August 2024
Nasheen Wuisman talks you through what you need to do to ace the objective tests.
A, B, C or D? Which one do you choose?
CIMA’s objective tests are designed to assess your knowledge of the syllabus and so have definitive right and wrong answers. Unlike the Case Study exam, there is no essay style answer for you to plan, structure and create, and no pre-seen to analyse, learn and apply.
The pressure of knowing the syllabus can be overwhelming. So, what is the best way to approach them?
Manage your expectations
Objective tests last 90 minutes and are composed of a range of questions including short multiple-choice, number-entry, drag- and-drop, and other formats. They cover all the component learning outcomes across the entire subject, so you need to have a good grasp of as much of the syllabus as possible before sitting the exam. You will get a provisional result straight away, so there is no waiting to find out how you have done.
It is key to familiarise yourself with the format of the software and the ways in which questions are presented to you, before the exam.
Nail the material
The simple fact is you cannot apply knowledge that you do not yet know. Rather than rushing into question practice, focus on grasping and learning the syllabus. Make sure you have a decent understanding of the concepts behind the calculations. This will allow you to answer a range of questions in that topic. For example, in P1 it is easier to calculate overhead absorption rates if you understand the principles behind absorption costing.
Looking at the same topic from different angles is a good way to master it, so try to vary the sources you use for your learning.
Textbooks are great, so are some YouTube videos. Tuition providers always have a variety of support to offer, some of which are free, so check out whether they have what you need.
This can help you learn some tricker concepts quicker and to be able to start applying them.
Remember, you do not need to know the entire syllabus; there are always going to be topics that will be challenging. A sound grasp of the majority of the syllabus is good gauge of whether you are exam ready.
Know what practice questions are worth
Practice questions can help you is so many ways!
They will identify areas where your knowledge and understanding is not quite there yet. Be honest with yourself about the parts of the syllabus where you don’t feel as confident as you would like, then plan to revisit the material and focus on those areas. That may seem disheartening, but it is an extremely useful part of the learning process.
Once you have then covered the entire subject to the best of your ability, you should start doing more practice questions. This will start to build confidence in applying technical knowledge to questions – which is what the examiner expects from you in the exam.
Remember, just because you have not seen a practice question on a certain area of the syllabus, does not mean there won’t be one in the exam. Make sure you have worked through the whole subject, not just the parts you have come across in your bank of questions.
Practice more and more questions as the exam gets closer. The more different types of question you see before the exam, the less fazed you will be – there is enough pressure just being in the exam to face, so being familiar with the style of how questions are presented to you beforehand will buy you some time to deal with exam-hall nerves.
Be time savvy
CIMA’s objective test exams are strictly limited to 90 minutes, managing this time effectively to maximise your score is vital.
We have already mentioned being confident with knowledge and practising questions to build familiarity – these are your first steps to managing your time in the exam.
Go through the questions in the exam and answer all the easy ones first. This makes sure you don’t miss out on the easier marks; it will also give you a confidence boost, allowing you to settle your nerves as you move onto the rest of the questions which may take a little longer to answer.
Here’s a great video resource, which can help get time savvy.
If at first you don’t succeed….
Not passing an exam can be very demoralising.
There can be many reasons for this setback, and it’s important to know that you are certainly not the first person to fail an exam!
Treat it as part of your learning journey and use it to figure out which areas you need to focus on to succeed in your next attempt.
Start planning how you will move onwards and upwards. Try not to put off doing this, or it might become something you never get around to.
Our resitters guide offers you some great guidance for getting back on track.
Preparing for your objective test exam doesn’t start a few weeks before the exam day, it starts even before you begin a new subject. Set your goal at the start, maintain a positive mindset throughout and know you can do it.
- Nasheen Wuisman, Senior Manager of Global Academic Progression at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
