Exam
Techniques
ME
October / November 2011
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
About me
Christian Gagiano
Regional Learning & Development Manager
CIMA
• CIMA Member
• Assist Colleges to Provide Quality Tuition
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Why we meet today?
• I - Share my experience
– How to study effectively?
– How to please the examiner?
• You - ???
My personal outcomes for this Seminar?
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Effective Studying.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
The CIMA Aims
• Students who:
o Fully understand the requirements of the
CIMA examinations
o Demonstrate the required level of knowledge
and skill in their answers to examination
questions
o Are successful.
• An overall improvement in success rates in
the CIMA examinations.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Challenges
• How do we know what skills / competences
are tested in the exam?
• What can we do to develop these skills /
competences?
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Higher Level Skills Examined
5 - Evaluation
4 - Analysis
3 - Application
2 - Comprehension
1 - Knowledge
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Higher Level Skills Examined
• 1: Knowledge – you have to know
(facts - theories - techniques)
• 2: Comprehension – you have to understand
(history - background - strengths - weaknesses links between topics)
• 3: Application – you have to be able to do it
(apply knowledge in different contexts)
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Higher Level Skills Examined
• 4: Analysis
– you have to identify problems and look at
complex practical solutions
– you have to apply a proposed solution,
then discuss issues arising from the
application
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Higher Level Skills Examined
• 5: Evaluation
– you have to identify possible solutions and
discuss their strengths and weaknesses...
...then recommend and justify the most
appropriate solution
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
LIST OF VERBS USED IN THE QUESTION REQUIREMENTS
A list of the learning objectives and verbs that appear in the syllabus and in the question requirements for
each question in this paper.
It is important that you answer the question according to the definition of the verb.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
1 KNOWLEDGE
What you are expected to know.
2 COMPREHENSION
What you are expected to understand.
VERBS USED
DEFINITION
List
State
Define
Describe
Distinguish
Explain
Identify
Make a list of
Express, fully or clearly, the details of/facts of
Give the exact meaning of
1 - Knowledge
2 - Comprehension
Illustrate
3 APPLICATION
How you are expected to apply your knowledge.
Apply
Calculate
Demonstrate
Prepare
Reconcile
Solve
Tabulate
4 ANALYSIS
How you are expected to analyse the detail of
what you have learned.
5 EVALUATION
How you are expected to use your learning to
evaluate, make decisions or recommendations.
CIMA Education
Communicate the key features
Highlight the differences between
Make clear or intelligible/State the meaning or
Purpose of
Recognise, establish or select after
Consideration
Use an example to describe or explain
Something
Analyse
Categorise
Compare and contrast
Put to practical use
Ascertain or reckon mathematically
Prove with certainty or to exhibit by
practical means
Make or get ready for use
Make or prove consistent/compatible
Find an answer to
Arrange in a table
3 - Application
Construct
Discuss
Interpret
Prioritise
Produce
Examine in detail the structure of
Place into a defined class or division
Show the similarities and/or differences
between
Build up or compile
Examine in detail by argument
Translate into intelligible or familiar terms
Place in order of priority or sequence for action
Create or bring into existence
Advise
Evaluate
Recommend
Counsel, inform or notify
Appraise or assess the value of
Propose a course of action
Skill
Levels
4 - Analysis
5 - Evaluation
Prioritise
A new verb at
Level 4
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Syllabus - Skills Development
Professional
Competence
Award – Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Generally assessed at Levels 3 to 5
Application – Analysis - Evaluation
Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting
Part A – Initial Professional
Development – Assessment of
Work Based Practical Experience
Part B – Case Study Examination
based on Preseen and Unseen
Material
Strategic
Level
Generally assessed at Levels 3 to 5
Application – Analysis - Evaluation
Paper P3 Performance
Strategy
Paper E3 Enterprise
Strategy
Paper F3 Financial
Strategy
Management
Level
Award - CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting
Generally assessed at Levels 2 to 4
Comprehension – Application - Analysis
Paper E2 Enterprise
Management
Paper P2 Performance
Management
Paper F2 Financial
Management
Operational
Level
Award - CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting
Generally assessed at Levels 1 to 3
Knowledge – Comprehension - Application
Paper E1 Enterprise
Operations
Paper P1 Performance
Operations
Paper F1 Financial
Operations
Enterprise Pillar
Performance Pillar
Financial Pillar
Pre-requisite Entry Requirements (e.g. CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting)
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Exam Skills and
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes - Lead
Learning outcomes Component
CIMA Education
Indicative
content
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Exam Skills and
Learning Outcomes
• How do we know the nature / level of skills
examined?
• Look at the VERB – at the beginning of each
Learning Outcome („rules of the game‟)
• In the exam, you are expected to show ‘what
you can do’ (not just what you know)!
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Learning Outcome Illustration
Discuss the value of post-completion audit
(E2 – B – i)
• Level 4 skill (Analyse)
• No questions with ‘Advise’, ‘Evaluate’ or
‘Recommend’
• Level 1 – 3 verbs possible
• Most difficult question could be ???
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Task 1
• How many marks for each VERB?
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Exam Skills and
Learning Outcomes
• How to demonstrate the skills / competence
tested? – look at the VERB !
• David Harris explains CIMA Verbs
comprehensively.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Learning Outcomes Examined
Learning Outcome
Sep
2011
Distinguish between different
types of competitive environments
2a
May
2011
Mar
2011
Nov
2010
Sep
2010
May
2010
Pilot
Paper
(8)
Produce a strategy for a project
Discuss alternative approaches to
the management of conflicts
3c
(12)
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Learning Outcomes Examined
Past paper questions analysed under learning
outcomes of the full syllabus
o Gives a feeler as to how learning outcomes are
tested
o Practice questions after each learning outcome
is studied
o Can identify knowledge / skill gaps.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Free CIMA study resources
•
Syllabus
•
Past exam papers and model answers
•
Post exam guides (PEGs)
•
Technical articles – FM magazine
•
Study articles – Velocity magazine
•
„Ask a Tutor‟ – every April and October
•
CIMAsphere boards, groups, blogs
•
CIMA local and student events
•
Video on verbs and exam techniques
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
www.cimaglobal.com/resourcemaps
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Now, Sit Down and Study.
o Start with Learning Outcomes
o Know and Understand topics / tools / models
/ techniques
o Have a look at Past Paper Questions
o Short Notes (because, if you want to
remember something, write it down)
o Business press / TV / real life examples ???
Have you done enough to show
the skills examined?
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Pleasing the Examiner.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
In the Exam,
Students Normally:
• Read the question
• Understand the question
• Answer the question
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
What students ought to do
in the exam hall?
Read
Understand
Plan
Answer 
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner
Read the question:
The examiners say……
“ Two of the main reasons why candidates lose
marks are by answering only part of the
question, and by answering the question they
hoped for rather than the question asked.”
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Read the question
Briefly explain what is meant by „mission
statement‟ and recommend a suitable
mission statement for XX.
(10 marks)
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Read the question
Briefly explain what is meant by „mission statement‟ and recommend
a suitable mission statement for XX (10 marks)
Common Mistakes:
– Mis-read question
– Brain dump on a key word / phrase in the question
– Fail to address the verb
– Answer only the first task of the question
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Understand the question
• Plan the answer
Identify ways in which information
technology and information systems
might improve XX‟s operations.
(10 marks) E1 specimen paper, Q 4 a
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• First, Structure planning
• Topic (knowledge)
• Verb (nature & level of skills)
• Marks allocation (time and length of the answer)
• Then, Content planning
• Scenario information or Data
(to add value to the answer)
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Yours Answer Plan
• Can afford to spend 1/3 of time
• Do it on the question paper or answer
booklet
• You don‟t want the marker to read it, then ?
• No marks for your answer plan, but it
increases your marks potential
Remember, if you fail to plan – you plan to fail!
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Answer the question
You never lose marks,
only collect them.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
• Reward worthy writing
– Short sentences with clear & precise points
and less punctuation (20 words)
– Build your argument step by step into small
paragraphs (3-4) sentences
– What / Why / However approach
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner?
Answer layout is as equally important as answer content.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Heading / sub-heading
Paragraphing
White space
Bullets / numbering
Selective underlining
Pro-formas, labels etc. are few hints.
Impress the marker
and make the life of the marker easier.
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner
Use the reading time effectively:
The examiners say……
“ There is little evidence that students are
optimising the reading time in order to score more
marks”
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner
Use the reading time effectively:
• Operational papers: work through section A
• Management papers: plan section B answers
• Strategic papers: decide which two of the three
section B questions you will attempt, and plan
your answers
• T4 part B – read and make notes on unseen
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner
Watch your time:
•
Make full use of the 20 minutes reading time to start
planning your answers
•
Allow 1.8 minutes per mark:
• 5 mark question – 9 minutes
• 10 mark question – 18 minutes
• 25 mark question – 45 minutes
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
How to please the examiner
Rules of the game: what NOT to do
• Answer only part of the question paper!
50 marks out of 100
50% of available marks
50 marks out of 90
55% of available marks
50 marks out of 80
62% of available marks
50 marks out of 75
67% of available marks
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Relaxed Body and
Peaceful Mind
o Exam stress – problem for all students, yet
it’s normal 
o Good exam preparation
o Rehearse the exam day
o Sit and relax in a ‘peaceful place’
o ‘To do list’ for the exam day
o Relaxation techniques
Exam Stress causes stupid mistakes !!!
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
Exam
Techniques
Dubai
October / November 2011
CIMA Education
2010 Syllabus - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE