Achievable CMA Part 1

Our CMA Part 1 course is currently in development and is a work-in-progress.

Wrapping up

4 min read

You’ve now completed the Achievable CMA Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics course. At this point, you should have a solid understanding of the financial planning, performance management, cost management, internal control, and analytics concepts tested on the exam.

The CMA designation is valued around the world because it demonstrates the ability to apply accounting and finance knowledge to real business decisions. Completing this course is an important step toward earning that credential.

Testing registration

To sit for the CMA Part 1 exam, you must first join the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and enroll in the CMA program. Once enrolled, you’ll be able to register for your exam through your IMA account.

The CMA Part 1 exam is offered during three annual testing windows:

January-February
May-June
September-October

After registering, you’ll receive instructions for scheduling your exam appointment with Prometric.

For the latest registration requirements and deadlines, visit the IMA CMA Program page.

Additional information

Here are some important details to keep in mind as you prepare for the official exam:

Passing score: The CMA exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 500. A score of 360 or higher is required to pass.
Exam length: The exam lasts 4 hours and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 case-based questions.
Testing locations: The CMA exam is administered through Prometric testing centers worldwide. Remote testing isn’t available.
Calculator policy: You may bring one approved calculator: a small battery- or solar-powered calculator limited to six functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, and percentage) that isn’t programmable and doesn’t use tape, or a Texas Instruments BA II Plus, HP 10bII+, HP 12c, or HP 12c Platinum. The older Hewlett-Packard 10BII is also valid. Prometric makes the final decision on whether to accept a calculator, and the exam software has a calculator of its own.
Scratch paper: Prometric provides paper and a pencil at the testing center.
Score reporting: Exam results are emailed and posted to your online profile about six weeks from the end of the month in which you tested.
Retake policy: You can take an exam part only once in a testing window, but you can sit for as many windows as you need during your three-year period. Each retake requires a new exam registration and its fee. If you don’t pass both parts within three years of entering the CMA program, any part you’ve passed expires and you pay the entrance fee again.
Keeping the credential: Each year, CMAs renew their IMA membership, pay the CMA annual maintenance fee, and complete 30 hours of continuing education, two of them in ethics.

Beginning with the September/October 2026 testing window, the CMA exam replaced traditional essay questions with case-based questions (CBQs) for most English-language exams. China, Taiwan (China), and Japan continue to offer essay questions on their English and local-language exams.

Although the format changed, the knowledge and skills tested remain the same. Candidates are still expected to analyze information, perform calculations, and exercise professional judgment.

Tips

As you approach exam day, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Continue practicing multiple-choice and case-based questions under timed conditions.
Focus your final review on topics that consistently cause difficulty rather than rereading material you already know well.
Review key formulas, ratios, budgeting techniques, variance calculations, and cost management concepts.
Get comfortable performing calculations efficiently with an approved calculator.
Read each question carefully and pay attention to qualifiers such as “most likely,” “best,” and “least appropriate.”
For case-based questions, take time to identify the relevant facts before beginning calculations or analysis.
Get a full night’s sleep before the exam and avoid last-minute cramming.
Arrive early at your testing center so you can begin the exam focused and relaxed.

Additional resources

For official information about the CMA program, registration, testing policies, and certification requirements, visit the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

The IMA also publishes candidate handbooks, content specification outlines, sample questions, and other exam-preparation resources that can help reinforce your studies.

Check out the Achievable Blog for additional study strategies, exam tips, and professional certification guidance.

Thank you

Thank you for choosing Achievable as part of your CMA journey.

Earning the CMA requires commitment, discipline, and consistent effort. By completing this course, you’ve invested in skills that can support a successful career in accounting, finance, and business leadership.

We wish you the very best on CMA Part 1 and look forward to helping you continue your progress toward earning the CMA designation.

Practice exams

Wrapping up

Testing registration

The CMA Part 1 exam is offered during three annual testing windows:

January-February
May-June
September-October

After registering, you’ll receive instructions for scheduling your exam appointment with Prometric.

For the latest registration requirements and deadlines, visit the IMA CMA Program page.

Additional information

Here are some important details to keep in mind as you prepare for the official exam:

Passing score: The CMA exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 500. A score of 360 or higher is required to pass.
Exam length: The exam lasts 4 hours and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 case-based questions.
Testing locations: The CMA exam is administered through Prometric testing centers worldwide. Remote testing isn’t available.
Calculator policy: You may bring one approved calculator: a small battery- or solar-powered calculator limited to six functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, and percentage) that isn’t programmable and doesn’t use tape, or a Texas Instruments BA II Plus, HP 10bII+, HP 12c, or HP 12c Platinum. The older Hewlett-Packard 10BII is also valid. Prometric makes the final decision on whether to accept a calculator, and the exam software has a calculator of its own.
Scratch paper: Prometric provides paper and a pencil at the testing center.
Score reporting: Exam results are emailed and posted to your online profile about six weeks from the end of the month in which you tested.
Retake policy: You can take an exam part only once in a testing window, but you can sit for as many windows as you need during your three-year period. Each retake requires a new exam registration and its fee. If you don’t pass both parts within three years of entering the CMA program, any part you’ve passed expires and you pay the entrance fee again.
Keeping the credential: Each year, CMAs renew their IMA membership, pay the CMA annual maintenance fee, and complete 30 hours of continuing education, two of them in ethics.

Although the format changed, the knowledge and skills tested remain the same. Candidates are still expected to analyze information, perform calculations, and exercise professional judgment.

Tips

As you approach exam day, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Continue practicing multiple-choice and case-based questions under timed conditions.
Focus your final review on topics that consistently cause difficulty rather than rereading material you already know well.
Review key formulas, ratios, budgeting techniques, variance calculations, and cost management concepts.
Get comfortable performing calculations efficiently with an approved calculator.
Read each question carefully and pay attention to qualifiers such as “most likely,” “best,” and “least appropriate.”
For case-based questions, take time to identify the relevant facts before beginning calculations or analysis.
Get a full night’s sleep before the exam and avoid last-minute cramming.
Arrive early at your testing center so you can begin the exam focused and relaxed.

Additional resources

For official information about the CMA program, registration, testing policies, and certification requirements, visit the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

The IMA also publishes candidate handbooks, content specification outlines, sample questions, and other exam-preparation resources that can help reinforce your studies.

Check out the Achievable Blog for additional study strategies, exam tips, and professional certification guidance.

Thank you

Thank you for choosing Achievable as part of your CMA journey.

We wish you the very best on CMA Part 1 and look forward to helping you continue your progress toward earning the CMA designation.

Testing registration

The CMA Part 1 exam is offered during three annual testing windows:

January-February
May-June
September-October

After registering, you’ll receive instructions for scheduling your exam appointment with Prometric.

For the latest registration requirements and deadlines, visit the IMA CMA Program page.

Additional information

Here are some important details to keep in mind as you prepare for the official exam:

Passing score: The CMA exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 500. A score of 360 or higher is required to pass.
Exam length: The exam lasts 4 hours and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 case-based questions.
Testing locations: The CMA exam is administered through Prometric testing centers worldwide. Remote testing isn’t available.
Calculator policy: You may bring one approved calculator: a small battery- or solar-powered calculator limited to six functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, and percentage) that isn’t programmable and doesn’t use tape, or a Texas Instruments BA II Plus, HP 10bII+, HP 12c, or HP 12c Platinum. The older Hewlett-Packard 10BII is also valid. Prometric makes the final decision on whether to accept a calculator, and the exam software has a calculator of its own.
Scratch paper: Prometric provides paper and a pencil at the testing center.
Score reporting: Exam results are emailed and posted to your online profile about six weeks from the end of the month in which you tested.
Retake policy: You can take an exam part only once in a testing window, but you can sit for as many windows as you need during your three-year period. Each retake requires a new exam registration and its fee. If you don’t pass both parts within three years of entering the CMA program, any part you’ve passed expires and you pay the entrance fee again.
Keeping the credential: Each year, CMAs renew their IMA membership, pay the CMA annual maintenance fee, and complete 30 hours of continuing education, two of them in ethics.

Although the format changed, the knowledge and skills tested remain the same. Candidates are still expected to analyze information, perform calculations, and exercise professional judgment.

Tips

As you approach exam day, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Continue practicing multiple-choice and case-based questions under timed conditions.
Focus your final review on topics that consistently cause difficulty rather than rereading material you already know well.
Review key formulas, ratios, budgeting techniques, variance calculations, and cost management concepts.
Get comfortable performing calculations efficiently with an approved calculator.
Read each question carefully and pay attention to qualifiers such as “most likely,” “best,” and “least appropriate.”
For case-based questions, take time to identify the relevant facts before beginning calculations or analysis.
Get a full night’s sleep before the exam and avoid last-minute cramming.
Arrive early at your testing center so you can begin the exam focused and relaxed.

Additional resources

For official information about the CMA program, registration, testing policies, and certification requirements, visit the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

The IMA also publishes candidate handbooks, content specification outlines, sample questions, and other exam-preparation resources that can help reinforce your studies.

Check out the Achievable Blog for additional study strategies, exam tips, and professional certification guidance.

Thank you

Thank you for choosing Achievable as part of your CMA journey.

We wish you the very best on CMA Part 1 and look forward to helping you continue your progress toward earning the CMA designation.