8 Essential CMA Study Materials and How to Use Them

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam can be intimidating and stressful. Finding a prep course with the best combo of CMA study materials won’t just alleviate your concerns, it’ll also help you pass the CMA exam quickly and easily.

Having the right CMA study materials will simplify what you need to focus on save you time.

For this post, we’ll break down some of the most important CMA study tools and explain why they’re critical for your studies.

Why You Need CMA Study Materials to Pass the CMA Exam

If you’re planning to sit for the CMA exam, you should start studying as soon as possible.

Why?

1. First of all, CMA courses give you access to the latest high-quality, up-to-date exam information. If the IMA makes changes to the exam, your CMA course will take care of everything for you.
2. Second, CMA study materials will give you a comprehensive knowledge base that you can apply throughout your career, not just on the CMA exam
3. Perhaps most importantly, a great CMA prep course will build up your confidence leading up to exam day. If you use the course the right way then you’ll have no doubts about passing the exam.

8 Essential CMA Study Materials and How to Use Them

There are a plenty of great Certified Management Accountant courses to choose from. Each course offers a different mix of study materials though, so it helps to understand what each type of study material is and how it can help you.

Let’s look at the most essential CMA course features so you can decide which ones you need in a CMA course!

1. Plan Your Studying with a CMA Exam Syllabus

The CMA Exam Syllabus will help you keep your studying on track. It breaks down what skills you need and how much time you should spend on each one. It’s an important study tool that charts out your learning path and helps you see the bigger picture.

Many CMA courses offer a syllabus feature, which can save you lots of time during your CMA prep. The best ones use your expected exam date and amount of time you can study each week and create a customized schedule.

These tools aren’t perfect though. A CMA course syllabus usually assumes you’ll learn each topic at the same pace, so keep that in mind if there are topics you have more or less experience with.

2. Learn Quickly with CMA Exam Videos

CMA exam videos are a great way to learn because they often include visual illustrations. Most people are visual learners, so watching lectures can be a more efficient way to learn than simply reading a book.

Most CMA prep courses have videos for every chapter of the CMA test prep book, so you should have plenty to watch.

Also, CMA instructors often go beyond what’s on the exam syllabus, and offer plenty of useful tips or tricks that you won’t find in the textbook.

3. Master the Details with CMA Study Guides and Test Prep Books

While lectures will give you a broad overview of topics, CMA study guides and textbooks dive deeper. They provide the granular details you’ll need to truly master the material.

The best ones are digitally integrated with the rest of your CMA study materials, like video lectures and your notes, so you can easily refer to other material in the course.

Look for a course that offers both digital AND physical textbooks, you’ll likely need to rely on both during your CMA prep.

4. Reinforce Lessons with CMA Practice Questions

CMA practice questions are the best way to reinforce the lessons and concepts you just learned in the video lectures and textbook.

They also allow you to practice taking a CMA test online in a secure environment. Frequently taking CMA exam practice questions is often the best way to prepare for what you’ll see on the actual exam.

5. Prep for Exam Day with CMA Practice Exams

Plan to take a full-length CMA practice exam at least 2 weeks before your exam date. This will uncover weaknesses and give you time to create a study plan to address those areas.

Combining your practice exam results with your other CMA prep materials will turbocharge your learning as you approach exam day. 

For optimal results, read the course text and crush more practice questions for each topic you need to improve until you eventually raise your practice exam score to the 80-85% range across all topics.

6. Study on the Go with CMA Flashcards

You may not need them all the time, but CMA flashcards are excellent study materials. They’re the perfect for anytime it’s not practical to watch lectures or knock out CMA practice questions.

Whether you make your own or they come with your CMA course, flashcards are a great way to study during your commute or whenver you have a few minutes of downtime.

7. Learn From Other Students on Discussion Forums

Discussion forums are great because you can interact with students and find helpful Q&A from others. You can even use them to form study groups, which can make studying much more engaging. 

If you really want you can even use them to vent from time to time. Just remember to keep it clean and respectful though!

8. Learn in Your Spare Time with Audio Lectures

Audio lectures are a great way to learn and retain information. Listeners can pause, replay, and even download audio files for offline use and learn while doing other tasks.

Audio CMA lectures are a perfect way to pass the time during your commute or even while you’re working out.

Find a CMA Prep Course that Bundles the Best CMA Study Material

The CMA preparation process can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, a great CMA course will make your life much easier by bundling most (or all!) these CMA study materials together.

There are plenty of great resources to choose from, but these providers stand out for providing the best and most comprehensive CMA review courses:

Conclusion/Bottom Line

Having the right CMA study materials is critical to passing the CMA exam. Take the time to understand how each one will benefit you and which ones work best with your learning style. From there, choose a CMA course that offers the best combination.

As you can see, there are a plenty of great CMA study materials to choose from. If you find cer helpful, stick with it until you’ve mastered all its lessons. On the other hand, if a resource isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to try another!