How to use the pre-seen

In this lesson

1. 0:00 Understanding the pre-season document purpose
2. 0:24 What the pre-season document contains
3. 1:42 Key components and financial information
4. 3:09 Concrete steps to approach the pre-season
5. 4:03 Conducting industry research beyond the document
6. 5:06 Reading strategy: skim, highlight, and annotate
7. 6:34 Making notes and connecting to theory
8. 7:15 Summarising key issues into frameworks
9. 8:27 Avoiding second-guessing the examiner
10. 9:44 Building confidence through thorough preparation

About this lesson

The pre-seen is a 25–30 page dossier of realistic business information—financial statements, competitor data, industry articles, and forecasts—designed to help you understand the company, its markets, and the challenges it faces. CIMA will build exam questions around the issues flagged in these materials, so thorough engagement during your seven-week preparation window is essential. You'll discover a structured approach to working through the pre-seen effectively. Start by skimming it once or twice to get a high-level overview, then read more carefully on your second or third pass, highlighting only the most critical points—avoid over-highlighting, which dilutes what your brain registers as important. On your third or fourth reading, make detailed notes, connecting the information to key theories from E2, F2, and P2, and thinking through the implications and potential exam angles. Run ratio analysis on financial statements, compare your business to competitors, and conduct your own industry research beyond what's provided. The final step is to synthesise everything into a few key models—a SWOT analysis is particularly useful—to distil 25–30 pages into 8–12 genuinely important issues. This summary becomes your anchor during the exam, allowing you to answer questions quickly without constantly referring back to the pre-seen document. Crucially, avoid second-guessing the examiner by over-preparing narrow predictions; instead, develop a broad, flexible understanding so you're ready for whatever CIMA asks. The better you know the pre-seen, the more time you'll save on exam day and the more confident you'll feel.

Duration: 11m