MyCIMA

Time spent doing Certificate

Posted: Tuesday 05 January 2010 by John Stafford
Replies : 34
Keywords: certificate, Term, Time
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Hi,

I'm looking to start studying this term to do the Certificate level. I will be studying from home and have a full time job (not in accounting). The centre I will be part of runs evening classes that allow students to complete the course in 1 term. I'm wondering to try and do the same on my own...

Does anyone have any insight into how long it took them/is taking them, and if it's a bit too much to  try and do with a full time job as well.

Thanks.

Certificate exams

Posted by P45 on Tuesday 05 January 2010 12:53

A term being around 11 weeks?...I would say that would be a fairly intense target.

I studied each certificate subject individually and took 2-3 weeks to prepare for each CBA self-studying around 10 hours per week while working full-time.

Without a finance background some of the concepts may take a little longer to get to grips with.

 

Something to bear in mind is the logistics of when your nearest centre offers CBA’s in the subjects you want to sit. You may have to work your timetable around that.

 

Good luck to you.

  • Reported

Time

Posted by Anthony Ashworth on Thursday 07 January 2010 12:57

Ihad no background in finance and I went to a local college 2 nights a week for 6 months to get through 4 of the 5 exams.  The fifth one I did as an intensive 4 day course as I was happier with the subject. 

So all in all it took me just on 6 months while working full time.

Any ideas?

Posted by Mohamad Chaaban on Monday 11 January 2010 06:47

hi

i am new here and i allready registrated to complete the CBA.

i am lebanese but working in ksa,i work as a senior cost accountant in a manufacturing factory for full time.

i was wondering can i complete the CBA (5 papers) in approximatly 5 months?

thank you for help 

Hello Chaaban

Posted by Naheed Shoukat Ali on Wednesday 27 January 2010 11:59
Yes you can complete certificate level in just 5 months but the only thing you have to bear in mind is tht you don't have to slow down anytime.

ty naheed

Posted by Mohamad Chaaban on Wednesday 27 January 2010 15:41

dear Naheed

ur help is appreciated, but how much hours per day should i study at least?

You're welcome

Posted by Naheed Shoukat Ali on Thursday 28 January 2010 18:17

Speaking of spending on studies, it should be atleast 2 hours for a subjects and if you are studying two subjects then it has to be 4 hours and whatever lesson you learn today, do it just today as what happens when we procastinate and put the work till tomorrow then we get ourselves into a habit of binge learning which is not good. I hope this will help you. If you have strong will then the success is yours.

Any suggestions?

Posted by Nihaad Abdul Sathar on Thursday 18 February 2010 12:15
I'm a student studying accounting in India. I'm doing my 2nd year. Do I have any exemptions for CBA? Also, how much time do I need to spend to get done with the syllabus?

Exemptions

Posted by Yetunde Anjorin on Thursday 18 February 2010 16:08

Hi Nihaad,

I can confirm that once you have completed your accounting degree, you can apply for exemptions and will more than likely qualify for exemptions from the certificate level as long as you have studied at a recognised University and that the qualification is the same as an accounting degree in the UK.

Please note that we do not award exemptions on partly completed qualifications.

I do hope that this helps.

Kind Regards

Yetunde Anjorin

CIMAsphere Moderator 

exemptions

Posted by Oyewande Otusajo on Friday 19 February 2010 13:26

Hi,

I am a Cima student in Nigeria.I have just completed my Cima registration. I hold HND accountancy here in Nigeria and also a qualified member of the institutes of accountants here in Nigeria.I  will like to what exemptions cima will give me

Thanks 

Exemption database

Posted by Julia Harrison on Friday 19 February 2010 14:58

Hi

I suggest that you have a look at our online exemptions database - where you can search for your qualifications by country and institution. Please go to:

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Study-with-us/Exemptions/Exemption-search/

Best wishes

Julia Harrison

CIMAsphere moderator

dead line

Posted by Mohamad Chaaban on Saturday 20 February 2010 14:28

I would appreciate what is the last day to subscribe for the may exam concerning the certificate in business accounting.

Is there any date which i should sit to the exams before?

I have just two papers and i want to to finish them at the end of may.

Please advise

Regards

hello Chabaan

Posted by Naheed Shoukat Ali on Saturday 20 February 2010 14:47

Hello Chaaban,

 

To sit for Certificate level exams, you don't have to wait for May or November sitting you can sit for the exam anytime of the year when you are prepared for  the exam.

Naheed 

 

ty naheed

Posted by Mohamad Chaaban on Sunday 21 February 2010 20:09

hello naheed

ty indead, but is there an entry exam for the operational level?

when should i sit for certificate to enter the next level without waiting?

chaaban

Deadlines

Posted by Julia Harrison on Monday 22 February 2010 10:00

Hi

If you wish to sit Operational or Management level exams in May 2010 you must have completed all of your Certificate assessments by 1 March 2010. If you want to sit the exams in November 2010 you must have completed your Certificate assessments by 1 September 2010.

Best wishes

Julia Harrison

CIMAsphere moderator

thank you julia

Posted by Mohamad Chaaban on Monday 22 February 2010 11:56

Hi

i dont know if i am bothering u by asking a lot of questions,

regarding the exam of may or november, it is an exam for the operational level or it s just an exam entry for the operational level?

ty

Information on exam entry dates

Posted by Hilary B on Monday 22 February 2010 12:28

Mohamad, the deadline date for entry to the operational level exams can be found here.

Hilary
CIMAsphere moderator

are passed exams forfeited

Posted by chilo on Tuesday 23 February 2010 08:24
i wrote and passed three cima cba exams in 2007.but i had a change of career and now i am back.do i have to write the remaining two papers to attain my certificate or i have to start all over again.desperate.

Gaining Certificate

Posted by Julia Harrison on Tuesday 23 February 2010 09:51

Hi

If you are not currently registered with CIMA you will need to re-register and then you will need to pass the remaining two papers to attain the Certificate.

Best wishes

Julia Harrison

CIMAsphere moderator

Gaining Certificate

Posted by chilo on Tuesday 23 February 2010 11:20
thank you julia.am not currently registered.i was worried sick coz am thinking of siting for operation level in november.

Deadline

Posted by FM on Thursday 29 July 2010 14:22

Hello,
The standard closing date for entry into the November exams is September 14.
But if the student want to sit the exams in November 2010 must have completed your Certificate assessments by 1 September 2010 (??)

Why the student can not sit the last CBA exam from September 1 to September 13 ?
Thank you.

Certificate deadline

Posted by Beth on Monday 02 August 2010 16:03

Hello FM,

The September 1st deadline is in place to ensure that your CBA result has been uploaded to CIMA by your exam centre, then applied to your account.

Then our systems need to synchronise, so that you have a link to enter into the Professional level exams.

If you complete your final CBA on September 13th, it will not be enough time for a link to appear in your MYCIMA account and you would only be able to enter into the November exams by paying a late entry fee.

Kind Regards

Beth

CIMAsphere Moderator

Considering CBA exemptions

Posted by Ersoy Kara on Tuesday 17 August 2010 21:58

Hi,

 I have recently joined to CIMA and received exemptions from all certificate level papers, but I have realised that to be awarded for certificate I have to sit at least one exam. So, could you please advise me should I decline one of my exemptions to get the certificate? and should I make revision or resit CBA papers not to struggle while studying further operational-management-strategic level papers?

I really have to make decision if someone give me quick response I would be really appreciated.Thanks..

 Regards, 

new in the field

Posted by Mathiba MJ on Monday 23 August 2010 11:25

hello everyone...m new in this and i need to know how long on average it will require to complete all 5 certificate level papers without prior knowledge in finance and holding a full-time job...

I'm also interested in purchasing learning materials for all the five papers, cash ready at this very moment. Contanct me if interested.

Thank you

RE: new in the field

Posted by John Stafford on Monday 23 August 2010 22:06
Mathiba MJ wrote:

hello everyone...m new in this and i need to know how long on average it will require to complete all 5 certificate level papers without prior knowledge in finance and holding a full-time job...

I'm also interested in purchasing learning materials for all the five papers, cash ready at this very moment. Contanct me if interested.

Thank you

I tried to complete the certificate level within six months with no prior accounting/finance knowledge and found it near-on impossible with a full time job. I am now working on it over the year and have found whilst it is still hard, it is possible - you just need to be disciplined and motivated.

I don't have any materials for sale.

Hi John

Posted by Mathiba MJ on Tuesday 24 August 2010 09:28

Thanx for the insight, i guess taking CO1, 2 and 3 in six months and then the remaining two in another six months would be ideal. i understand that the law/ethics and economics papers are a bit more challenging than the others.

So john, were did you get your materials? there's a whole lot of discussions on which publisher to use for materials but the general consensus is that the CIMA official learning system is not really useful as it contains a lot of errors and shallow content...many people recommend study material from Kaplan or BPP, I'm at a loss, i want to purchase materials as soon as possible.

thank you

RE: Hi John

Posted by John Stafford on Tuesday 24 August 2010 22:22
I have seen people claim that each of the papers is the hardest one. I wouldn't get too bogged down by it. I have done C3 and C4 and found them OK. I wanted to refresh my mathematics before doing any accounting, but obviously it's up to you. I do distance learning with my local BPP, so use BPP books. To be honest, I think all of the books I have used so far are quite poor. I find concepts are not explained very well and sometimes vocabulary is used that no previous reference has been made. Having said that, I passed both C3 and C4 and am getting on well with C1 and C2 at the moment. They get the job done.

Difficulty and time

Posted by MD on Thursday 02 September 2010 18:03

Hello all,

 Obviously I get that the certificate takes as long as needed but am wondering if it is feasable to complete by January given that I have previously studied Math and Business (which included accounting)?

 Second, I am studying C3 (my first one) and finding it fairly easy but am wondering whether the exams are similar to the revision questions in the books?  If not does anyone know whether there is practice exam questions you can buy?

 Thanks in advance

CBA

Posted by Sinéad Maguire on Friday 03 September 2010 14:58
Matthew Daley wrote:

 Second, I am studying C3 (my first one) and finding it fairly easy but am wondering whether the exams are similar to the revision questions in the books?  If not does anyone know whether there is practice exam questions you can buy?

 

 I found the text book questions alot more challenging than the CBAs

Kaplan have a CBA practise which is exactly like the exam. The questions asked are the same and the choices are the same- If im not wrong they are actual exam questions. Ring Kaplan to get web access on to ENGAGE- I found it really help full. I got it as part of my classroom based course but im sure you can buy it seperatly for a fraction of the cost.

 Also - i passed CO4 and CO5 with ease and have struggled a bit more with 1 2 and 3.  so dont be horrified when doing seperate papers i thing everyone finds different ones more difficult than the last

 

 

CBA

Posted by MD on Friday 03 September 2010 15:51

 Thats actually pretty reassuring.  There is a mock exam at the back of my book so am going to crack on with that to see how it goes but the Kaplan idea sounds really good if I need some extra revision. 

I feel that I probably will fair better on the first three as the numbers generally make sense . . .although I was calling the book wrong before as my brain was not remembering standard deviation one bit. 

 The information is great - heres to all passing.

 

CO5

Posted by Christopher Smith on Sunday 05 September 2010 15:06

Hi,

I am just wondering if anyone can offer me any advice at all. I am exempt from all of the certificate level exams but CO5. I have recently registered and want to start getting on with studying for the operational exams. Obviously, I want to be able to pass this CO5 paper first but how would I go about doing this? Would I need college tuition for just this certificate? what time frame would I be looking at before I can complete this certificate? Would I be able to start college tuition in January in order to be able to take some operational level exams in May 2011? What is the latest I could take the certificate level exam in order to take exams in May 2011?

Any help would be appreciated 

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