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CIMA Exam Dates: Case Study Windows and Objective Tests

By the VIVA tutor team Updated November 2026
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CIMA objective tests have no fixed dates: you can sit them on demand all year. Case study exams run in four windows a year. The November 2026 window runs OCS 4 to 6 November, MCS 11 to 13 November and SCS 18 to 20 November. The next window is February 2027: OCS 3 to 5 February, MCS 10 to 12 February and SCS 17 to 19 February.

CIMA exam dates at a glance

CIMA has two kinds of exam, and they work very differently.

  • Objective tests (OTs) are on demand. There are no exam dates to wait for: you book a slot at a time that suits you, at a test centre or online.
  • Case study exams run in four windows a year: February, May, August and November. Each level sits on its own Wednesday to Friday, Operational first, then Management, then Strategic a week later.

The case study dates below come from CIMA's exam timetable. For booking open dates and the full pre-seen schedule, see our detailed guide to CIMA case study exam dates .

November 2026 case study window

  • Operational (OCS): exams 4 to 6 November 2026. Results 7 January 2027.
  • Management (MCS): exams 11 to 13 November 2026. Results 14 January 2027.
  • Strategic (SCS): exams 18 to 20 November 2026. Results 14 January 2027.

Booking for the November 2026 window has closed. If you have missed it, February 2027 is the next window and uses the same pre-seen.

February 2027 case study window

  • Operational (OCS): exams 3 to 5 February 2027. Booking closes 19 January 2027. Results 25 March 2027.
  • Management (MCS): exams 10 to 12 February 2027. Booking closes 26 January 2027. Results 1 April 2027.
  • Strategic (SCS): exams 17 to 19 February 2027. Booking closes 2 February 2027. Results 8 April 2027.

Later 2027 case study windows

  • May 2027: OCS 5 to 7 May, MCS 12 to 14 May, SCS 19 to 21 May. Results 24 June (OCS), 1 July (MCS) and 8 July 2027 (SCS).
  • August 2027: OCS 4 to 6 August, MCS 11 to 13 August, SCS 18 to 20 August. Results 23 September (OCS), 30 September (MCS) and 7 October 2027 (SCS).
  • November 2027: OCS 3 to 5 November, MCS 10 to 12 November, SCS 17 to 19 November. Results 6 January (OCS) and 13 January 2028 (MCS and SCS).

Booking for each window closes about two weeks before the first exam day for that level. The exact booking open and close dates for every window are in our case study exam dates guide .

Objective test dates: on demand all year

CIMA's nine objective tests (E1, P1, F1 at Operational level, E2, P2, F2 at Management and E3, P3, F3 at Strategic) have no exam windows.

  • When: any day a slot is free, all year round, at more than 5,000 Pearson VUE test centres worldwide or online.
  • Booking notice: you can book up to 48 hours before the exam, subject to availability.
  • Format: each OT is 90 minutes long and has 60 questions.
  • Results: you get a provisional pass or fail before you leave the test centre, and CIMA confirms your final grade on your exam dashboard within 48 hours.

Because OTs are on demand, the dates that matter are the ones you set yourself. Work back from the case study window you are aiming for: you must pass a level's objective tests (or hold exemptions) before you can sit its case study, and you need to do that in time to book before the case study booking deadline. Our objective test exam day guide covers what happens on the day.

Pre-seen release dates

Each case study pre-seen covers two back-to-back windows. November and February share one, and May and August share the next.

  • November 2026 and February 2027: already released. OCS 18 September, MCS 25 September and SCS 2 October 2026.
  • May and August 2027: OCS 19 March, MCS 26 March and SCS 2 April 2027.

For what is in each current pre-seen, see our guides to the OCS pre-seen , MCS pre-seen and SCS pre-seen .

Results days

Objective test results are quick: provisional on the day, confirmed within 48 hours. Case study results take longer, about seven to nine weeks after the exam, and each level has a fixed results day, listed above. If you are waiting on November 2026 results, OCS results come out on 7 January 2027 and MCS and SCS results on 14 January 2027.

How to book a CIMA exam

  1. Check you are eligible. For a case study, that means passing or being exempt from the three objective tests at that level.
  2. Choose test centre or online. Both OTs and case studies can be sat at a Pearson VUE test centre or online. Online slots need a suitable room and computer, so check the requirements before you book.
  3. Book through Pearson VUE. For an OT, pick any available slot at least 48 hours ahead. For a case study, pick one slot in your level's three exam days before booking closes.
  4. Book early for case studies. Test centre seats and popular online times fill up near the deadline.

Prepare with VIVA

Our CIMA courses cover every objective test and case study. Each objective test course includes five full timed mocks of 60 questions in 90 minutes, and our OCS , MCS and SCS courses are built around the current pre-seen. See CIMA pricing to choose your course.

Sources: CIMA exam timetable , checked 6 November 2026; CIMA Management level examination blueprints 2026-27 , checked 7 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next CIMA case study exam?

The November 2026 window runs to 20 November (MCS 11 to 13 November, SCS 18 to 20 November). The next window is February 2027: OCS 3 to 5 February, MCS 10 to 12 February and SCS 17 to 19 February.

Are there fixed dates for CIMA objective tests?

No. Objective tests are on demand all year. You can book up to 48 hours ahead, subject to availability, and you get a provisional result before you leave.

When do November 2026 CIMA case study results come out?

OCS results are released on 7 January 2027. MCS and SCS results are released on 14 January 2027.

How many times a year can I sit a CIMA case study?

Four: February, May, August and November. If you fail in November or May, the next window uses the same pre-seen.

Can I sit a case study before finishing the objective tests?

No. You must pass, or be exempt from, all three objective tests at a level before you can sit that level's case study.