IMA’s CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) Candidate Webinar Series provides can’t-miss advice for anyone preparing for the exam. Led by experienced professionals and IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) staff, these webinars are offered three times per year, each focusing on a different aspect of the test experience: mastering the multiple-choice questions; insights into the essay section; and test-taking tips. (And if you’re not in the CMA program yet and want to learn more about the benefits of certification, check out the “Upskill with the CMA” webinar taking place on May 6 at 4 p.m. ET. There’s still time to register.)
The most recent candidate webinar, “The CMA Exam: Test-Taking Tips and Strategies,” took place on April 27 and featured presenters Lisa Beaudoin, CMA, CSCA, CAE, IMA senior director of business development; Amy Ford, CMA, CPA, senior instructor, Western Illinois University; and Stephanie Hartnett, CMA candidate, CPA, operations manager, SmartBooks.
In their session, Beaudoin, Ford, and Hartnett covered a variety of topics candidates need to know. They began with an overview of the exam content, followed by some general study tips, such as:
- Establish a regular study schedule – avoid cramming
- Don’t spend too much time studying content you already know; get out of your comfort zone and study topics you find difficult and challenging
- Create your own flashcards with formulas or terms
- Write out your own notes, in your own words, to enhance the learning process
They also discussed what to bring to the testing center (forms of ID, calculator policy) as well as important policies (no food or drink allowed, for example). Next came advice about managing the multiple-choice questions: answer in your mind before looking at the options; look out for words like “except,” “least,” and “most”; answer all questions, since an unanswered question is automatically incorrect. Finally, they covered the essay questions and offered helpful strategies: be brief and to the point (it’s OK to use bullets); read the entire question to understand what is being asked of you; and much more.
An archived version of the full webinar will be available soon on the IMA site: Look for it on this webpage.
The next webinar, to be held on August 16, will focus on “The CMA Exam Essays: Everything You Need to Know!” hosted by Beaudoin and Sue Mullen, CMA, CSCA, CPA, professional instructor, Ashland University. This session will discuss how to optimize performance on the essay section of the exams for a better score. Areas covered include:
- How the essay responses are graded
- How to maximize your point-earning potential on each essay
- How to manage your time wisely
Registration details will be made available as the deadline approaches.
Visit the CMA candidate webinar series to learn more (Note: IMA member login is required).