In the PEG for March 2012, the examiner said that students did not perform well.  E3 is a tricky paper for many people, however it is also an exciting paper as it deals with many aspect of strategy, which is usually handled by senior management within an organisation.  To do well in this paper, students need comperhensive knowledge as well as good business sense.  According to the PEG, 2 main reasons for poor performance in this diet

Exam week is looming on the horizon and your friends are out enjoying themselves while you're stuck at home revising. Finding it tough?

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' " - Muhammad Ali 

Make sure you get plenty of training in before the big day. No excuses!

If you’re sitting your Strategic exams in a couple of weeks, you’ll have plenty on your mind at the moment – so I’ll keep tonight’s blog short and sweet. Here are a few tips from the examiner.

I’ve been on my travels over the last few weeks, talking to students in Poland, Russia and the UK. If I’ve met you recently - hello again! If not, read on for my last-minute Gateway revision advice.

In three weeks and one day you’ll be sitting P2. Let’s fast-forward three weeks to the big day...

In four weeks time it'll all be over. How will you feel?
a) Relieved  b) Upset  c) Angry  d) Confused

The correct answer, of course, is a). Read on for my tips to help avoid the wrong answer...

If I told you that you could improve your exam results in under five minutes, would you believe me?

With only four weeks to go until the exams, time is very short - so I've got three quick ways to help you succeed this May. If you've got two minutes to spare, you can put one of these into action right now!

Earlier this year a lot of you will have had some great news by email - all that hard work you'd put into your strategic exams had paid off and you'd passed! Well done!!

But now what?

Sometimes the final exam hurdle can seem higher than all of the others put together - T4 part B is VERY different to any other CIMA exam.

The waiting is almost over!

Results for the March 2012 resits and T4 on PC will be sent out tomorrow morning, round about breakfast time (for me, that's 7.30-8am. I'll be having poached egg on toast and black coffee, but you're probably more interested in your exam results than my eating habits)

So... how did you get on?
Champagne breakfast - or crying into your cornflakes?

Want a break from exam papers and revision notes? I bet you do!

Check out this index of all the technical articles we published during 2011, to make sure you've not missed anything relevant to the papers you're sitting - the topics covered have a sneaky habit of coming up in the exams...

As many of us know, it’s not always easy to pass CIMA exams. So, with just under two weeks until the March resits, what can you do to give yourself the best chance of hitting that magic 50%?

Post exam guides are always interesting reading – but I really wasn’t expecting to see this!

It’s been an exciting week here at CIMA, with the launch of the new CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) designation. I was lucky enough to attend the launch event in London, which was linked via satellite to the New York event and transmitted to CIMA and AICPA offices around the world.

January can be a dull month, once the stress of results day has died down. If you’re at a loose end waiting for your next college course or study programme to start, why not enter our writing competition?

P2 has a reputation as one of the most challenging papers in the CIMA professional qualification – and those of you resitting next month will probably agree. But is this reputation really deserved? Let’s take a look at some common P2 misconceptions...

The UK and global pass rates for the November sitting of P1 were the highest they have ever been in the current syllabus. But for those of you who weren't celebrating success this time, let's have a look at what the examiner had to say...

I'd like to introduce you to another of my colleagues - Julia Harrison, who you may already know from the CIMAsphere discussion boards.

CIMA have now published the UK and global pass rates for the November 2011 exams:

http://www.cimaglobal.com/About-us/Press-office/Press-releases/2012/January/CIMA-publishes-November-2011-exam-results/

It's almost a year since I started blogging on CIMAsphere, and I've really enjoyed it so far. I hope you have too.

As you probably know, I work as part of CIMA's education department as a study support and learning specialist - what you may not know is that I have two colleagues in Pakistan and Hong Kong who now have their own study support blogs! You may have seen them moderating on CIMAsphere, but if not, let me introduce them to you now:

Results day is almost here - in a few short hours you'll be hearing how you got on in the November sitting. Seems a long time ago, doesn't it?

No matter what your result is, it’s now 2012 and time to focus on the future!

With the exams looming, it's time to get your bag packed.

Don't forget your admission advice and photo ID - and make sure you've read the exam rules. Also, check your inbox, as some countries require different documents.

Here's what I used to take to my CIMA exams:

How are you feeling? Prepared and confident? Slightly nervous? Terrified?

At this late stage, you just need to take a deep breath and go for it. Here are a few posts you might find useful:

Are you familiar with the CIMA Code of Ethics? If not, you should be - all CIMA students and members are required to comply with the code, and it comes up in exam questions at all levels.

My colleague Tanya Barman writes an ethics blog - check out her latest post highlighting some important ethical lessons from an unexpected source.

Time is the big issue for the T4 case study – make sure that you manage it well. Here’s some advice on analysis of issues, recommendations and ethics from a recent article by the case study writer.

The F3 examiner, unsurprisingly, likes numbers – and although the pass rates for this paper have been improving, you’ll need to get to grips with your calculations over the next couple of weeks.

Time is very short now – before you know it you’ll be waiting outside the exam hall! I posted a few weeks ago about study planning, but let’s look at some ways you can maximise your study time over the next two weeks.

The E3 exam is just fifteen days away. How’s the revision coming on? Have you read our articles analysing the pre-seen material yet?

With just over two weeks until the November exams, you should be doing lots of question practice on past papers. But how do you know which questions to choose?

Our new study resource pages list each exam paper question by syllabus area, so you can focus on problem areas or create your own mock exams.

Are you sitting F2 in November? Here’s some essential reading for you.

You’re sitting in the exam hall, waiting impatiently for the invigilator to say those magic words; “You may now open your question paper”.

How can you get the most of the next 20 minutes? Here are my tips:

The F1 post exam guide from September is here. What can we learn from it?

The main thing I’ve picked up is that question spotting isn’t advisable in this paper, as most learning outcomes are covered in each exam. As I mentioned back in May, the examiner has told us a few things we can expect to see in the exam paper:

In the latest post exam guide for E2, the examiner tells us that student performance in the last two sittings of the E2 paper hasn’t been great, with many students just scraping a pass. I’ve listed the main reasons for this below, with my advice on how to avoid these pitfalls. 

With 22 days of study left until the P3 exam, what advice does the examiner have for the big day?

Some of you will be sitting the CMGA, CPGA and CGA exams this November. With such a big syllabus to cover, how can you increase your chances of passing?

The answer is....

If there's one thing you do this weekend, watch this video by ex-CIMA examiner David Harris. It's about 35 minutes long, and could make all the difference on the big day.

Watch the exam techniques video

You know that magazine that comes through your door, or into your inbox each month? The one that's sitting there unopened? Make sure you have a good look at it before the exams, as there have been lots of technical articles published recently - at least one for each operational, management and strategic paper. There's also an article on how one student approached T4 the second time around.

See below for links; why not print the articles out and read them over the weekend?

The September resits post exam guide for P2 has arrived on my desk. What advice does the examiner have for us this time around?

Unfortunately, it’s not cheerful reading. The examiner wasn’t impressed with the low pass rate in September and is very concerned that students don’t understand the basics of management accounting. So, what can we do to turn this around in November?

How will you be spending the next five weeks?

Planning your study time in advance will help you make sure you get the most value from it. I've attached a study planner below, which you can use to get yourself organised.

E1 had the highest global pass rate in the September resits, but that's no reason to be complacent - those written questions can be trickier than you think!

You’ve been sitting CIMA exams for what seems like forever – so with just over five weeks to go, what can you do to make November’s exam your very last?

Five weeks to go until the November exams! Do you need some extra help with P1? Read on...

The Strategic level pre-seen case study is now available - this time it's based on M plc, a newspaper and web media company.

They say that the best things in life are free - and here's a great opportunity to get help from a team of expert tutors! 

A couple of weeks ago we ran an #ExamRewind event on CIMAsphere - if you missed it check out my previous post.

It's results day for the September resitters - how did you get on?

If it was good news, congratulations! If not, don't despair. You'd be surprised how many CIMA members struggled with passing their exams but have gone on to fantastic careers. Check back soon for tips on how to improve your marks in November.

Either way, share your experience and tips with other students as part of today's #ExamRewind event - visit http://www.cimaglobal.com/students/ from 09:30 UK time.

For those of you who sat exams as part of the September resit pilot scheme, tomorrow is the big day. Whether or not you're waiting for results, check out the #ExamRewind live event tomorrow and tell us one thing you would have done differently in your studies or exams.

Last week at CIMA HQ I was heading for the water cooler when I was suddenly apprehended by two excitable young men wielding high-tech gadgetry.

"Your study tips or your life!" they demanded. Here is the result...

How's the revision going? I bet you're sick of the sight of those textbooks, going over the same old topics over and over again...

Perhaps the reason you didn't get through last time was more to do with poor exam technique than lack of knowledge? Read on for an expert solution to this common problem.

With only a few days left until the September 2011 resits, how should you approach your exam? Take a look at these resources from the CIMA learning & development and exams teams.

Only a couple of weeks left until the strategic level resits - have you revisited the post exam guides from May? I've attached them below.

• Read my post on how to use marks per question to improve your future results

For some of you this will be the first exam you've sat on a PC, so make sure you read the following:

A new article on the Papy case will be uploaded to the T4 resources page later today. However, you lucky people can have a sneak preview! See below.

Are you resitting P2 in a few weeks? Here are some tips from the examiner, taken from the post exam guide. I've attached a copy below.

The F2 resit is coming up in a few weeks - what can you do to improve your chances of passing?

Firstly, download and read the post exam guide, which I have attached below. This details the areas in which students performed badly in the last sitting.

As we approach the E2 resit exams, let's have a look at what may have gone wrong for you last time.

In the post exam guide, the examiner stated that exam performance in May was the poorest for a while, with the main reason being a lack of preparation. I've attached the guide below - you really should read it over the next few days.

Need some help to get through P1?

It’s tempting to rely on tips from tutors and speculation in student magazines, but in the May post exam guide the examiner advised strongly against doing this.

What does the examiner have to say about E1 in the May post exam guide? It seems that student performance has been quite predictable for this paper over the past few sittings.

With three weeks to go until the F1 resit, let’s have a look at one of the main problem areas from the May exam – question 4 on cash flows.

With just over 4 weeks until the T4 part B exam, you should now be familiar with the pre-seen material for the Papy supermarkets case.

Want some inside information from the examiner? Read on...

With just over four weeks until the strategic resits, it’s time to get organised with your revision.

With the resit exams just over four weeks away, you should use the next week or two to consolidate your understanding of the key syllabus areas, and identify any areas that need improvement.

Try this simple four step plan:

You may have noticed that your results letter for the last sitting included a breakdown of the marks you scored for each question - but what can you learn from this?

CIMA will soon be introducing a new syllabus for the certificate. What does this mean for you?

Most of you will have received your results emails and letters by now, so what’s next?

It's almost the big day - I've got my fingers crossed for you all!

As this is one of CIMA's main exam sittings we like to get started early on sending out the emails - most of you in the UK should have them before breakfast, assuming that you've registered to receive results by email. 

Please don't sit up all night refreshing your inboxes - if it's dark outside there is no point checking. Go back to bed!!!! 

The May 2011 T4 on PC results are out tomorrow - how are you feeling? Nervous? Confident?

As you might expect, we have quite a few accountants here at CIMA HQ. I’ve asked some of them for their exam tips - do you have any tips or advice to share with your fellow students?

Fire-breathing dragon? Medieval torturer? Evil robot?

CIMA examiners aren’t as bad as you think – in fact they WANT you to pass your exam!

Here are a few tips I picked up from the F1 examiner recently.

With the F2 exam just over a week away, you’re probably finding all kinds of things to occupy your time. Angry Birds, rearranging the sock drawer – anything to get away from studying!

Student performance in the E2 exam has improved at every sitting, but there are a few areas where candidates continually have problems.

1) Lack of care when reading questions
2) Spending too long on section A questions
3) Repeating material from the scenario in the answers

So what can you do to avoid these common issues?

What can you expect from the May 2011 E1 paper? It’s difficult to tell, as this will only be the third sitting.  However, there’s a very good article written by the examiner that will point you in the right direction.

How are you getting on with the BZCS case?

Check out this new game from Casestudyaide.com to test your knowledge.
No cheating!! 

Every minute counts!

How's the revision going? Try to make the most of the time you've got left - here are some last-minute revision tips.

With only a couple of weeks to go until the dreaded P2 exam, what can you do to give yourself the best chance of passing?

A lot of students struggle with P1, so I’ve had a look through the post exam guides for some clues. The post exam guides are written by the examiner, and are a really valuable source of information – they include a marking guide and suggested approach for each question as well as common mistakes made by students.

With just over 3 weeks until the T4 part B exam, it's time to focus on...timing!

Here in the UK we’ve got an extra long weekend, thanks to the Royal Wedding.

Whether or not you’ll be celebrating Wills and Kate’s big day, try and fit in some studying over the next few days, because the May exams are now less than four weeks away and time is running out.

Today is the big day for those who sat professional level papers in March. How did you get on?

Join the conversation over at CIMAsphere if you want to let off steam or celebrate.

For some of you today will be the day you’ve been waiting for – no more CIMA exams ever! :D

For others it won’t be such good news – but remember that the May sitting uses the same case study (BZCS) so you’ve already done most of the hard work, and you’re a lot more likely to get through on the second attempt.

If you're sitting a resit or T4 exam this week I wish you all the very best.

A group of CIMA students discussing exams last year came to the conclusion that good preparation and a positive mental attitude are the keys to relieving exam day stress. Read their tips for staying calm on the big day.

As the T4 on PC exam approaches, it’s time to start fine-tuning your exam technique. Here’s a round-up of the free resources on the CIMA website.

• New article by Adrian Sims analysing the BeeZed Construction Services case – essential reading for all students sitting the exam in March

As we count down to the strategic level resits, I’ve put together some last-minute resources for you.

Before a resit exam, it is important to review your study approach and exam technique to identify any areas which may have contributed to your lack of your success. Here are a few pointers from the CIMA website:

Not long to go now until the P1 resit - so how can you do better this time around? With your second chance to pass coming up soon, here’s some advice to help you make a success of it.

Back in November the examiner felt that a big reason for students failing was poor exam technique. Here are a few of the main issues he identified, with suggestions as to how you can avoid them this time around:

1)  Candidates do not read the question properly or do not answer the question that was asked

The management level resits are coming up soon. Are you prepared? As the clock is ticking on revision time, I thought I’d pull together some key advice and articles for you to focus on.

It’s important to review your study approach and exam technique to identify any areas which may have contributed to your lack of success. See how your fellow students are getting on by visiting the management level discussion board on CIMAsphere.