CIMA PQ Exam BlueprintsDemystifying exams to accelerate careers.

CIMA PQ Exam Blueprints

Employabilityour #1 priority

- Demystifying exams to accelerate skills acquisition- Future-proofed careers in finance by design

Future-proof content

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E3: Strategic Management

A. The strategy processB. Analysing the organisational ecosystemC. Generating strategic optionsD. Making strategic choicesE. Strategic controlF. Digital strategy

P3: Risk Management

A. Enterprise riskB. Strategic riskC. Internal controlsD. Cyber risks

F3: Financial Strategy

A. Financial policy decisionsB. Sources of long term fundsC. Financial risksD. Business valuation

E2: Managing Performance

A. Business models and value creationB. Managing people performanceC. Managing projects

P2: Advanced Management Accounting

A. Managing the costs of creating valueB. Capital investment decision makingC. Managing and controlling the performance

of organisational unitsD. Risk and control

F2: Advanced Financial Reporting

A. Financing capital projectsB. Financial reporting standardsC. Group accountsD. Integrated reportingE. Analysing financial statements

E1: Managing Finance in a Digital World

A. Role of finance functionB. Technology in a digital worldC. Data and information in a digital worldD. Shape and structure of the finance functionE. Finance interacting with the organisation

P1: Management Accounting

A. Cost Accounting for decision and controlB. Budgeting and budgetary controlC. Short-term commercial decision-makingD. Risk and uncertainty in the short term

F1: Financial Reporting

A. Regulatory environmentB. Financial statementsC. Principles of taxationD. Managing cash and working capital

500+‘I can’ statements

CV worthy achievements

Real world job tasks simulated in examinations to drive real world job performance

Operational level Management level Strategic level

Assessment Approach The CIMA PQ consists of 3 levels, each contains 4 exams.

Each level culminates in a with a capstone Case Study Exam, a business simulation, made up of real world job tasks.

The blueprints articulate and define the job tasks in each exam that the student will need to be able to perform in the exam and in the workplace.

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E1 OT

P1 OT

F1 OT

E2 OT

P2 OT

F2 OT

E3 OT

P3 OT

F3 OT

Operational case study exam

Business simulation: Entry level finance role

Award: CIMA Dip in MA

Management case study exam

Business simulation: Finance Manager

Award: CIMA Adv Dip in MA

Strategic case study exam

Business simulation: Senior Finance Manager

Employers and practitioners were asked:

‘How important is it that the role can competently perform this work activity?’

Job tasks are simulated in the examinations.

This ‘ringing endorsement’ strongly demonstrates the direct link between passing the exam to employability.

What happens in the workplace, happens in the exam.

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Operational level Management level Strategic level

Highly important Moderately important Minimally important Not important

The Case Study Examination business simulations focus on work activities that are at least risk of automation.

The CIMA PQ futureproofs careers.

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Future-proof behaviours and competencies

Focus of the case study exam business simulations

As the number of entry level finance roles contract, the importance of experience gained through simulation increases.

The CIMA Case Study Examinations simulate real world job tasks, developing experience and allowing entry into mid level finance roles.

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Future-proofing career entry

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Strategic Level Case Study Exam

Management Level Case Study Exam

Operational Level Case Study Exam

Senior Finance Manager simulation

Finance Manager simulation

Entry level simulation

The CIMA Professional Qualification Exam Blueprints were co-created with stakeholders including BPP, Kaplan, Employers and Subject Matter Experts.

By co-creating the materials, all parties involved in the training and certification of students are working to a shared vision, driving the efficiency of skills acquisition for employability.

Demystified exams = rapid skills acquisition

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Future-proofing through regular updates

Feedback and requests for change from:

• Learning partners• Exam faculty• Employers• Customers

Exam performance data

Updates to IAS/IFRS

Latest CIMA research

Annual update

Release in April for examinations starting the next January

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Annual blueprint

publication

Learning material & teaching

Examination development

Why blueprints?

Best possible student outcomes:

• Increased confidence

• Increased quality of learning provision

• Increased rate of progression

• I can statements = real world job performance

As our most comprehensive statement to date on CIMA Professional Qualification Examinations, the Blueprints tells students what to and how to prepare for the Case Study Examinations and the Objective Tests.

The blueprints also orientate learning partners and employers about the judging parameters and the capabilities of finance professionals for tomorrow.

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Blueprints to success

www.cimaglobal.com/examblueprints

Version 1 applicable for examinations from November 2019 to January 2021

Annual update cycle

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Blueprint features

• Exam content for the examinable period

• Applicable dates and change control

• Verb list

• Exam weightings

• Information on marking, grading and results

• Examinable legislation

• Maths tables and formulae

1 blueprint per levelprovides details of

• the case study role simulation examination

• the 3 underpinning subjects that will be assessed by objective tests

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Demystifying the examinations

Objective test task statements: state what someone should be able to know and do

Objective test task statements articulate the subject-based knowledge, skills and techniques that will be integrated in the case study examination

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Examination by simulation

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E pillar objective test

P pillar objective test

F pillar objective test

Case study exam

Business simulation

• Entry Level Finance Professional

• Finance Manager

• Senior Finance Manager

The simulation is made up of 3 aspects:

1. The role of finance

2. The role simulated

3. Real world job tasks

Simulation: Senior Finance Manager

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Strategic case study exam

Business simulation:

Senior Finance Manager

E3 OT: Strategic Management

P3 OT: Risk Management

F3 OT: Financial Strategy

The role of finance is to create information, generate insight, and have influence and impact.

The Senior Finance Manageradvises the organisation’s leaders in the development of business strategy to create value.

The five core activities are:• Develop business strategy• Evaluate business

ecosystem and business environment

• Recommend financing strategies

• Evaluate and mitigate risk• Recommend and maintain a

sound control environment

Performing the role: Senior Finance Manager case study examination

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Candidate’s Role: Senior Finance Manager for Globo TV

Organisation: GloboTV, based in a dominant regional power that has global aspirations

Sector/industry: Media/digital –streaming TV

Senior Finance Manger role simulation – before the exam

Organisation’s strategy: To penetrate the markets for streaming television in three continentsScenario: GloboTV is expanding both in the First World and in newly developed countries in which its home country wishes to establish commercial roots.Included in Pre-seen: Organisation structure and information (financial and non-financial); product details; industry background; comparison with other broadcasters; political background

Pre-seen material provides the opportunity for immersion in the scenario and familiarisation with the organisation and industry

Work on pre-seen will require learners to integrate previous areas of study and think holistically – it is the first stage of the simulation

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Senior Finance Manger role simulation – during the examSection 1 Section 2 Section 3

Time allowed 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutesTrigger The Government of GloboTV’s home country

is keen to expand the country’s commercial presence in Southern Continent, a region that is rich in minerals and where several countries have made the transition to developed.

GloboTV is considering the acquisition of a local internet provider, with a view to enlarging it until it becomes a regional force in support of GloboTV’s strategy

GloboTV is concerned that its expansion in the new market will be regarded as a potentially threatening act by other developed nation states. It is concerned that it could be vulnerable to cyber-attack by covert agencies from other countries.

Task • The countries in the region have inconsistent internet access and GloboTV must evaluate whether it should collaborate with local internet providers to add suitable infrastructure

• Discuss the implications of having to maintain a sound relationship with the home country government in this context

• Discuss the funding implications of taking a significant loan from the home country government to assist in developing infrastructure

• Selection of a suitable acquisition target

• What are the ethical issues associated with GloboTV seeking such local dominance?

• How might the performance of the team taking charge of the acquired company be rewarded?

• Evaluate risk of intervention • Recommend responses to mitigate

those risks • Respond to attempts to infiltrate the

systems using “social engineering” • Discuss need for IT director

Core activity A. Develop business strategyB. Evaluate business ecosystem and

business environment C. Recommend financing strategies

A. Develop business strategyD. Evaluate and mitigate riskB. Evaluate business ecosystem and business environment

D. Evaluate and mitigate riskE. Recommend and maintain a sound control environment

Case study examinations – key features

• Synoptic examination – capstone for the level

• Available 4 times per year

• 3 hours to complete 3-4 role-based tasks

• Tests all core activities in each examination

• Responses to be framed as business communications – improved word processing functionality will be available *new*

• Post exam - feedback on performance by each core activity *new*

• First exams in February 2020

One case study examination per level simulating the roles of

• Entry level finance professional

• Finance Manager• Senior Finance

Manager

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Objective tests – key features

• Available on demand

• 90 minutes

• 60 items

• Range of OT item types: multiple choice, multiple response, fill in the blank (number entry), hot spot, drag & drop

• Tests the breadth of the syllabus – all lead and component outcomes

• First exams in November 2019

1 objective test per subject – 3 at each level

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Assessing skills

Verb-led task statements (objective tests) and core activities and assessment outcomes (case study exams) lead to actions that can be observed and measured

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Skilllevel

Skill

5 Evaluation The examination or assessment of problems and the use of judgment to draw conclusions

4 AnalysisThe examination and study of interrelationships of separate areas in order to identify causes and find evidence to support inferences

3 ApplicationThe use or demonstration of knowledge, concepts or techniques

2&1 Remembering and understandingThe perception and comprehension of the significance of an area utilising knowledge gained

Blueprints supporting skills development

• 500+ task statements developed across the 2019 professional qualification

• Demystifying the examinations through increased clarity about what candidates will be required to do in the assessments

• For example:

Targeted task statements, signifying specific role-based activities that will be tested, drive learning

After completing exams, candidates can confidently state “I can…” perform the tasks employers require

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F3 (2015 qualification) F3 (2019 qualification)16 verb-led component learning outcomes

80 verb-led task statements

CIMA PQ Exam Blueprints

Employabilityour #1 priority

- Demystifying exams to accelerate skills acquisition- Futureproofed careers in finance by design

www.cimaglobal.com/examblueprints

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