The CMA (US) exam has dropped its essay section. From the September-October 2026 exam window, IMA uses case-based questions in place of essays for English-language exams, including those taken in India.
What changed
- Essays are gone. May-June 2026 was the last window in which candidates could still choose essays.
- Two case-based questions per part. After the multiple-choice section, you answer two case-based questions.
- A new question style. Each case is a short scenario of about 250 words, followed by a set of questions: drag and drop, fill in the blank, select from a list, and calculations.
What did not change
According to IMA:
- The syllabus is the same. The content outline and learning outcomes were not changed.
- The difficulty is the same. Case-based questions test the same topics at the same level as the essays did.
- The weight is the same. The case-based section carries the weight the essay section had.
The exam still has two parts, Part 1 (Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics) and Part 2 (Strategic Financial Management), and three exam windows each year: January-February, May-June and September-October.
How to prepare for case-based questions
- Practise on screen. You now click, drag and type short answers, so practise in that format instead of writing long answers on paper.
- Read the case first. The scenario is short. Understand the business situation before you look at the questions.
- Keep your calculations sharp. Calculation items are checked on the final figure, so accuracy matters more than presentation.
- Do not neglect theory. Fill-in-the-blank and select-from-a-list items test whether you know the concept precisely.
Planning your next window
If you are aiming for January-February or May-June 2027, prepare only for the case-based format. Older essay practice is still useful for understanding the topics, but not for exam technique.
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Official source: IMA, "The CMA Exam Format is Evolving".
Last checked on 13 October 2026. Exam bodies change dates and rules, so confirm on the official page before you pay or book.