March 2016 Christian Gagiano ACMA, CGMA

Learning Support Manager

Exam Success - Objective Tests

• Getting started - understanding objective tests (OT)

• Study tips

• Exam techniques for objective tests

Agenda

2

Getting started

3

The 2015 CIMA Qualification

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• 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

Objective Tests

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• Multiple choice

• Multiple response

• Drag and drop

• Hot spot

• Short answer (normally calculation)

• Drop down

• Matching

• Ranking

• Sentence completion

OTQs - Not just MCQs

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Multiple response

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Drag and drop

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Drag and drop

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Short Calculation

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Numerical question

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Data analysis

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Scenario based question

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• 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

Assuring competency

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• 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

Exam logistics

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• 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)

Exam day

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Study tips

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Self assessment and planning to win

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Exemptions

?

Last attempt

?How much

Time ?

When to

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

Understanding your syllabus weighting

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Understanding syllabus requirements

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Lead Learning

Outcome

Component Learning

Outcome

Indicative

syllabus content

• 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

Understanding syllabus requirements

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23

Case studies(Long and short answer essay questions)

Objective tests

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4

3

2

1

• 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

Verb Hierarchy - example

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• 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!

Study tips

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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

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• 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.

Fill in the blank (number entry) questions

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Error message if you try to enter a character or symbol that is not permitted (e.g. £ or % ) !

Rounding

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• 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.

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

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• 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

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

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Cat. Question type Confidence Time

1

Short questions where you feel confident about the

content, therefore quick to answer

2

Longer questions where you feel confident about the

approach required

3

Short questions where you are less confident and will

need to give more consideration / thought / workings

4

Longer questions, with more complex data where you

need to consider the approach required to answer the

question

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

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• 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.

Suggested approach – Step 1

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Step 2: Review incomplete questions

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• 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

Suggested approach – Step 2

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• 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.

Suggested approach – Step 3

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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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• 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.

Suggested approach – Step 4

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• 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)

In OT Exams, there is NO:

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Pay special attention to multi-response questions

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Pay special attention to multi-response questions

• 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

Objective test – exam result

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• 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

Exam tips

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THANK YOU

©CIMA