Mar 15 • Landi Callender-Easby

Common misconceptions for the CIMA Strategic Case Study exams

There are several misconceptions surrounding the CIMA Strategic Case Study (SCS) exam. We will explore a few of these factors to provide some clarity and, hopefully, help you succeed with this challenging exam.

Spelling and grammar 

If you’re worried about whether spelling and grammar are important in the exam, rest assured that CIMA exam markers offer some leniency in their approach. For many candidates, English is not their first language, and we often have students expressing concern about this. 
If your words and sentences are comprehensible, and your marker can understand the point you are trying to raise, you will be awarded marks. Often, when candidates are under pressure, we see long and unpunctuated sentences. Having a sentence that is a paragraph long is just as difficult to understand, even if the spelling is perfect.
Time pressure and unfamiliar computer setups and keyboards could lead to spelling and grammar issues on exam day. Take care to briefly re-read your answers to ensure that you’re getting your point across.  

Layouts

Answer layout will not score you any marks in the exam
CIMA examiners in past paper reviews have clearly stated that they don’t like to see bullet point or numbered style answers.
Writing in neat and structured paragraphs builds a rapport with your marker, and they might be more inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt when leniency may be required.
Concise answering style and legibility of your answers make it easier for your marker to mark, which is extremely helpful for them, as markers grade thousands of papers each exam sitting. 

Introductions and conclusions

The SCS exam question scenarios are written in email or conversation format. Typically, your line manager will send you an email requesting information, and you’ll have to answer accordingly. Candidates often add introductions and conclusions to their answers, but it is a common misconception that this is required.
An introduction generally fails to address the question requirements, as candidates often rephrase the questions asked in these paragraphs. Conclusions summarise what has been discussed previously, and don’t offer any new information or insights.  
Introductions and conclusions don’t score any marks, unfortunately, and, as the SCS is a time-pressured exam, try to avoid these time-wasters. 

Recommendations

The question verbs are important to familiarise yourself with. A question will typically ask you to either ‘explain’, ‘evaluate’ or ‘recommend’. However, students often offer recommendations when they are not required.
Sometimes, elaborate answers are provided on why, for example, we should or should not go ahead with a project based on several factors. If this was not asked in the question, don’t provide such recommendations, as it causes your answer to drift from the question.
More often than not, candidates should provide an objective view, as examiners like the idea of candidates being able to debate multiple viewpoints in an argument or discussion.

Evaluations

A question may ask a student to ‘evaluate’ a scenario presented. It is a common misconception that when asked to ‘evaluate’, arguments for and arguments against must be raised.
Students frequently ask this, and it really depends on the context of the question. For example, if a question asks us to ‘evaluate the challenges’, it does not really make sense to raise arguments for the challenges.
Always read the question very carefully to determine the scope and approach required in an answer, to maximise your marks. 

Answer size

Knowing the theory well and answering a question requirement directly is not necessarily enough to pass the exam. A student must be able to add depth and detail to their answers, explaining why they are highlighting a point.
Unfortunately, raising a point and offering only a brief explanation does not earn many marks. Each paragraph raised needs approximately four to five sentences of substance to justify the explanation.
In the exam marking grids, there are three different levels of answers. Level three is the highest mark allocation that can be awarded for a student’s answer. If a point is raised and only one or two sentences are provided to substantiate it, very few to no marks will be awarded, which could lead to the candidate failing the exam, even if the candidate was knowledgeable on the theory. 

Dilution

Conversely, writing too much content may dilute the impact of your points raised. Try to be as clear and concise as possible when addressing the question requirement. Only have value-adding sentences supporting your points raised, as markers are easily able to identify when a student writes too much in the hopes that marks will be awarded.
Do not write everything you know. Align your answer with the question requirement as closely as possible, in a structured and relevant way. 

Theory

It is common among students to say that the CIMA SCS does not require knowledge of the syllabus theory and that answers are application-driven only. This could not be more incorrect.
Candidates must demonstrate technical ability in their answers, and markers can immediately see which candidates are well-versed in applying theory and which aren’t. Thorough preparation for this exam is needed.  
The SCS tests application and critical-thinking skills, but a strong foundation in technical knowledge is needed to score well. This also helps to develop your points raised when answering a question and adds depth to your answers.

Models

When faced with a question, candidates may think the question is guiding them to use a theoretical model in their answers, for example, the SAF model. Unless asked directly in the question to use a specific model in your answer, refrain from referring to theoretical models, as this limits application and fails to answer the question that has been asked.
Always ensure to read the question very carefully. It will always be clearly stated when a model must be used; take care not to fall into this trap! 

AI

Using AI in your study journey can be beneficial, but be selective in how you use this tool. ChatGPT and other LLMs can help explain complicated concepts, create study plans, review answers to your practice questions, and essentially serve as a personal tutor.
Students often think that they do not need to put in as much effort to prepare for the SCS with the availability of AI.
They even go so far as to use AI to answer their mock exam scripts, but this is a disservice to the student, as AI is not allowed in the exam.
When using AI, combine this with official resources and use expert guidance from tuition providers, as AI is not always correct. AI combines information from multiple sources available on the internet, and these sources are not always credible.

Answer variety

Examiners do not look for only one correct solution to a question in the exam. Many candidates assume that there is only one correct answer to a question. Still, if your answer makes logical sense, has merit, and addresses the question requirement directly, marks will be awarded. The suggested solutions are generally only a sample of what could be mentioned in an answer. 
At Procountancy, we really want you to do well in this exam, and avoiding these common misconceptions will help set you up for success. 
At Procountancy, we really want you to do well in this exam, and avoiding these common misconceptions will help set you up for success. 

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