Before you sit your CIMA case study exam, it’s important to go through the syllabus and make sure you’ve understood everything.
Theory is the bedrock of a successful exam. No matter how good you are at planning, managing time and writing persuasively you won’t pass unless you understand the content you’re discussing.
But students, especially at the OCS, often make one particular mistake.
The case study isn’t just about knowing what the theory is. You’re tested on this in the objective tests, or the competency tests if you’re sitting via the FLP. By the time you sit the case study, the examiners assume you know what the theory is.
Instead, the case study is about APPLYING theory.
This means you can’t just introduce a piece of theory and explain what it is, and that you understand it. You have to show how it’s relevant to the task, and how it’s useful in resolving the question.
For example, the pre-seen business may have stakeholders with conflicting interests. The scenario may challenge you to make a recommendation about how to approach each group.
In this example, you may decide Mendelow’s matrix would be a useful tool. Don’t just explain what it is, or how the groups are determined. Instead, mention the model by name, and then apply it to the scenario. Categorise each stakeholder appropriately, then use the model to make recommendations about how to deal with each.
Over-explaining theory is a common mistake, particularly for students sitting their first case study, and one which can waste a lot of time. Don’t waste time explaining what a model is; show how it can be used to resolve the scenario.
In a few days, the first November 2024 case study exams will begin. By now, you should already be very familiar with the pre-seen, but if you’re looking for some extra insight you can find my introductions here:
If you’re sitting this time, I wish you the very best of luck. And although CIMA don’t permit students to discuss the details of their exams, once you’ve had a chance to sit I’d love to hear how things went for you overall in the comments.
The CIMA Student 
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