Dos and Don’ts of Preparing For US CMA Exam
US CMA exam is an online exam conducted at prometric centres across India. CMA USA course concludes when the student clears both US CMA exams. The course is split into two parts – CMA USA part 1 and CMA USA part 2 hence, students have to clear 2 exams, one for each part to qualify as a CMA. Both CMA exams are predominantly objective type with an essay section that constitutes to 25% of the paper.
US CMA exams are scored for a total of 500 marks out of which students are expected to score a minimum of 360 marks to clear the exam. Although the CMA exam has 2 sections students can attempt the essay section only if they clear the objective section.
Preparing for US CMA Exam
CMA USA is a short term course that can be completed in a span of 8-9months provided you are able to clear both CMA exams in the first attempt. Good preparation is definitely the foundation to becoming a CMA professional. Here are a few helpful don & don’ts to keep in mind while preparing for US CMA exam –
Dos –
Use the right material
Investing in the recommended and reputed material like Hock International or Wiley is crucial while preparing for CMA exam. Students often tend to take shortcuts by borrowing material from friends, using coaching material or even using pirated copies or old syllabus. If you are serious about CMA USA and want to clear CMA exams in the first attempt itself then investing in an established and official material provider is the first step.
Practice questions
Along with the study material it is also highly recommended to purchase the software containing question bank to practice mock questions. Mock exams and practice questions are essential and deserve much of your time and effort while preparing. The more time you spend solving practice questions, easier it will be to answer the questions in the final CMA exam.
Plan your exam time
It is important to understand the schematic of the question paper and strategize on efficiently attempting the CMA exam. There are a total of 100 objective type questions to be answered in only 180 minutes which mean 1.8 minutes per question.
It is also wise to answer questions from your strength area first and quickly move on to the next of you find yourself stuck. This pattern of answering will increase your confidence which will be an asset while answering tough questions towards the end.
Don’ts
Registering for the exam in the last minute
Experts and trainers strongly recommend students to register for their CMA exam on the date of their enrolment itself. Registering for the exam before you start your preparation will keep you motivated and focused in preparing. A goal with a specific date and time will give you the steam required to drive your preparation efficiently.
This is also a great way of getting your preferred date and time, since most students tend to register at the last minute.
Making an unrealistic plan
After enrolling for CMA USA course and registering for CMA exam you might be eager to dive in and start preparing at the earliest. However, it is important to take your time with preparation. Make a study time table and schedule that works for you and your family with adequate breaks built into it. The more realistic your study plan is the more attainable it will be.
Ignoring exam requirements
On the D-day it is important to be fully prepared – not just subject wise but also in terms of calculators, ID cards etc. It is good idea to use the same calculator during your practice to avoid any last minute surprises. These small steps will help you remain calm and start the exam with a clear mind, being able to fully focus on the questions.