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The May exams are over, but it may be worth spending time now reviewing the way you studied for the last exams and what you could improve for the November sitting.
What works for you
Students study CIMA worldwide in many different ways, but you need to be confident that your study method suits you and your individual situation.
For each of the areas below think about what did or didn't work well and what you could change for next time. Once you've done this, you can draw up action points to make your study time even more effective next time.
Your method of study
Did you attend an accredited taught course? If not, was there a reason? Perhaps there are no accredited CIMA Learning colleges in your area ' in which case, have you considered a distance learning course? You can also check our college list.
Maybe you prefer to study on your own, in which case next time you could consider attending a revision course closer to the exam for some extra support, or try to find some other CIMA students in your area so you can support each other.
If you did attend a taught course, was it suitable for you? Was it CIMA-accredited, so you could be confident of the quality of teaching and support?
Think about what parts of the course you enjoyed and what helped you learn the most. Was it group work, or time spent one to one with the tutor? Did you do all set assignments and learn from the feedback given, or did you miss deadlines? If you did miss deadlines, how can you change this next time?
How you studied
What techniques helped you learn the most effectively? Perhaps you found revision cards a useful tool to use on your train journey into work? Are there techniques that you haven't considered, such as MindPlanning®, to help you structure your answers to questions?
Did you follow a structured study plan, or did you just study when you could fit it in? Create your study plan for the next sitting based on your experience.
Where you studied
If you found studying at home too distracting, think about what you can change next time. For example, how about studying elsewhere like a local library, or college.
Action points
Think about:
- researching CIMA Learning accredited colleges in your area to find out the range of courses available
- practising more exam questions
- speaking to your employer about study and exam leave
- starting your study earlier with a structured study plan so you can fit in time for other activities
- having variety in your study periods
- trying some different techniques for remembering what you have learnt.
Related links
Effective studying
Where to study
Download the exam papers from the May 2008 exams.
Email your comments or suggestions about this article to velocity@cimaglobal.com.