August 2021
Three newly qualified CIPFAs share their advice on what to keep in mind when preparing for the strategic case study exam.
The strategic case study is one of the exams that many students find most daunting. It is part of the end point assessment for students studying through the CIPFA apprenticeship route and the final paper for all other students.
It’s a three-and-a-half hour exam with two or three scenario-based questions designed to test students on all aspects of their learning – particularly the student’s ability to provide useful evaluation and analysis to inform decision makers at the strategic level of their organisation.
Three former CIPFA students recently shared their experiences to help put current students at ease about attempting this exam.
We spoke with Shaun Purves, Lauren Gough and Victoria Horrocks – all of whom qualified in 2020.
What was your CIPFA study experience like prior to SCS?
Shaun: Commencing my CIPFA studies after completing an International Business Management Degree and previously working in marketing, I was naturally stronger at the written exams and enjoyed Business Change Management and the strategic level subjects the most. Public Service Financial Reporting (PSFR) was my biggest struggle and unsurprisingly my poorest exam result.
Lauren: Before studying accountancy, I had a background in economics and was quite academic. I took well to the financial accounting CIPFA modules and found them really enjoyable. I took face to face courses at CIPFA’s Education and Training Centre in London and learn best when I’m being active so I would take lots of notes and ask questions in class to cement my understanding.
Victoria: Having come from completing a university degree prior to the CIPFA course, I felt like the written CIPFA modules came easier to me as they were a similar style to the exams I had sat at university. It was the more technical modules such as PSFR that I struggled with as there was a lot to learn.
What can students expect who might be taking the exam for the first time?
Shaun: A completely different format of exam, where exam technique is essential. In reality it’s not as daunting as you’d expect, and you may prefer the format to previous exams – I did!
Lauren: Expect to be tested in a different way, a more open way. While the Strategic Case Study exam is different to the ones you’ve taken before, the mocks you’ll take during the course prepare you really well for this so by the time you get to the main exam it won’t be as different as you might think earlier in your qualification.
Victoria: When you first start the classes you will do a lot of past papers – don’t be put off if you’re not even nearly at the pass mark! It is a completely different kind of exam from others in the CIPFA course and requires different exam techniques which you will gain as you progress through the classes.
How did you prepare, and do you have any revision tips that were particularly helpful for you?
Shaun: Don’t look too far ahead when you start the course. Focus on your mocks to develop your exam technique but save yourself for some serious commitment to revision in the final month when you get your case study! When the final month comes, get involved in some study groups and take any support you’re offered from colleagues. Knowledge sharing is invaluable for this exam. Spend time learning the format of the different styles of reports that may be requested and use the mocks as a learning experience. Don’t be too concerned with your marks, especially in the first couple.
Lauren: From the rest of the qualification, I knew that I liked to learn and revise by taking notes, so I kept that approach for case study. I bought a specific notebook and then filled it with my revision notes for topics that might come up, financial analysis and key points from the advanced material and then progressed to answering the questions I thought the exam might ask. I’d write lots of bullet points of ideas I could raise for questions that came up. I found this really helpful and ended up having predicted all but one question. This helped me feel more comfortable and in control during the exam. I also had a WhatsApp group with my cohort to share ideas and ask questions.
Victoria: Practice papers were key for me in understanding where I could pick up the marks and where I was wasting time writing information that I either wasn’t getting any marks for or very few. This really helped with the time management struggles I had.
Finally, it sounds obvious but I read through the Advanced Material A LOT! When it came to answering the questions, I knew exactly where in the advanced material I could find the information I needed which saves so much time in the exam.
• Shaun Purves is a financial analyst at Scottish Borders Council; Lauren Gough is a finance business partner at Enfield Council; and Victoria Horrocks is an accountant (Treasury Management) at Blackpool Council.
