CIMA Strategic Case Study – ‘How To Pass The Case Study’ Course
How to pass the strategic case study exam
The case studies are difficult to pass with around 40-50% of people typically failing each sitting.
That’s rarely because people don’t understand the theory – they’ve proven they can do this at the objective test exam stage.
It’s not because people don’t know the pre-seen – most people research this very well.
It’s primarily because people don’t fully understand what it takes to pass a case study.
They don’t know how to:
- produce answers that meet the examiner’s needs
- play the role assigned
in the exam - plan effectively
- manage their time to create balanced answers
- write answers that score high marks
Having helped thousands of students to pass the case study, Peter Stiff, Astranti’s case study expert, has pooled his years of experience teaching CIMA case studies and produced over 10 hours worth of video content to show you exactly what you need to pass your CIMA case study exam.
We’ve also written a comprehensive study guide for you to work through alongside the video series, so that you can cement your understanding and begin to apply it to your exam.
Why use the Astranti exam technique series?
Learn what it takes to pass
- Understand what the examiner says you need to do to pass
- Learn how to play the role you are assigned
in the company - Develop the key skills necessary to score highly
- Learn the typical reasons people fail and how to avoid these mistakes
Perfect your exam technique
- Master your time management – one of the key reasons why students fail the exam
- Develop your writing style based on what the markers say you should and shouldn’t do
- Learn how to create effective answer plans
Maximise your marks
- Review past students’ scripts to learn from their successes and failures
- Examine the examiner’s reports to see what the examiner is saying about the exam
- Learn how to review mock exams so you improve from mock to mock
Find out more and access our samples
Part 1 – what does it take to pass the exam?
- Chapter 1: The keys to passing the SCS
- Chapter 2: The exam
- Chapter 3: Your role
- Chapter 4: How to analyse the pre-seen
- Chapter 5: Answering the question
Total video running time: Over 3 hours
Sample chapter: The exam
Sample video: The exam
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Chapter 1 –
What are the most important factors in passing the CIMA Strategic Case Study exam and what do you need to do to achieve that? Our first video answers these key questions as well as providing a general introduction to the exam.
Chapter 2 –
In order to pass the
Chapter 3 –
CIMA provide you with a ‘role to play’ for your exam. What is that role and what does this mean for the way you answer the questions in the exam? The examiner has commented that people playing the role well score more marks, so this is critical to you passing.
Chapter 4 –
The CIMA examiners regularly comment that people do not use the pre-seen information enough in their exam. We provide a step by step approach to analysing the pre-
Chapter 5 – answering the question
The examiner’s most common criticism of student scripts is ‘not answering the question asked’. The problem is people not properly identifying the requirements – it’s harder than it sounds! This video shows you how to avoid this most common of errors.
Part 2 – exam planning and writing
- Chapter 6: Why you must plan your answers
- Chapter 7: The 9 stages of exam planning
- Chapter 8: Planning practice
- Chapter 9: Writing approach
- Chapter 10: Writing practice
- Additional Content: Lessons from student scripts
Total video running time: Over 4 hours
Sample chapter: Why you must plan your answers
Sample video: Why you must plan your answers
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Chapter 6 –
Planning is one of the keys to passing the CIMA Strategic Case Study, yet most people don’t plan. In this video, we outline why planning is so important and why it is key to passing.
Chapter 7 –
Our 9 step planning approach ensures you create answers that meet all the key requirements the examiner requires from a script. Follow these steps as the first stage in producing an excellent answer.
Chapter 8 –
You will only excel at planning through practice. Having been shown how to plan, it’s now your turn! We provide a question for you to plan, run through the solution and show you what an excellent plan for that question would look like.
Chapter 9 –
Using the right writing style makes a significant difference to the mark you score. So what is the style you should use that will enable you to score the most marks from the ideas you generate? This video demonstrates the style that markers say helps them give you the most marks.
Chapter 10 –
Can you produce a script like the good scripts you’ve just been shown? You will be given a question and will be shown how to evaluate that script to ensure you are writing your answer in a way that is scoring the most marks from the points made.
Additional content –
We examine a range of student Case Study scripts. You will see the good scripts, so you’ve got a clear idea what to produce in the exam, and the bad scripts, so you can learn what not to do!
Part 3 – how to score high marks on the pre-seen
- Chapter 11: How is the SCS marked?
- Chapter 12: Time management
- Chapter 13: The optimum approach to preparing for the SCS exam
- Chapter 14: Application to the SCS
- Additional content: The examiners’ analysis of a real student script
- Additional content: The marking grid
- Additional content: Review of examiner post exam reports
Total video running time: over 3 hours
Sample chapter: Preparing for the exam
Sample video: Preparing for the exam
More information...
Chapter 11 –
By understanding how the Strategic Case Study exam is marked, you can tailor your answer to ensure you pick up all the key marks and miss out things that aren’t scoring well.
Chapter 12 –
The most important skill to master to pass this exam is time management. That’s not just us saying that it’s the top answer to the regular post exam poll we conduct of our students. Why is this so important and how do you master your own time management in the exam? This video will show you.
Chapter 13 –
As you approach the exam what do you need to do to prepare in the best way? We will guide you through the steps you need to take to ensure you pass.
Chapter 14 –
Having the ability to apply your knowledge of the theory to the pre-seen scenario is crucial when preparing for the SCS exam. This section provides a series of templates and guides for you to do just this, linking in with some of the key theory and models from operational level.
Additional content – the examiner’s analysis of a real student script
There’s nothing better than hearing what the CIMA examiner wants from your Case Study exam. Luckily the examiner has provided us with an analysis of a real exam script with her commentary on what’s good and how it can be improved. We analyse this script and her comments and pick out the key learning points so you can produce a script which meets her needs.
Additional content –
Our marking grid is tailored to give you feedback on the key areas of exam technique required to pass the SCS exam. In this video, we review each of these key areas and show you how to use the feedback given from your marked mocks to improve.
Additional content –
At the end of each exam, the examiner provides guidance on the key strengths and weaknesses in that set of exams. By examining a range of reports over a number of years we learn what she is looking for from your script, what you need to do to score well and what traps you need to avoid. We also examine how her feedback has changed over the years so you understand her current thinking.
What our students say
Please see our testimonials page for our latest student reviews. Here are a couple of examples:
“Clear, to the point with a very human touch to the delivery of the materials. Covers everything and highlights so much better than any other provider the “must-knows” vs. the “nice-to-knows” in achieving the pass. All this and easily the cheapest best value for money provider around. 5 stars. Can’t recommend enough”
“I took the Management Case Study with exceptions and passed on first try! I used the case study video and study texts. The essay/letter/email writing approach was crucial for me for writing detailed, to the point and timed answers to the prompts.”
Purchase the ‘how to pass the case study’ course
SCS ‘How To Pass The Case Study’ Course
£165
The ‘How To Pass The Case Study’ Course is also part of our SCS Premium and Essentials Courses.
Head to the course page to purchase.