Exam Success - Objective Tests

March 2016 Christian Gagiano ACMA, CGMA

Learning Support Manager
Agenda

• Getting started - understanding objective tests (OT)

• Study tips

• Exam techniques for objective tests

2
Getting started

3
The 2015 CIMA Qualification

4
Objective Tests

• All certificate level and

professional level subjects
are examined by Objective
Test Questions (OTQs)
• Assessment can be taken
anytime of the year whenever
you are ready
• Exams can be taken at over
5,000 Pearson VUE centres
around the world

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OTQs - Not just MCQs

• Multiple choice
• Multiple response
• Drag and drop
• Hot spot
• Short answer (normally calculation)
• Drop down
• Matching
• Ranking
• Sentence completion

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Multiple response

7
Drag and drop

8
Drag and drop

9
Short Calculation

10
Numerical question

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Data analysis

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Scenario based question

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Assuring competency

• OT’s test technical competency across all syllabus areas

• Guarantee that all component learning outcomes will be tested
• Targeted questions to ensure thorough understanding &
proficiency
• Easy to answer but not an easy test

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Exam logistics

• Duration: 90 minutes (+ 15 min mandatory tutorial)

• 60 objective test questions
• Computer marked
• Pass mark = 100 scaled score (out of 150)
• Result given immediately
• Available year-round
• Exam registration through MY CIMA up to 48hrs before
examination

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Exam day

• Bring TWO forms of identification (Passport/ driving license/

credit card)
• Possible to bring your own calculator in 2015 (selected models)
• Guidance on exam day
(https://connect.cimaglobal.com/general-info/day-exam)

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Study tips

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Self assessment and planning to win

Exemptions Last attempt How much When to

? ? Time ? complete ?

E1 P1 F1 OCS

150 hrs 150 hrs 150 hrs 60 hrs 40 hrs

10-14 weeks 10-14 weeks 10-14 weeks 6-8 weeks

9-12 months to complete a level

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Understanding your syllabus weighting

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Understanding syllabus requirements

Lead Learning Component Learning Indicative

Outcome Outcome syllabus content

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Understanding syllabus requirements

• Lead learning outcome/ Component learning outcome

– Define the skill or ability that students should be able to exhibit in an
examination
– Demonstrate the approach likely to be taken in examination questions
– All learning outcomes are examinable

• Indicative syllabus knowledge

– Show typical topics that should be covered
– Non-exhaustive and not restricted to those listed

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5
Case studies
4 (Long and short answer essay questions)

3 Objective tests

1
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Verb Hierarchy - example

• A1(a) – discuss the different purposes of organisations

• Discuss – Level 4 – Examine in detail by argument

• High level verb. Students are expected
– to have the knowledge of different purposes of organisations (e.g. profit/
non-profit)
– To be able to apply the knowledge (e.g. to a scenario if given)
– To present an argument from more than one angle
• This LO can be tested in both OTQ and Case Study

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Study tips

• Plan ahead – fail to plan = plan to fail

• Must cover the full syllabus
• Allocate time according to weighting
• Focus on learning outcomes rather than on content alone
• Make good use of all study resources
• Practice under exam conditions
• Form a study group and be supported
• Find ways that work for you – own your study!

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Exam techniques – objective tests

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Know your platform

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Fill in the blank (number entry) questions

• Currency symbols or other characters or symbols (e.g. %) –

you do not need to enter these.
• Decimal point – you need to enter the decimal point but no
other characters as above (e.g. For £10,500.80 input as
10500.80
• Probability or a correlation coefficient – you should include
the leading zero (e.g. 0.5 not .5)
• Negative numbers (e.g. -1000) – use the minus sign.
• Sensible rounding - small range of answers accepted.

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Fill in the blank (number entry) questions

Error message if you try to enter a character or

symbol that is not permitted (e.g. £ or % ) !

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Rounding

• How many decimal places or significant figures? - guidance

given in the question
• If no guidance given?
- give your answer to the nearest whole number (error
message if you attempt to give an answer to, for example, 2
decimal places when a whole number is required.
• Do not round until you have completed your calculations.

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To access
Tables and
Formulae
The size of the
tables and formulae
can be adjusted and
moved across the
screen.
Time management in OT Exams

• 90 minutes and 60 questions = 90 seconds per

question
• Each question is equal in marks weighting
• Variety of question types - some questions require
more or less time, but overall assessment is
balanced
• Time management strategy is based on the
question style and time required for reading,
thinking and calculations
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Short questions, quick to answer with confidence
Longer questions where the approach to answer is known with
confidence
Short questions where more consideration of the options is
required
Longer questions, with more complex data where the approach
required to answer the question has to be considered

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4 types of questions

Cat. Question type Confidence Time

Short questions where you feel confident about the

1 content, therefore quick to answer

Longer questions where you feel confident about the

2 approach required

Short questions where you are less confident and will

3 need to give more consideration / thought / workings

Longer questions, with more complex data where you

4 need to consider the approach required to answer the
question

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Step 1: Quick skim through using the ‘Next’ button

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Suggested approach – Step 1

• Take about 10 to 15 minutes to click “Next” through all 60 items,

identifying and answering the questions in category 1
• Brief ‘knowledge’ and ‘definition’ questions where the correct
answer is identified quickly without the need for re-reading of the
stem or the options.
• At the end of the first run-through, you may have answered 10 to
15 questions with confidence.
• This confidence will allow you to relax a little and approach the
remaining questions more calmly.

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Step 2: Review incomplete questions

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Suggested approach – Step 2

• Use the function “Review Incomplete Items” in the review screen

• Identify questions from category 2
• You know the approach to answering and also know that you
would prefer to have less time pressure in answering.
• Such questions would include those requiring analysis of a short
scenario / set of data or calculations where you know what those
calculations need to be.
• Depending on the subject being examined, this could get you up
to another 20 to 30 questions

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Suggested approach – Step 3

• Use the function “Review Incomplete Items” again, this time

tackling the questions in categories 3 and 4
• You know that you have to think in more detail about the options
or workings.
• Do not spend too long on any one question (a maximum
• of 3 minutes).
• If you think you need more time to review a question, submit
your “best” answer and click the “Flag” button so that you can
review the question in any time remaining after all questions
have been attempted.
• Use any remaining time to review flagged questions, making
sure that you consider the options or calculations carefully.

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Step 3: Using the flag function

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Step 3: Using the flag function

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Step 4: Ensuring no incomplete questions

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Suggested approach – Step 4

• After 85 minutes, a window will pop up to alert you that there are
5 minutes remaining.
• Return to the review screen; click “Review Incomplete Items” and
ensure that an answer is submitted for every question.
• At the end of the 90 minutes available, the exam will close down.
• All complete answers, including those which have been flagged
will be recorded for scoring. Any which are incomplete will earn
no marks.

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In OT Exams, there is NO:

• Negative marking (for wrong answers, you won’t lose marks)

• Partial marking (you either earn a mark or don’t earn any marks.
i.e. only a correct and complete answer will earn the marks, and
partial answers will earn no marks)

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Pay special attention to multi-response questions

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Pay special attention to multi-response questions

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Objective test – exam result

• Preliminary pass/ fail when leaving the exam centre

• Overall grade (pass or fail) is based on overall performance on
the exam
• Against each syllabus topic area you will also receive a grade of
either Proficient or Not Proficient
– Proficient = scored above the boundary required to demonstrate
competence
– Non Proficient = scored below the boundary required to demonstrate
competence

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Exam tips

• Know your system

http://www.pearsonvue.com/cima/practiceexams/

• Time Management
https://connect.cimaglobal.com/general-info/exam-preparation

• Careful question reading is a must. If in doubt, read again

• Don’t miss any question or leave it incomplete (no marks)
• Try to get the easy marks first
• All questions carry equal marks but they are not equal in time

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 THANK YOU

©CIMA