It’s now been a week since new pre-seen for the November 2024 and February 2025 OCS exam was released. This time, the pre-seen business is BackOffice, a manufacturer of workplace backpacks with a focus on style and sustainability.
If you’re sitting the OCS this November or February, I hope you’ve already had a chance to read through the pre-seen document for yourself. It’s packed full of essential information, and you’ll need to memorise it all ahead of the exam.
If you’ve read the pre-seen, you’re no doubt already wondering what kind of questions might come up in the exam. To help you get started, here are a few topics that I think are likely to appear.
#1 – Financial Reporting
This is by far my safest prediction. The F1 syllabus tends to be the most closely tied to the OCS exam, and financial reporting is the bulk of that syllabus. I can’t remember the last time I read an examiner’s report without at least one question on this topic.
As BackOffice is a manufacturer, specific topics may include upgrading or leasing machinery. There may also be questions over asset purchase or disposal, so make sure to go over your notes on IFRS-5.
There are a few things you can do to make these kind of questions easier. Make sure to revise standard IAS/IFRS requirements and how they’re applied, and avoid missing out on some very easy marks by making sure you know what goes into your credits and debits.
#2 – Variance Analysis
This is another fairly easy prediction. Like financial reporting, variance analysis is an important part of the P1 syllabus and examined frequently. The pre-seen also includes a lot of budget information, which is a hint this topic will come up.
Variance analysis has quite broad applications. As a result, questions may include topics like sales volume, price variances and costs. You may also need to identify the cause of any variances, such as inefficiencies or market conditions.
When looking at these kind of questions, start by considering how variances may be caused. Common factors include material costs, market pressures, supply chain issues and inefficiencies during the manufacturing process.
#3 – Sustainability
Sustainability is a topic I’m confident will appear. In part, this is because it’s an increasingly important factor in the real world as consumers become more environmentally-focussed. It’s also a key part of the BackOffice brand and goal, making sustainability a particularly relevant topic for questions.
Some of the most likely topics include general environmental practice and supply chains. However, you should also prepare for questions on handling suppliers and how to ‘stay green’ while delivering ongoing growth and profit.
All of this comes under corporate social responsibility. So, be prepared to discuss reporting and transparency, supplier audits for environmental/ethical standards and to analyse the costs and benefits of green policies.
Will you be sitting the OCS this November or February? How are you feeling about the BackOffice pre-seen? Leave a comment to let me know.
The CIMA Student 
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