We analysed five years of CIMA Management Case Study exams, every sub-task across every variant, so your limited revision time goes where the marks actually are.


Total marks per topic, per window, across all six variants in each sitting. Darker means more marks. This is the raw demand picture behind the priorities above.
Swipe the table sideways to see all exam windows — best viewed on a larger screen.
Every topic, sorted into a priority tier with a suggested action. Filter by core activity to focus on a weak area.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Priority | Topic | Exam demand | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Business models & value chainActivity A · Add valueIn 2 of 5 mocks |
High · 56% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Essential | Responsibility centres & performance measurementActivity C · Manage performanceIn 3 of 5 mocks |
High · 53% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Core | Pricing strategyActivity A · Add valueIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 43% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Debt & equity financingActivity B · Implement decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 41% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Negotiation strategyActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 40% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Group accounting & acquisitionsActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 39% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Watch closely | Project personnel & teamsActivity B · Implement decisionsIn 3 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 39% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Core | Transfer pricing & internal tradingActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 35% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Watch closely | Accounting ratios & financial interpretationActivity D · Measure performanceIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 35% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Watch closely | Risk & uncertainty in projectsActivity B · Implement decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 35% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Core | Project managementActivity B · Implement decisionsIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 33% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Net present value & investment appraisalActivity A · Add valueIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 32% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Watch closely | Risk & uncertainty in business modelsActivity D · Measure performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 32% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Core | Intangible assets & development costsActivity D · Measure performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 31% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Watch closely | Integrated & sustainability reportingActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 29% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Watch closely | Other accounting standardsActivity D · Measure performanceIn 4 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 29% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | Cost management & transformationActivity C · Manage performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 23% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Quality & value managementActivity C · Manage performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 21% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Financial performance improvementActivity D · Measure performanceIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 21% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Employee engagement & empowermentActivity C · Manage performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 20% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | Data sources & business intelligenceActivity A · Add value |
Lower · 16% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Leadership stylesActivity C · Manage performanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 16% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Risk quantification & presentationActivity C · Manage performance |
Lower · 15% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | Conflict managementActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 3 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 15% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Disruptive technology & digital ecosystemsActivity A · Add valueIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 12% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | WACCActivity A · Add value |
Lower · 11% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Communication & stakeholder managementActivity E · Manage stakeholdersIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 9% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
The five mock exams on the live Cartn pre-seen are built on the same demand data. Every mock spans all five core activities, and the highest-frequency topics recur across the most mocks, so your practice volume tracks the exam's own emphasis:
Search and filter every past MCS sub-task by topic, activity or window, to find practice material for a specific weakness.
This data is not an end in itself. It is the demand layer underneath how the VIVA MCS course is built and tested.
We use six years of past-exam frequency to identify the topics that deserve the most practice, then build our August 2026 mock exams and mini mocks around them.
We weight against the current CIMA blueprint, so we lean into rising areas like working capital rather than overfitting to old papers.
We drill the high-demand topics, KPIs, budgeting and short-term decision-making, more heavily across tuition and mocks.
We flag low-history and brand-new syllabus areas so you cover them deliberately instead of ignoring them.
We test whether you can actually perform in these areas through marked mock exams across all core activities.
Your marked mock results show where you can already perform and where to focus next, turning exam demand into a clear, personal plan.

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