock you should expect to score highly. The topics will be wide ranging to test your theoretical knowledge and application skills, but with good time management, this will be a moderate challenge.

Submit your mock for marking to confirm how well you scored and put those improvements into place

Activity #3: Review Second Mock Solution

Follow the same process as for your first mock solution

  Activity #4: Keep Revising Theory from Papers E1, P1 and F1:

Recommended Resources;

  • Astranti OCS Mock Exam 2 and Solution

Activity #1: Review Second Mock feedback when returned by marker:

Follow the same process as when you got the feedback for your first mock.  Take comfort from where your strengths are and don’t get too down about your weaknesses.  You’ll never produce a perfect answer.  Simply commit to work on those specific areas of improvement in isolation before your next mock.

Activity #2: Attempt Your Third Mock

This will typically be your final mock before your actual exam.

As such, it needs to be very challenging and probably more difficult than real exam. That way your actual exam will feel like just another mock.

This final mock will cover some of the major topics (ones likely to be tested in the real thing) from E1, F1 and P1.

Submit this mock for marking to see where you really stand a week before your exam date.

Activity #3: Review Third Mock Solution

Follow the same process as per previous mock solutions.

Activity #4: Keep Revising Theory from Papers E1, P1 and F1

As in previous weeks

  • Astranti OCS Mock Exam 3 and Solution

  Activity #1: Review Third Mock feedback when returned by marker

Hopefully be now you’ll marker will be reporting that you’ve ironed out most of your weaknesses and you are well on track for passing your exam.

Activity #2:   Final Tweeks

Work on any remaining areas of exam technique and technical knowledge that need improving

Final practice of your application skills to different theories

Activity #4 (Optional): Final Revision Webinar Ahead of Your CIMA Operational Case Study Exam

Here you’ll learn:

  • The common mistakes made in the exam according to the examiner
  • Which errors you are still making that you’ll want to eradicate
  • The top 10 most likely issues in your exam based on the current pre-seen
  • Whether you are using the pre-seen information as you should be – the examiner says you must!
  • A reminder of the key elements of passing the OCS exam
  • Four key areas of improvement for YOU to score more marks on exam day (based on a script you have written)
  • Pre-prepared paragraphs based on your pre-seen which you can memorise that are guaranteed to score you extra marks in the exam
  • What the markers are saying about OCS scripts they are marking and what they say you should do to improve
  • The key time saving tips for the exam to ensure you complete every section on the day
  • A number of top industry examples which you can use to score marks in your exam
  • What other students are saying which can be of use to you in your exam
  • Your revision notes
  • Astranti Masterclass 2

This is your CIMA Operational case study exam week!!!

Exams are held between Tuesday and Saturday.

Activities to perform on pre exam days:

  • Re read the pre seen & the one page summary of your analysis
  • Create a list of key points you want to use in your exam
  • Review all the key lessons from your mocks
  • Re read the key theories just to refresh your mind
  • Try to visit your chosen exam centre
  • Make sure you have your admission slip and ID ready
  • Take it easy the day before your exam – no last minute cramming
  • Sleep well and relax the night before the exam
  • Practice thinking positively ahead of your exam – visualise success

Activities to perform during Your Exam:

  • Go into exam with confidence – even if you don’t feel like it, try and act like it (trust me this works)
  • Work quickly through your exam and aim to make lots of points
  • Keep going right to the end and try to maximise your marks
  • Keep an eye on the time throughout and stick to your timings
  • Stick to what has worked in your mock exam practice
  • Your admission slip and ID

Final thoughts

This schedule is not meant to intimidate you.  It looks long and involved but it is manageable even with a full time job and other commitments .  Plus you can always use it as a template to create your own schedule.

I can’t guarantee you a pass if you stick to this plan. I wish I could.

But if you follow ALL the steps outlined in the schedule, you are gearing yourself up for the best chance of passing first time.   After all, it means you are following a proven framework that has been used by many successful students on Astranti’s CIMA OCS course

And if your exam is fast approaching, you can still catch up and complete all these activities in time.  It just means you’ll have to put in the extra effort in the time remaining.  But what you can’t do is skip ahead or miss a couple of these steps out …as this virtually guarantees you will fail.

Just be prepared to put in the hard work now so that you can reap the benefits come results time.

P.S. Have any questions? Drop me a note in the comments section below.

P.P.S. If you know someone who is also taking their CIMA Operational case study, share this plan to help them, too.

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Top tips for Operational Case Study examination

VIVA Financial

  • Application is so important. Generic textbook answers do not score well. The secret here is assimilation of the technical knowledge with the context and details of the pre-seen scenario.
  • Use the company name/ staff members/ key themes of the pre-seen -eg environmental or innovative plans to underpin your suggestions & make them relevant & applied.
  • Make sure you know your pre-seen inside out… eg if the company does not offer credit sales at the moment, be careful not to suggest debt factoring as a way to ease cashflow!!
  • CIMA examiner has asked that students assume life as normal for their case-study answers (Eg a life before COVID pandemic began)… Although, all relevant comments will be awarded if correct and in context, but you should avoid excessive references to COVID/ lockdown/ impact of health social distancing etc on the company.
  • Students should be familiar with the CIMA Blueprint… particularly the I – CAN statements. 

https://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/Future%20of%20Finance/1901-9263%20Operational%20Exam%20Blueprints%20FINAL%20ONLINE%20v4.pdf

The ‘I CAN pages from this link are pasted below..

These tell student the weightings and mix of the topics they can expect in EVERY OCS exam…

For example -from the ICAN table..– Section F ( working capital) will be between 7 and 13% of every op case study exam paper – so this table shows the importance of those topic areas – eg we know from this that working capital will be examined in EVERY OCS exam paper going forward (at least 7% of the marks) – so this topic is guaranteed…

Use your objective test knowledge ( 2019 syllabus) notes & Open Tuition lectures to revise – bearing in mind P1 is the LEAD paper for OCS, but F1 and E1 both important too,

When working through your P1/ F1/ E1 notes –try to keep a high level overview – rather than drilling down to the detailed calculations – instead be able to explain/ define/ know the pros and cons of techniques and whether they would be ‘useful’ for the pre-seen company in your scenario.

Graphs are common in the OCS – so be sure you can explain and interpret graphs ( linear programming for example).

Always write enough – ensure you expand/ explain & apply. Leave lots of white space – use subheadings to present your answers & help markers award marks that you deserve.

Avoid bullet points – unless you are out of time

Use the percentage weightings of each exam SUBTASK to guide how much time to spend on each part of your answer

Visit CIMA website & find detailed examiner reports & past exam questions to see errors and weaknesses made by students in recent sittings. Also a good way to see the types of questions to expect and level of detail CIMA are requiring in their answers.

CIMA Student Series: Operational Case Study

Here Rachel Harrison discusses the challenges she faced in passing her CIMA OCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam.

cima operational case study examples answers

Rachel Harrison is a Global Credit Process Analyst for TT Electronics based in Bedlington in Northumberland, England (see LinkedIn profile here ). She is currently studying at the management level of CIMA.

cima operational case study examples answers

As it is the first case study style exam that CIMA students face, the Operational Case Study presents its own unique challenges. Here Rachel Harrison discusses the challenges she faced in passing her OCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam. ‍

When did you take the OCS exam and how did you get on? Was it your first attempt?

Rachel: I sat the OCS exam in November 2018, I scored 93 and found out I had passed just before Christmas. This was the second time I sat the exam, the first time being in August 2018 where I scored 65.

How long did you spend preparing for the OCS paper (how many weeks/months and how many hours on average per week)?

Rachel: I started studying for the OCS in June 2018 to get ready for the exam in August of that year. I spent around 6 hours a week studying which increased to 20 hours in the few weeks before the exam. As this was my first OCS and I had 2 exemptions for P1 and F1 , I found this to be more about revision than studying to make sure I could base each theoretical model on the given company.  

Did you find having not studied P1 and F1 put you at a disadvantage? If you were starting again, would you sit the P1 and F1 exams?

Rachel: There was a slight disadvantage as some things were not as fresh in my mind as items examined on E1 but i worked hard for my degree and gained many exemptions so i wanted to utilise that knowledge. I can see how sitting P1 and F1 would have been useful and may have relieved some of the pressure from studying as I study in my own time outside of a busy role. I have also been given an exemption more recently from F2 at the management level. My university was very supportive and offered modules with many exemptions.

Did you take a course or did you opt for self-study?

Rachel: I have been completing my CIMA qualification through self-study in my own time outside of work. I did have some exemptions from my degree in Accounting and Finance. I have only used VIVA tuition for the OCS exam and found this very helpful as the videos went into a high level of detail and stopped me from spiralling and focusing on unnecessary areas.

What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the OCS in relation to your preparation? e.g. balancing personal life with study, balancing work with study, the material was dull etc?

Rachel: The balance between work/personal/study time will always be difficult for people and I found the pressure in all areas build in the week leading up to the exam. I try to find a balance and set specific times for each area to make sure I do not feel overly pressured or feel like I am losing control. For the OCS, this was different to the other exams as you need to base your answers on the company from the case study whilst balancing your knowledge in the specific models per question. In my first attempt of the OCS exam, I found this very difficult as my previous exam history had always been based on knowledge only and not much on the application to a certain company. I do find it very hard to memorise the IAS numbers and who completed different business models as I like my answers to show the history and further information where possible.

What (if anything), did you find especially difficult with the OCS in relation to the exam day? e.g. time management, nerves etc?

Rachel: I struggle with nerves really badly, and going into the exam I was in high panic mode. At the test centres I have visited there are strict rules when taking a CIMA exam, and I always get my glasses taken off me to be checked for software, sleeves checked for notes, and I've even been asked to show nothing is in my ears! This very high level of checks before being allowed to sit the exam always worries me as I am an anxious person and this adds to my nerves before being sat in front of the computer to take the test. Once I am sat at the desk with the test open I am fine. Using the VIVA videos always helps me to feel prepared for the context and questions that may be asked in the exam. Its the exam conditions that I do not enjoy. I had prepared using the videos by VIVA tuition and even had these playing through headphones on the way to the exam to hear the key topics/issues. Once in the exam I start to calm down as there is nothing we can do now but try our hardest. I found time given was relevant to the level of information needed and I only struggled for time on the last question – which was the same for both exams I have sat.

Was there an area of the Operational syllabus that you liked more than others?

Rachel: I preferred the E1 syllabus as this has more information and models I enjoy learning. These are seen in many aspects of my day to day working life. This was also the only multiple choice exam I had to sit for this level which may make me biased.

Was there an area of the Operational syllabus that you liked less than others?

Rachel: I do not enjoy learning the IAS numbers as I tend to forget these or get the numbers and information mixed up. This has been something I have struggled with since university but I think this may be down to the way I was first taught these as it was very monotone and boring.

Do you have any tips for other students about to sit the OCS?

Rachel: Don’t forget to tie the case study company into your answers. I aimed for this every time I made a model/theory/IAS reference - I always tried to tie it back to the company being discussed. Make sure you plan your answers, write headers for each topic you want to discuss for each question to help you keep on track. The time goes quickly in the exam and you don’t want to spend your valuable time writing an introduction or an in depth model history. I would write the main points I wanted for each heading then go back and add any extra information once I had finished to ensure all required answers were given as sometimes the questions have multiple answers required and it is easy to be sucked in and end up only answering one.

Have you used VIVA’s case study materials? If so, how did you find the materials?

Rachel: For the exam in August I ordered only the key issues video and pre-seen video analysis. I did not think any more was needed as the information was so in depth. When I sat the exam in November, I ordered the Smarter Study Pack which is covered by a lifetime pass guarantee and which gave me exam questions and further videos. This was really helpful and insightful in giving a breakdown of the information and it helped me to focus on the main areas that could come up. Having the lifetime pass guarantee also took some pressure off the situation as I knew VIVA would be there to support me if I needed to resit. I will be ordering these for all case study exams going forward.

Do you have any final comments/recommendations/feelings/thoughts about your OCS experience?

Rachel: The VIVA study packs are very helpful and the videos are kept to the point and interesting. Without these I would have really struggled to pass the exams so I really recommend them to anyone planning on sitting a case study exam. ‍ ‍

If you have an OCS exam coming up soon, check out our All Access membership which includes our in-depth OCS course taught by some of the leading experts in CIMA tuition.

Like to explore how VIVA can help you with your CIMA studies?

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CIMA Operational Case Study Courses

Dedicated to helping you pass

Ever since our first CIMA case study course over 14 years ago, Astranti have become renowned for what are probably the most comprehensive CIMA operational case study courses on the market,  dedicated to giving you the best advice and support to help you pass first time.

And they’re great value too!

Compared to the Official CIMA Provider’s course, we do more analysis of the pre-seen, have a more comprehensive range of exam guidance and study materials, and yet, without their overheads, we’re able to make it cheaper too!

Together with great tutor support from our team of dedicated case study tutors, a personal mentor to support you through the exam and our renowned materials, known for their clarity and simplicity, you can see why students love the course so much – we have an average Trustpilot rating of around 4.8   from over 600 reviews.

This is combined with a double guarantee that means you can try out our course and check it’s right for you without any obligation to continue, while also knowing that your one-time payment is all you’ll ever pay!

Read on to find out more…

“I have used Astranti for all three case studies which in my view is integral to passing, with the most recent pass coming on the SCS exam. Astranti help you develop the correct exam writing style required to pass and gain the additional marks that could be the difference in passing or not. I can certainly say that by using Astranti I have gone into each exam confidently assured that I have given myself the best possible chance to pass.”

CIMA Case Study Student , October 2022

Focused on what it takes to pass

Our course is designed with one thing in mind…

Getting you through the exam

Plus a pass guarantee for peace of mind

Unrivalled support

Dedicated course mentor supporting you from start to finish

Assigned marker focused on giving you personal advice

Case study tutors are on hand to answer all your questions

Great value for money

The most comprehensive case study course

All for a great price!

With instalment options to help spread the payments

Course content

Our goal is to make our premium CIMA operational case study course the most comprehensive on the market.

Over more than 15 years of teaching CIMA case study we’ve considered exactly what students need to support you in order to give you everything you need to pass.

So what exactly do you get?

“Brilliant study material. I used Astranti throughout, sucked in by their free products at certificate level and I’m glad I was! The material provided is brilliant and the course tutors know exactly what it takes to get the pass at the case studies, if you use them and put the hours in you will pass! Couldn’t recommend enough, and achieved first time passes in all professional exams.”

CIMA Case Study Student , July 2022

Pre-seen pack

  • Full analysis of the pre-seen , picking out the most important snippets of information so that you don’t miss a thing
  • Strategic analysis that links the pre-seen to the key theories and models from the syllabus
  • An analysis of the top 10 most likely issues to appear in the final exam according to our case study experts
  • Our industry analysis provides an overview of the real-world industry that the pre-seen company belongs to, so you can apply this in the exam to score extra marks
  • 30 pre-seen knowledge questions designed to cement your knowledge learned

5x Mock exams with debrief videos

  • Fully timed computer-based mock exams , with challenging questions designed to replicate the real exam
  • Detailed solutions so you understand where you went wrong quickly and easily and to enable you to learn how to approach a similar question in the real exam
  • Debrief videos where our tutors walk you through the best approach to each mock
  • 5x mock exams as standard
  • 2x bonus mocks for the February and August exam sittings

3x Marking and feedback

  • Comprehensive marking and feedback for 3 mock exams from your assigned expert tutor
  • Commentary on each script on a section by section basis, tellilng you what’s great and what needs to be improved
  • A 7 page summary analysis of each script, guiding you on what you need to do to improve

'How to pass the case study' course

  • Get to grips with the case study exam and find out exactly what it takes to pass
  • Perfect your exam planning and writing technique
  • Find out how to maximise the marks that you score in your final exam
  • Learn how to provide the best answers written down in the right way, within the time given in the exam
  • Hear exactly what the examiners say about how to pass the case study exam and the mistakes that past students made

Theory revision series

  • Designed to refresh all of your syllabus knowledge relevant to the case study exams. We take the most commonly examined theory from E1, F1 and P1 and summarise that for you so you can review theory quickly and easily
  • Take the study text with you wherever you are, with both the online and printable versions
  • Watch the tuition videos for an even more detailed analysis of the key theory , including worked examples throughout to help with your understanding

Ethics and Questions packs

  • Ethics is   the most commonly examined topic at operational case study . As such it’s the most important topic for you to revise
  • Our   ethics video   shows you how to pass ethics questions in the exam
  • Our   20 practice ethics questions   enable you to master a range of ethical questions and practice the specific method that is proven to enable you to pass these questions
  • Our   questions pack  contains 60 case study exam-style questions , helping you to  prepare for your exam.

3x Live online masterclasses

  • Attend 3  LIVE  online masterclass days and get instant answers to your questions from our experienced OCS tutor using our interactive chat box throughout each session

Tutor expertise and Discussion hub

  • Ask our tutors further questions and join the student/tutor conversation on our discussion hub
  • Tailored support from your personally assigned exam marker , with all of the experience you could need to give you the best advice needed to ensure you pass the exam

Personal course mentor

  • Support from your assigned mentor from the first day of the course to the last
  • They’ll help you work your way through the course at a good pace, keeping up with your desired schedule and hitting the course deadlines as you go with regular catch up emails, video calls, or a combination of the two – whatever works for you!
  • On hand to answer your questions or guide you in the direction you need

Exclusive to the course

Tutor & Mentor support

There are so many benefits to studying online, like flexibility, cost savings and the ability to study at your own pace.

However, there are often some challenges too, such as a lack of study structure, lots of distractions, limited accountability and a general feeling of isolation, which can all lead to reduced motivation and momentum!

For this reason, our premium courses give you exclusive access to our tutors and course mentors .

Use our course discussion hubs to contact our expert CIMA tutors whenever you need help with a tricky piece of theory.

And, have regular check-ins with your own personal course mentor via email, video call or a combination of the two, to get help staying focused, hitting your deadlines and ensuring you have everything you need to pass your exam.

How our premium course compares

Giving students value for money is important to us . Why not check out the table below to see how our premium CIMA operational case study course compares to that of the official CIMA publisher?

Compare CIMA OCS Courses

IMAGES

  1. How to Pass the CIMA Operational Case Study Exam

    cima operational case study examples answers

  2. The Step-by-Step Guide to Operational Case Study Answer Planning

    cima operational case study examples answers

  3. CIMA Strategic Case Study(SCS) Examiner's report

    cima operational case study examples answers

  4. CIMA

    cima operational case study examples answers

  5. CIMA Case Study

    cima operational case study examples answers

  6. Kaplan CIMA Operational Case Study Text

    cima operational case study examples answers

VIDEO

  1. CIMA OCS February 2023 Full Pre-seen Analysis

  2. CIMA OCS Aug23 Full Pre-seen Analysis

  3. FREE CIMA Operational Case Study (OCS) Webinars & Workshops May ‘24 #CIMA #CIMAFLP #CIMAcasestudy

  4. CIMA Management Case Study (MCS) May & Aug ’24

  5. CIMA OCS Aug23 Pre-seen Analysis Part 1

  6. CIMA Strategic Case Study (SCS) May 2024 (Saefwell)

COMMENTS

  1. Operational Case Study

    Exam Resource. What do my exam results mean. Further reading. Exam Technique. Case Study support 1 - preparing for the Case Study exam. Exam Technique. Case Study support 2 - planning a good answer. Exam Technique. Case Study support 3 - developing a fuller answer.

  2. Astranti: CIMA Operational Case Study Questions Pack

    The question pack contains 60 case study exam-style questions - the equivalent of 15 mock exams! As these questions are not applied to a specific pre-seen they are an ideal way to practise for ANY case study sitting and can be done before your pre-seen comes out as excellent preparation. The questions come in document format and are not timed ...

  3. PDF CIMA Case Study Operational Level Study Text

    For example, the Operational level case study exam will be set within a simulated business context, placing the candidate in the job role matched to the competency level. In the case of the Operational level, the job role is that of an entry level finance professional (usually a management accountant) with

  4. CIMA Operational Case Study

    The CIMA Professional Operational Case Study Text will help you prepare for your Case Study exam, with guidance and tool on how to read the pre-seen material. Kaplan Publishing is the only official publisher of CIMA approved material, meaning that all of our books and materials have been reviewed and approved by CIMA. Details.

  5. PDF Case Study Operational Level Study Text

    except in the case of CIMA's November 2010 exams and subsequent CIMA's exam answers where CIMA's official answers have been reproduced. Questions from past live assessments ... For example, the Operational level case study exam will be set within a simulated business context, placing the candidate in the job role matched to the

  6. How to Approach (and pass) the CIMA Case Study Exams

    If you're going to be sitting the operational or management case study exam, you need to learn ALL about the exam format and how it's different from the obje...

  7. How to Pass CIMA Operational Case Study Exam

    Then you can write a short CIMA paragraph under each sub-heading. This will allow you time to think about all of the points that you want to make and will help to give your answer in a clear format. Ultimately, it should save you time. 2. Take care of how your answer looks.

  8. CIMA Operational Case Study Mock Exams: 7 Mocks Available

    That's why we create 5 brand new mock exams for each case study, each tailored to the latest pre-seen and based on topics we think you are most likely to see in your exam. Our CIMA operational case study mock exams will: Test your overall knowledge of the syllabus and the latest pre-seen. Highlight your weaknesses to focus on in your ...

  9. CIMA Operational Case Study Exam Technique: How to pass

    Produce answers that meet the examiner's needs. Play the role assigned in the exam. Plan effectively. Manage their time to create balanced answers. Write answers that score high marks. Having helped thousands of students pass the case study, Peter Stiff, Astranti's case study expert, has pooled his years of experience teaching CIMA case ...

  10. Full Post Exam Materials OCS Nov 21- Feb 22

    Full Post Exam Materials OCS Nov 21- Feb 22. This document contains the full post exam supporting materials for the November 2021 and February 2022 operational case study exam containing: pre-seen material. exam variants. suggested solutions. examiners report. marking guidance. Open PDF. Published 1/4/22.

  11. A Breakdown of the CIMA Operational Case Study Exam (OCS)

    The technical skills required in the case study will be drawn from across the CIMA E1, P1 and F1 papers. The OCS will examine you more on higher level skills such as analysis, synthesis, interpretation and justification of recommendation. 2. Business skills - 16% of your score. What the OCS is really testing here, is whether you can ...

  12. CIMA Operational Case Study: A Winning Study Schedule

    This is your CIMA Operational case study exam week!!! Exams are held between Tuesday and Saturday. Activities to perform on pre exam days: Re read the pre seen & the one page summary of your analysis. Create a list of key points you want to use in your exam. Review all the key lessons from your mocks.

  13. Top tips for Operational Case Study examination AICPA

    For example -from the ICAN table..- Section F ( working capital) will be between 7 and 13% of every op case study exam paper - so this table shows the importance of those topic areas - eg we know from this that working capital will be examined in EVERY OCS exam paper going forward (at least 7% of the marks) - so this topic is guaranteed…

  14. VIVA

    Comprehensive online CIMA OCS courses covering every exam window. Now enrolling for May 2024. 29 hours of course content. 3 Mock Exams with Solutions. Applied theory sessions. ACCA exam debrief lectures. 100s of Practice Questions. 250 exam-grade questions. Specimen exam debriefs.

  15. CIMA Student Series: Operational Case Study

    As it is the first case study style exam that CIMA students face, the Operational Case Study presents its own unique challenges. Here Rachel Harrison discusses the challenges she faced in passing her OCS exam, as well as offering some great advice to students yet to take the exam. ‍. When did you take the OCS exam and how did you get on?

  16. CIMA Operational Case Study

    The Case Study Examination tests the knowledge, skills and techniques from the three pillars within one simulated scenario and is taken at the end of each level of the CIMA Professional Qualification. The Operational level Case Study Examination simulates the role of a finance officer. This exam assesses the learner on six core activities that ...

  17. Astranti: CIMA Operational Case Study Theory Revision Series

    Our OCS theory revision series: + Covers all the most important theory that you need to know for the case study exams. + Converts the key content from over 1,100 pages of syllabus study texts into just 422 pages. + Condenses the theory into manageable chunks, with around 22 hours of video to watch. + Gives you the platform to successfully apply ...

  18. Operational Exam Blueprint 2021

    Operational Exam Blueprint 2021. What is it? A comprehensive guide to the Operational Case Study for May, August, November 2021 and February 2022 exam windows. Why do I need it? To help you prepare for the OCS exam by understanding examinable topics, the assessment approach and exam weightings. Open PDF. Published 28/2/21. Level: Operational.

  19. Operational Case Study (OCS)

    The case study section of the Operational level is designed to test the knowledge you have learned in the three objective tests (E1, P1 and F1), and apply it to a real world situation. This will get you ready for what you could expect to experience as a management account. With Learnsignal's support, you can learn how to: The Learnsignal ...

  20. CIMA Operational Case Study Courses: Find your perfect course

    2. Pass guarantee (premium course only) We believe that our premium CIMA operational case study course contains everything you need to pass your exam. However, if you don't pass the exam first time and you've completed the premium course in full, we will give you access to all of the content for the next exam absolutely free of charge.

  21. May-Aug24 Management pre-seen material

    Exam Resource May-Aug24 Management pre-seen material. Open PDF. Published 27/3/24