Obtaining the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation is a great and strategic career choice, particularly for individuals who are already in the accounting and finance industry.
Despite this, juggling work and studies may at times be a tough task. In case you are working full-time, it becomes very important to come up with a good study strategy so that you can be successful in the CMA exam.
Below are 15 practical tips to help you pass CMA exam while being working.
CMA Study Plan for Working Professionals- Make Sure Your Goals Are SMART
CMA Study Plan for Working Professionals: 15 Tips to Pass while Working Full-Time. Explain how you plan to accomplish these goals within a set period of time.
When pursuing the long-term vision of passing both parts of CMA, it is better to have intermediate weekly and monthly quota to keep motivation high. Make mark deadlines for completing the chapters, practice tests, materials reviews etc
CMA Study Plan for Working Professionals -Develop A Study Plan
Give yourself advance notice so as to prepare study hours for day. Allocate at least 10-15 hours on a weekly basis for CMA preparations and plan when your work will be done during the weekdays and the weekends.
Follow your timetable with the same zeal as if you were working and that optimizes the hours set aside for study.
Select Hours for Intensive Sustained Mental Work Out of Each Day
Determine the periods when your brain is working at optimal levels – it could be early in the morning or late at night – and fix the difficult tasks for those parts of the day.
This improves understanding and enhances retention.
Make the Most of Weekends
Capture the learning opportunities on weekends by being prepared to put extra hours into your studies. Since you do not have to work, it is possible to spend more hours learning hard topics, going back over chapters, or doing some mock tests.
Therefore, make an effort to study between 4-6 hours over the weekend.
Utilize Break Time For Study Sessions
Even if you are busy and have a tight work schedule, use your work breaks to do a ‘little study’ or seek out time in your day.
Dedicate 15 – 30 minutes to the learning of essential ideas, switching through flashcards, or attempting some few practice problems.
Apply the 80-20 Principle
The CMA syllabus is extensive. Therefore, study for the sections that bears the greatest weight.
For instance, topics such as cost management, performance management, and internal control are very weighty during the exam, thus these should be the bulk of one’s study plan.
CMA Study Plan for Working Professionals – Above All, Practice, a Lot
Since the CMA exam is practice oriented, reviewing practice questions and mock exams has to be emphasized.
Try to have access to a test bank and attempt as many questions as possible then go through the answers provided.
Consider a Review Course
One of the aided aspects of working professionals preparing for the CMA examination is a CMA review course.
It saves your time in studying as it provides lessons, videos, practice questions, and mock exams that enable one to understand complex topics quickly and accurately.
Keep Study Materials Ordered
Be sure to store all tutorials, personal notes and practice tests appropriately. Choose applications like Evernote, OneNote or go for regular notebooks to preserve different aspects on a certain topic such as formulas, main ideas and others. This will facilitate the process of revising.
Make Active Learning Part of Your Study Routine
Reading for example is one of the passive learning methods and can be a bit slow and not so productive. In such cases, consider using active learning methods where the learner has to teach a person a given concept such as explaining.
Moving, writing-out-memorized-points and-solution-searching over questions rather than searching pictorial answers are other methods.
Form a Study Group
If you can, look for colleagues who are also in the same work environment audience and form a study group. This can be helpful in giving moral support and tips on how to prepare. Group work is perfect to ask questions and helpful in learning new things.
Use Relevant Mobile Applications for Studying Apps
Consider having a mobile learning support system for some period. When in public transport, at a doctor, having lunch or other occasions, use the apps such as Quizlet, CMA app to practice flashcards, formulas and questions.
Remain Steady
Consistency is the ultimate trick to solving the CMA exam questions. Avoid long gaps in the study schedule as doing so may drive some momentum away.
Even if a week is busy, take some time during the week to do short study periods so that concepts do not fade from your mind.
Rest and Health Should Take the Priority
Full-time work and studying can have the backfire effect of burning the person out. Sleep, physical activities, and nutrition should come first. An adequate amount of rest is needed if information and attention are to be called upon later. Additionally, incorporating short breaks during study periods has also proven to enhance work output.
Consider and Revise Your Plan
Analyse and assess your studies most of the times, and modify your study strategies if there is a need to do so. Have you been achieving your set targets for the weeks?
If not meet a target consider rebalancing your timetable. Do not panic on changing your studying hours or how to study depending on what is effective and what is not.
Conclusion
It is indeed demanding finding a full-time job while preparing for a CMA exam. However, readiness, commitment, and a positive attitude make it possible. You can pass your CMA on the first sitting by following through with these 15 recommendations.
Time management and effective preparation strategies are key in ensuring that you pass on the first attempt. Never forget that success is reached through perseverance and steady effort!
