CIMA 2015 syllabus objective tests Guidance notes for tutors and students

Test construction

The test comprises 60 items (questions).

Every component learning outcome will be tested.
The indicative study weightings for syllabus topics as published in the syllabus document will be
reflected in the test.

Test navigation

The test lasts 90 minutes. A 15 minute tutorial (for familiarisation with the test environment)
must be completed before the test begins.
Questions will be presented in no specific order.
Some questions might relate to a common scenario. These questions would appear together in
the test.
Candidates can change their responses as many times as they wish in the time available.
Candidates can leave a question and come back to it at a later stage in the test.
Once the candidate completes the 60 items in the test, a review screen become available and
candidates can review all items. No extra time is given for reviewing.
Candidates will be prompted twice to ask them if they are sure that they wish to End Exam
following the review.

Question types

A range of question types will be used. The main types will be multiple choice, multiple
response, number entry, drag and drop, drop down and hot spot.
Note: CIMA does not intend to ask questions where candidates are required to type narrative
responses.
For number entry questions, a small range of answers will be accepted. Clear guidance will
usually be given about the format in which the answers is required, for example to the nearest
whole $ or to 2 decimal places

Scoring

All questions are equally weighted.

All questions are independent. Where questions are based on the same scenario, each question
will be independent so no candidates would be penalised for an incorrect answer to an earlier
question.
All elements of a question must be answered correctly for the question to be marked correct
(for example, where a multiple response question asks candidates to select three options, all
three correct options much be selected for the question to be marked correct)

Results

The pass mark is 70%.

CIMA 2015 syllabus objective tests Guidance notes for tutors and students

A score will be provided at the centre shortly after the completion of the test. This score will be
a scaled score (scaled scores are used to turn raw percentage marks into a mark that balances
out any minor differences between the different versions of the test). Further details on scaled
scores and how these should be interpreted will be provided at a later stage.
Feedback on performance in each of the syllabus topics will be provided to assist with
preparation for either a resit or for the case study examination for the level.

Balanced tests

Tests will be balanced according to a number of different criteria to ensure that each candidates
test is balanced and fair.
Questions will be set which test up to the cognitive level of the verb in the component learning
outcome (note: as is the convention with objective test questions, the verbs used in objective
test questions will often be instructional in terms of answering the questions (for example,
select, complete, place etc) and may not reflect the cognitive level/learning outcome level that is
being tested.
Questions will test up to level 5 verbs where the learning outcome permits this.
The number of lower level questions will be limited in the tests candidates will not be able to
achieve the pass mark solely based on correctly answering knowledge and comprehension
questions. Higher level questions, requiring candidates to demonstrate application, analysis and
evaluation skills must be answered correctly for the pass mark to be reached.
CIMA has worked with Pearson VUE test design experts and psychometricians as well as our own
CIMA Faculty and in-house examination experts to develop tests and questions that are valid,
reliable and fit for purpose. Tests and individual questions will be regularly reviewed and
updated to ensure they remain current, valid and reliable. Extensive psychometric data and
statistics, collected before and after the test questions go live, will feed into the ongoing
maintenance and review of the items and construction of the individual tests for candidates.