BPPs guide to the CIMA

2015 syllabus changes

A basic guide to the CIMA syllabus
changes and our advice on your
next steps

Our guide
Studying for and passing professional exams is a signicant
challenge, and one that needs innovative solutions. We are
constantly evolving to ensure we stay one step ahead of the
professional education market - so please rest assured that BPP
will provide you with exactly what you need to condently pass the
new-style exams in 2015 and beyond.
The new CIMA syllabus is on the horizon and will directly impact the majority of you as your
studies progress through 2014 into 2015. At BPP we recognise how important it is to be able to
plan a clear route through the whole qualication. We aim to provide you with all the information,
help and support you need to ensure your route to Chartered Management Accountant status.
We have developed an easy to digest overview of the new syllabus, and some basic advice on
how to manage your studies for the rest of 2014.
The syllabus content itself isnt changing vastly, however topics may move between papers.
The most signicant change is around the exams themselves, and how your learning will be
assessed. CIMA are taking these steps to bring their assessment style up-to-date making it
more relevant in todays world.

At BPP we want to give you

the best chance to get ahead in your
Accountancy career. The updates
to the CIMA syllabus have been
produced with both employers and
students in mind to ensure you succeed
in the current business environment.
We are here to help and support you
every step of the way.
Steve Malpass,
Head of CIMA Programme

How are the papers changing

in the new syllabus?
The three levels are remaining, however, CIMA have recognised three
areas that could be improved and taken action accordingly.
1. The current names of the papers dont
state what they cover clearly enough
so youll see a move away from the
convention whereby a paper name is
derived purely from the pillar and level it is
in. The new names will be more meaningful
in the wider business environment.

2. CIMA have taken steps to make the

progression up each pillar more dened,
with core topics being examined within
a single pillar, as opposed to moving
between them, which used to happen at
Strategic Level.

3. The absence of T4 Part B. The T4 exam

used to represent the nal hurdle in the
qualication, bar Practical Experience
Requirements. This has been replaced
with an integrated Strategic Level Case
Study exam.

Please note that CIMA Certicate Level is unaffected by any of these changes.

Practical Experience
Strategic Level
E3: Strategic Management

P3: Risk Management

F3: Financial Strategy

Management Level
E2: Project & Relationship Management

P2: Advanced Management Accounting

F2: Advanced Financial Reporting

CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting

Operational Level
E1: Organisational Management

P1: Management Accounting

F1: Financial Reporting & Taxation

CIMA Certicate in Business Accounting

C1: FMA

C2: FFA

C3: FBM

C4: FBE

C5: FBL

Practical Experience

CIMA Adv Diploma in Management Accounting

How will the exams change?

Integrated case study at Strategic Level to
replace T4B as the Capstone assessment
Strategic Level
Integrated Case Study (ICS)
E3 (OT)

P3 (OT)

F3 (OT)

Management Level

Hot Off The Press

2015 pass marks conrmed
CIMA have announced that the pass mark
for OT exams will be 70%, and 60% for
Case Study exams.

Heres some more information on the two

different kinds of exams.
New Objective Test (OT) exams:

On PC and auto-marked

This makes it even clearer that the new

exam structure is going to be a signicant
challenge, and it clearly makes sense to try to
pass any many papers as possible in 2014.

Focus is on demonstration of detailed

technical knowledge

90 minutes long

Short questions, including multi-choice,

multi-response, data entry, ll-in-thegaps, etc.

What are the most signicant changes

to the exams?

Can be sat at any time immediate results

Integrated Case Study (ICS)

E2 (OT)

P2 (OT)

F2 (OT)

Progression Rules
The new syllabus and exam structure is
straightforward in terms of the rules around
progressing through the qualication.
1. Must pass/be exempt from all OT exams
in the previous level before can sit that
levels ICS exam
2. You must pass the Operational Level ICS
before moving onto the Management
Level OT exams, or ICS exams
3. Cannot sit more than one ICS in any sitting

New Integrated Case Study (ICS) exams:

Operational Level
Integrated Case Study (ICS)
E1 (OT)

P1 (OT)

F1 (OT)

Computer-based Objective Tests (OT)to test

knowledge and understanding with minimal
application. The case studies will test
application, analysis and evaluation.

The biggest change that will impact you in

the new syllabus is the style and format of
the exams.
1. Each paper will have an exam as in the
current syllabus, but it will change to a
computer-based Objective Test (OT),
designed and structured to assess higher
levels of understanding. These will be on
demand so you can sit them when you
are ready.
2. Each level will have its own Integrated
Case Study (ICS) exam so, one exam
based around a case study that will
include questions going across all three
papers within a level. This exam will also
be computer-based.
This means we will see the end of written
exams in the CIMA qualication.

On PC but human-marked

Focus is on demonstration of core

competencies and integration and
communication skills

3 hours long

Long question style, covering all three

papers in the level

Will be available in quarterly exam

sittings (Feb/May/Aug/Nov)

Preseen based, but info will be on a

dummy website

Exam will consist of tasks initiated by

triggers with information being revealed
as needed throughout exam

Each task is timebound and no going back!

Calculations will be minimal

What are the transition rules if Im

already studying?
Lots of students will be part way through the
qualication at the end of 2014. There are
some rules around what this means in terms
of the exams youll need to sit in the new
syllabus.
The good news here is that any papers
passed in the current syllabus do not need
to be taken again in 2015. Regardless of your
level our advice here is similar overall - try to
pass as many papers as you can before the
new syllabus.
A sensible target is to complete the level you
are on by the end of the year (so you avoid
having to sit the new Integrated Case Study
exam for the level).

Operational Level
What if I havent started Operational Level yet?
Attempting all three papers in November would be great, but doing one or two may be more sensible if you havent sat a three hour exam in a while. The next
best thing is to do two, and wed recommend P1 and F1 (and save E1 till 2015 to avoid those tricky long essay questions in your very rst professional level
exam). If just doing one paper we would recommend F1 as its not changing much in the 2015 syllabus, so any resits will be as straightforward as possible

Operational Level papers completed as of May 14 sitting (results in July)

E1

P1

E1

E1

F1

Sit one, two or all three Management Level exams in November 2014. If you take and pass all three, youll bypass the Management Level Case Study exam, and start
Strategic Level in 2015. If you take two, youll have to sit the third under the new syllabus, as well as the Management Level Case Study exam. If you are taking two, wed
recommend taking P2 and F2 to maximise your knowledge from the Operational Level. If you take one Management Level paper, you will have the two remaining papers
plus the Case Study in 2015. In this situation wed recommend taking F2 in November 2014, whilst the current F1 paper is still very fresh in your mind.

F1

Sit the P1 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015. If you usually sit two papers at
a time, then continue to do so. We suggest sitting F2 in November 2014 whilst the current F1 paper is still very fresh in your mind.
Sit the F1 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015. If you usually sit two papers at
a time, then continue to do so. We suggest sitting P2 in November 2014 whilst the current P1 paper is still very fresh in your mind.

P1

P1

F1

Sit the E1 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015. If you usually sit two papers at
a time, then continue to do so. We suggest sitting F2 in November 2014 whilst the current F1 paper is still very fresh in your mind.
Sit the F1 and P1 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015.
Important note: If you failed one of these papers, CIMA will allow you to waive the Objective Test exam in 2015, but you would have to sit the Operational Level Case
Study exam (being exempt from Operational Level papers does not count - to be granted the waiver you have to pass two out of three). Even if you only normally take one
paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass both then you will bypass the
Operational Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Management Level in 2015.

E1

F1

P1

Sit the E1 and P1 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015.
Important note: If you failed one of these papers, CIMA will allow you to waive the Objective Test exam in 2015, but you would have to sit the Operational Level Case
Study exam (being exempt from Operational Level papers does not count - to be granted the waiver you have to pass two out of three). Even if you only normally take one
paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass both then you will bypass the
Operational Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Management Level in 2015.
Sit the E1 and F1 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Operational Level and bypass the Operational Level Case Study exam in 2015.
Important note: If you failed one of these papers, CIMA will allow you to waive the Objective Test exam in 2015, but you would have to sit the Operational Level Case
Study exam (being exempt from Operational Level papers does not count - to be granted the waiver you have to pass two out of three). Even if you only normally take one
paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass both then you will bypass the
Operational Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Management Level in 2015.

Management Level
Below is our advice on what to do whatever stage you are at in your CIMA studies.

Management Level papers completed as of May 14 sitting (results in July)

E2

P2

E2

E2

F2

Sit your Strategic Level exams in November 2014. If you pass all three, then youll just have the Strategic Level Case Study exam to sit in 2015 (in place of the old T4).
Any papers you fail will have to be resat under the new style exams in 2015, and once passed you can then go on to the Strategic Case Study exam. BPP will provide full
learning content and support (free of charge) to any of our students who have to resit papers from November 2014 in 2015.

F2

Sit the P2 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015.

P2

P2

Sit the F2 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015.

F2

Sit the E2 exam in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015.

Sit the F2 and P2 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015. Even if
you only normally take one paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass
both then you will bypass the Management Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Strategic Level in 2015.

E2

F2

P2

Sit the E2 and P2 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015. Even if
you only normally take one paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass
both then you will bypass the Management Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Strategic Level in 2015.

Sit the E2 and F2 exams in November 2014 to ensure you complete Management Level and therefore bypass the Management Level Case Study exam in 2015. Even if
you only normally take one paper per-sitting, we would strongly recommend you attempt two in November 2014. There isnt really anything to lose, and if you do pass
both then you will bypass the Management Level Case Study exam and go straight onto Strategic Level in 2015.

Strategic Level
Below is our advice on what to do whatever stage you are at in your CIMA studies.

Strategic Level papers completed as of May 14 sitting (results in July)

E3

P3

E3

E3

F3

Sit T4 in August 2014. If you are unsuccessful in August youll be able to try again in November 2014 using the same pre-seen. If you dont pass this year, then you will
have to sit the Strategic Level Case Study exam in 2015.

F3

Resit the P3 exam in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This means you
wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!

Resit the F3 exam in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This means you
wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!

P3

P3

F3

Resit the E3 exam in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This means you
wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!

Resit the F3 and P3 exams in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This
means you wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!

E3

F3

P3

Resit the E3 and P3 exams in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This
means you wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!

Resit the E3 and F3 exams in August 2014 to give yourself the best chance of sitting T4 in November and completing all your exams under the current syllabus. This
means you wont have to worry about any of the changes to the Strategic syllabus content nor the new Strategic Level Case Study exam!