Skip to content
Eighty Marks
Sign inTry free

Strategic level · SCS

SCS past questions

Every sub-task set in the last 3 Strategic Case Study pre-seens CIMA has published materials for, summarised in our own words and sorted by core activity.

Topic map · Filter the questions · See how we'd mark three of them · All levels

Topic map

How often each topic came up across all 108 SCS sub-tasks in the 3 sittings we cover. These are patterns from past exams, not a forecast: CIMA can test any part of the syllabus.

Topics by sitting

Sub-tasks on each SCS topic in each sitting, oldest sitting first. The number is in every cell; darker cells mean more sub-tasks.
TopicNov 2024 & Feb 2025RotomyneMay & Aug 2025LeothayreNov 2025 & Feb 2026CewmlatorTotal
Strategic choice, mission and SAF33410
Scenario planning2316
Ecosystem and environment analysis1135
Stakeholders3306
Political risk2226
ESG and non-financial capitals0134
Acquisitions and divestments3238
Share price and market reaction3249
Raising finance1225
Dividend policy2103
Currency risk2215
Risk management and the risk register3216
Ethics2439
Internal controls0235
Internal audit2125
Boards, governance and pay44412
Cyber and digital security3104
Key (sub-tasks per cell):
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

Topics, most tested first

  1. 1
    Boards, governance and payOften tested

    12 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 12 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  2. 2
    Strategic choice, mission and SAFOften tested

    10 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 9 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  3. 3
    Share price and market reactionOften tested

    9 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 9 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  4. 4
    EthicsOften tested

    9 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 9 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  5. 5
    Acquisitions and divestmentsSometimes tested

    8 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 6 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  6. 6
    Political riskSometimes tested

    6 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 6 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  7. 7
    Risk management and the risk registerSometimes tested

    6 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 6 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  8. 8
    Scenario planningSometimes tested

    6 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 6 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  9. 9
    StakeholdersSometimes tested

    6 sub-tasks · 2 of 3 sittings · 6 of 18 variants · last seen May & Aug 2025

  10. 10
    Ecosystem and environment analysisSometimes tested

    5 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 5 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  11. 11
    Internal auditSometimes tested

    5 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 5 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  12. 12
    Raising financeSometimes tested

    5 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 5 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  13. 13
    Internal controlsSometimes tested

    5 sub-tasks · 2 of 3 sittings · 5 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  14. 14
    Currency riskSometimes tested

    5 sub-tasks · 3 of 3 sittings · 4 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  15. 15
    ESG and non-financial capitalsRarely tested

    4 sub-tasks · 2 of 3 sittings · 4 of 18 variants · last seen Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

  16. 16
    Cyber and digital securityRarely tested

    4 sub-tasks · 2 of 3 sittings · 3 of 18 variants · last seen May & Aug 2025

  17. 17
    Dividend policyRarely tested

    3 sub-tasks · 2 of 3 sittings · 3 of 18 variants · last seen May & Aug 2025

How we band topics
  • Sittings: 2 points if the topic came up in every sitting we cover, 1 point if it came up in more than one.
  • Variants: 2 points if it came up in at least half of the exam variants, 1 point if in at least a quarter.
  • Blueprint: 1 point if its core activity has the top time weighting at the level. Where every core activity has the same weighting, nobody gets this point.
  • 4 or more points is "Often tested", 2 or 3 is "Sometimes tested", and fewer is "Rarely tested".
  • "Fits this pre-seen" is separate: it shows when the pre-seen's industry or key themes use words linked to the topic (our summary stands in until key themes are written).

It is a count of what CIMA has asked before, not a forecast. Any part of the syllabus can come up.

Core activities against the blueprint

Each core activity's share of the 108 sub-tasks, next to its blueprint weighting. The blueprint weights exam time and sub-tasks vary in length, so treat this as a rough check.

  • A StrategyWithin range

    19% of sub-tasks (21) · blueprint 15–25% of exam time

  • B Ecosystem and environmentWithin range

    25% of sub-tasks (27) · blueprint 15–25% of exam time

  • C FinancingWithin range

    19% of sub-tasks (20) · blueprint 15–25% of exam time

  • D RiskWithin range

    20% of sub-tasks (22) · blueprint 15–25% of exam time

  • E Control environmentWithin range

    17% of sub-tasks (18) · blueprint 15–25% of exam time

Filter the questions

Showing 22 of 108 sub-tasks. Clear filters

Nov 2025 & Feb 2026 · Cewmlator

CIMA's post-exam materials for Nov 2025 & Feb 2026

Electric vehicles · 7 sub-tasks

  • V1 · Task 1(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of asking dealer technicians to dismantle high-voltage batteries.

    Ethics

  • V1 · Task 2(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Risk register treatment for sharing confidential strategy with dealerships.

    Risk management and the risk register

  • V2 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Extra internal controls to stop charging point customers being defrauded.

    Internal controls

  • V3 · Task 1(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Controls to prevent tampering with vehicle control software.

    Internal controls

  • V4 · Task 2(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of buying sole rights to a process and shutting rivals out.

    Ethics

  • V5 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Internal controls to prevent bribery.

    Internal controls

  • V6 · Task 2(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of delaying R&D to gain leverage with governments over the factory site.

    Ethics

May & Aug 2025 · Leothayre

CIMA's post-exam materials for May & Aug 2025

Satellites · 8 sub-tasks

  • V1 · Task 2(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Whether the campaign should have been in the risk register with a mitigation plan.

    Risk management and the risk register

  • V1 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Whether the company's environmental impact can be justified by its mission and vision.

    Ethics

  • V2 · Task 1(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethical conflicts for a manager and a client negotiating a contract.

    Ethics

  • V2 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Arguments for introducing a whistleblowing policy.

    Boards, governance and pay

  • V3 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Risks of staff working remotely at a client's site and updating software over its network.

    Cyber and digital security

  • V4 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of offering staff more pay to accept a dangerous assignment.

    Ethics

  • V5 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Whether to mention a prototype launch in intellectual, human and social capital disclosures.

    ESG and non-financial capitals

  • V6 · Task 2(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of a director choosing not to follow up a conversation with a client's finance director.

    Ethics

Nov 2024 & Feb 2025 · Rotomyne

CIMA's post-exam materials for Nov 2024 & Feb 2025

Lithium mining · 7 sub-tasks

  • V1 · Task 2(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Evaluating the risk register's mitigation of demand volatility.

    Risk management and the risk register

  • V3 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Factors in keeping the licence to operate in host countries.

    Risk management and the risk register

  • V4 · Task 1(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Risks of continuing with traditional mining methods.

    Risk management and the risk register

  • V4 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethical issues raised in an employee's email.

    Ethics

  • V5 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk

    Ethics of agreeing to build a hospital in the host country.

    Ethics

  • V6 · Task 1(b)Core activity D: Risk

    For and against accepting economic currency risk rather than mitigating it.

    Currency risk

  • V6 · Task 3(b)Core activity D: Risk

    Whether to pay a ransom after a ransomware attack.

    Cyber and digital security

How Eighty Marks works on it

Three past SCS tasks, each matched to a practice task on the same topic in our question bank, with an illustrative marked answer: a score out of 150 against the pass line of 80, the four competencies, and the one thing to fix first.

The past task

Testing a proposal against SAF

SCS · Nov 2024 & Feb 2025 · Rotomyne · V4 · Task 1(b) · Core activity B (Ecosystem and environment)

Evaluating a proposal for suitability, acceptability and feasibility.

Practise it in Eighty Marks

Nearshore centre or automation at home? · Strategic choice · set in Vennlisk

Try a free SCS task

Illustrative example

86 / 150

PASS LINE 80 · ABOVE

  • TechnicalStrong: all three criteria applied
  • BusinessGood: linked to the company's position
  • PeopleNeeds work: key groups ignored
  • LeadershipGood: firm recommendation

Fix first: Acceptability is about stakeholders: say how each key group would respond, and why.

Sample: an invented mark to show the shape of our feedback, not a real student's. AI marks are a guide to help you improve. They are not CIMA marks and not a prediction of your result.

The past task

Managing currency risk on a payment

SCS · May & Aug 2025 · Leothayre · V6 · Task 2(b) · Core activity B (Ecosystem and environment)

Two ways to manage currency risk on a payment to an overseas supplier.

Practise it in Eighty Marks

Hedging a new euro contract · Currency risk · set in Vennlisk

Try a free SCS task

Illustrative example

75 / 150

PASS LINE 80 · BELOW

  • TechnicalGood: forward contract and option explained
  • BusinessNeeds work: payment timing not used
  • PeopleFair: treasury team named
  • LeadershipFair: choice made

Fix first: Use the payment date and amount to show which hedge fits, instead of describing both in general.

Sample: an invented mark to show the shape of our feedback, not a real student's. AI marks are a guide to help you improve. They are not CIMA marks and not a prediction of your result.

The past task

Controls to prevent bribery

SCS · Nov 2025 & Feb 2026 · Cewmlator · V5 · Task 3(a) · Core activity D (Risk)

Internal controls to prevent bribery.

Practise it in Eighty Marks

Overtime claims at the Harrowby centre · Payroll controls and fraud · set in Vennlisk

Try a free SCS task

Illustrative example

92 / 150

PASS LINE 80 · ABOVE

  • TechnicalStrong: preventive and detective controls
  • BusinessGood: fits how the company operates
  • PeopleGood: training and whistleblowing
  • LeadershipNeeds work: tone from the top missing

Fix first: Start with what the board itself must do and say, because controls fail when leaders are seen to ignore them.

Sample: an invented mark to show the shape of our feedback, not a real student's. AI marks are a guide to help you improve. They are not CIMA marks and not a prediction of your result.

Practise these skills in your own pre-seen

Timed SCS tasks in the current pre-seen, marked in about a minute. Try one task free, no card needed.

Try a task freeStrategic Case Study practice