Past questions
What CIMA has asked, sorted by core activity
Every sub-task from the three most recent pre-seens at each level that CIMA has published materials for, in one line of our own words, filed under the core activity CIMA's marking guidance says it tested.
Choose a level
- Operational levelOCS past questions200sub-tasksSoPa (May & Aug 2026), SumTrix (Nov 2025 & Feb 2026), Halfpenny (May & Aug 2025)Most tested so far: Budgeting and control; Decisions under risk; Variance analysisSee the OCS database
- Management levelMCS past questions144sub-tasksCartn (May & Aug 2026), Ressett (Nov 2025 & Feb 2026), Trimayr (May & Aug 2025)Most tested so far: Business risks; Responsibility centres and performance measures; Projects and project teamsSee the MCS database
- Strategic levelSCS past questions108sub-tasksCewmlator (Nov 2025 & Feb 2026), Leothayre (May & Aug 2025), Rotomyne (Nov 2024 & Feb 2025)Most tested so far: Boards, governance and pay; Strategic choice, mission and SAF; Share price and market reactionSee the SCS database
What the core activities are
CIMA's exam blueprint for each case study lists the core activities of the role you play: five at Management and Strategic level, six at Operational. Every exam covers all of them, within the time weightings shown, and CIMA's marking guidance names the core activity each sub-task tested. That is how we have sorted the database.
Operational Case Study
- ADiscuss costing information to support differing needs of the business12–18% of exam time · 25 sub-tasks here
- BDiscuss budget information for the purposes of planning and control17–25% of exam time · 41 sub-tasks here
- CAnalyse financial and non-financial information to communicate insights about organisational performance17–25% of exam time · 40 sub-tasks here
- DApply relevant financial reporting standards and corporate governance, ethical and tax principles7–13% of exam time · 27 sub-tasks here
- EAnalyse information to support short-term decision making17–25% of exam time · 45 sub-tasks here
- FDiscuss the management of working capital12–18% of exam time · 22 sub-tasks here
From the 2026–2027 Operational level blueprint.
Management Case Study
- AEvaluate opportunities to add value15–25% of exam time · 28 sub-tasks here
- BImplement senior management decisions15–25% of exam time · 27 sub-tasks here
- CManage performance and costs to create sustainable value15–25% of exam time · 30 sub-tasks here
- DMeasure performance15–25% of exam time · 30 sub-tasks here
- EManage internal and external stakeholders15–25% of exam time · 29 sub-tasks here
From the 2026–2027 Management level blueprint.
Strategic Case Study
- ADevelop business strategy15–25% of exam time · 21 sub-tasks here
- BEvaluate business ecosystem and business environment15–25% of exam time · 27 sub-tasks here
- CRecommend financing strategies15–25% of exam time · 20 sub-tasks here
- DEvaluate and mitigate risk15–25% of exam time · 22 sub-tasks here
- ERecommend and maintain a sound control environment15–25% of exam time · 18 sub-tasks here
From the 2026–2027 Strategic level blueprint.
How to use this
Past tasks won't come up again in the same company, but the skills do. Use the database to see what each core activity looks like in a real exam, then practise it in Eighty Marks.
- 01Pick your level, then filter by core activity to see how CIMA has tested it across recent pre-seens.
- 02Look for patterns: the same skills come back in new companies, such as variances at OCS or SAF at SCS.
- 03Practise the topics you find hardest in your own pre-seen, timed, and get them marked.
- 04Then read CIMA's own suggested answers and marking guidance for the tasks you want to study in depth.