Employers and students will be pleased to know that there are few significant changes and the CIMA syllabus will have:
1. Operational level
The Operational Level didn’t exist under the old syllabus and is in effect a replacement for three of the papers in the former Managerial Level.
CIMA have renamed the “lower Managerial” papers for two main reasons:
• It emphasises the progressive nature of the levels and students should look to work through the Operational paper in each pillar before attempting higher papers
• It has allowed CIMA to create a new award for students who pass (or gain exemption from) all three Operational papers namely the CIMA Diploma in Management Accountancy
2. Management level
The Management Level also didn’t exist under the old syllabus. However it is in effect a replacement for three of the papers in the former Managerial Level. CIMA have renamed the “higher Managerial” papers as it emphasises the progressive nature of the levels and students should look to work through the Management paper in each pillar after attempting lower papers. Once a student has completed the Management Level they will be awarded the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accountancy.
3. Strategic level
The Strategic Level did exist under the old syllabus and the main changes are in the way it is assessed. To better prepare students for Professional Competence Level (TOPCIMA) and to improve the cross-pillar application of the knowledge and skills they have learned through their studies into the work place, students will now receive pre-seen information about a business prior to the exam. This business will then be the focus of 50% of each Strategic exam.
4. Close the gap from Strategic to Professional Competence Level (formerly TOPCIMA)
The main change here is the Career Profile and the Case Study Exam have been joined together. Otherwise the changes are minimal. Those planning to sit their Case Study exam soon, should review their Career Profile and seek to address the gaps. You will not be prevented from sitting the exam though, if your Career Profile is incomplete.
To better prepare students for the Professional Competence Level and to improve the application of the knowledge and skills they have learned through their studies into the work place, students will now receive pre-seen information about a business prior to the exam (as in the past). Students will be expected to read through the pre seen, analyse it and be prepared to answer questions about the company involved in the Professional Competence paper they are attempting at that particular sitting.
Exam progression rules
To determine where you would start the qualification, please review the entry requirements. The rules are generally simple in that you start at the Certificate Level and work your way through Operational, Management, Strategic and TOPCIMA.
• Certificate papers can be sat in any order
• You cannot start Operational Level until Certificate is complete (or you have exemptions)
• Students should then work through Operational & Management Levels. Students can overlap these levels but should be mindful of the progressive nature of the papers
• Strategic Level cannot be started until the Operational and Management Levels are complete
• All three Strategic papers must be sat together at the first attempt
• The TOPCIMA Case Study cannot be sat until the Strategic level is complete.