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CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

  • 1.  CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-11-2020 04:04 AM

    Aloha Everyone,

    I recently sat for part I of the CMA exams and I have to say it was one of the most difficult exams I've ever taken. Like most of you, I put in several hours of studying after work and even worked with a tutor on the weekends. Though I felt prepared I still feel I didn't prepare enough and I honestly feel like I barely passed the 50% threshold on the MCQ's.

    I've read from both Hock and CMAExamAcademy that 10 out of 100 MCQs don't count towards your grade. Does anyone know if this is true for all versions of the exam? It's incredibly nerve wrecking trying to figure out if you may have passed or not but it would make me feel much better if this is actually true. I feel that I did very well on the essays and if a 60 out of 100 could really bring my MCQ score up to 67% it would be such a relief. I know this may be the first time people are hearing about it and I bet it would really calm your nerves if you're waiting for your scores like me. 


    Thanks for reading and best of luck to all of you working hard to earn those three letters!

    Mahalo!




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    Lisandro Aviles
    Accountant
    Honolulu HI
    United States
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  • 2.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-11-2020 09:55 AM
    Gleim says something very similar - they call them "pretest" questions (I've copied from their website and pasted below).  I would assume it applies to both parts of the exam.  In all honesty, I don't recall encountering anything on Part I that really stumped me.  However, there were several questions on Part 2 that I know weren't covered in my study material (hopefully, most of these were pretest questions!).  The IMA has different versions of each exam, so the version you take might influence the number of "pretest" questions.  Since you made it to the essay section and you felt good about that portion, I'm sure you did fine!

    From Gleim: Each CMA exam will include an undisclosed number of "pretest" questions to gather data for their future potential use. Such questions do not count toward your score. It does no good to try to guess which questions might be pretest questions, so it's best to give every question your full attention.


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    Michael Ramsey
    Director/Manager
    Omaha NE
    United States
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  • 3.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-12-2020 08:42 AM
    I believe the pretest is true. Like you, I took part one this past September and I literally walked out of the exam disillusioned and humiliated. Like you, a fundamentally know the content. I even teach it as an adjunct!. "How embarrassing, I said to myself". I felt so defeated, I continued to study for part 1 as if I was going to take it again. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from the IMA that I passed. I received a score of 380. I was getting better scores using Wiley and Surgent but I'll take it. If you feel that you did well on the essays, you likely passed. I too was shocked when the exam allowed me to take the essays as I felt I flunked the MCQ. Perhaps there was a curve? I don't know but again, don't be surprised if you pass. If you feel strongly on the essays, you likely passed. I even ran out of time on the second essay and passed. I also read that not all exams are the same on a given day, The IMA may curve harder exams. Again, I read this on certain websites and don't know if its factual.

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    Peter Berardi
    Academic
    Bay Path University
    Longmeadow MA
    United States
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  • 4.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-12-2020 09:54 AM

    Congratulations on passing part 1, Peter! Thanks for your honest response! Wow - you've definitely calmed my nerves down. I've always read about candidates being nervous of the results but very rarely do I see them come back to reveal whether they passed or not. I'll go ahead and use my free time on studying for part 2. Thanks so much for your responses! 

    Mahalo!



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    Lisandro Aviles
    Accountant
    Honolulu HI
    United States
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  • 5.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-12-2020 10:52 AM
    Good luck to you!

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 6.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-13-2020 05:07 AM
    Hi Lisandro,

    same situation as Peter's. I was 100% certain that I failed and if I passed, very closely. But the results proved me wrong.

    It is true that even candidates sitting on the same day can have a completely different test (MCQs and essays), also from the difficulty level.
    So you never know what to expect.
    I found my 1st exam to be incredibly hard, the 2nd one not as much.

    Fingers crossed. Since you passed the MCQ section I think your chances are pretty high.

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    Nadja Broyles
    Financial Analyst
    Robert Bosch Smart Home GmbH
    Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg
    Germany
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  • 7.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-13-2020 04:07 PM
    Hi Lisandro,

    Thought I would give you a bit of perspective from my experience. I too thought my version of the test was tough and was relieved to find I was able to proceed on to the essay section. I actually felt I did ok on the essays and was hopeful I passed the test as the consensus typically is if you make it to the essays you probably passed. I took the test on 7/20/20 and received my results I believe on 9/14/20. I received a 350 which as you can imagine was soul crushing. Despite that I got right back at it and took the test again on October 28th feeling more confident this time around.

    Whatever happens stay committed.

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    Andrew Murphy
    Controller
    San Diego CA
    United States
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  • 8.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 11-29-2020 05:58 AM
    i want to know how the essay questions are graded

    do they weight equally ? or one question is worth more than another

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    Tayba Al-Mehdar
    Analyst
    Khobar
    Saudi Arabia
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  • 9.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 12-16-2020 04:10 PM
    Thank you everyone for your feedback!

    I got my score today and just like I thought - I barely passed with a 390! But I made it! I bet it was those essays that pushed me above the threshold. 

    Yesss! 

    Congratulations to everyone who passed during this window! Best of luck on the next part of your CMA journey!

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    Lisandro Aviles
    Accountant
    Honolulu HI
    United States
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  • 10.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 12-17-2020 02:35 AM

    Congratulations!

    I passed too with score of 390 and I also think that essay part has pushed me to pass :)



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    Hebah Masoud
    Supervisor
    Amman
    Jordan
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  • 11.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 12-17-2020 05:34 PM

    Thanks! Congratulations to you as well Hebah!



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    Lisandro Aviles
    Accountant
    Honolulu HI
    United States
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  • 12.  RE: CMA Exam Grading - Scaled Score

    Posted 12-20-2020 09:28 PM

    Congratulations Lisandro!

    Currently studying for Part 2 after going through a similar exam-taking experience as you described in the original post. Can't wait to get it done as it's been a very long journey since I also spent a significant amount of time studying for the CPA exam a couple years back. 



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    Daniel Jo, CPA
    Assurance Associate
    Winston-Salem, NC
    United States
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