We analysed five years of CIMA Operational 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 | KPIs & performance measurementActivity C · PerformanceIn 4 of 5 mocks |
Very high · 99% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Essential | Budgeting approachesActivity B · BudgetsIn 3 of 5 mocks |
High · 64% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Essential | Expected values & decision treesActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
High · 63% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Essential | IAS 16 — PPEActivity D · FR / TaxIn 1 of 5 mocks |
High · 53% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Essential | Cost & overhead variancesActivity C · PerformanceIn 3 of 5 mocks |
High · 51% of variants | Build exam-ready fluency: practise two timed sub-tasks and review against a marking guide. |
| Core | Digital costingActivity A · CostingIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 43% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Sales & revenue variancesActivity C · PerformanceIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 41% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Time series & forecastingActivity B · BudgetsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 36% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | IFRS 16 — LeasesActivity D · FR / TaxIn 3 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 35% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Linear programming & limiting factorsActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 33% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Budget sensitivity & flexingActivity B · BudgetsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 33% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Watch closely | Working capital analysis, ratios & policyActivity F · Working capitalIn 3 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 32% of variants | Under-weighted in past papers but rising for 2026/27. Do a focused revision block. |
| Core | Relevant costing & pricingActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 31% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Core | Behavioural aspects & budget communicationActivity B · BudgetsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 31% of variants | Appears regularly. Practise one scenario and review the model structure. |
| Supporting | Activity-based costingActivity A · CostingIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 29% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | CVP & profit/volume analysisActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 29% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Risk, uncertainty & sensitivityActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Moderate · 27% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Receivables managementActivity F · Working capital |
Moderate · 27% of variants | Under-weighted in past papers but rising for 2026/27. Do a focused revision block. |
| Supporting | IFRS 5 — Held for saleActivity D · FR / Tax |
Lower · 24% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Other reporting standardsActivity D · FR / Tax |
Lower · 24% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | Absorption & marginal costingActivity A · CostingIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 21% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Planning & operational variancesActivity C · PerformanceIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 21% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Supporting | Tax principlesActivity D · FR / TaxIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 21% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Inventory managementActivity F · Working capitalIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 20% of variants | Under-weighted in past papers but rising for 2026/27. Do a focused revision block. |
| Watch closely | Short-term finance & investmentsActivity F · Working capitalIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 20% of variants | Under-weighted in past papers but rising for 2026/27. Do a focused revision block. |
| Supporting | IAS 2 — InventoriesActivity D · FR / Tax |
Lower · 19% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Qualitative, ethical & non-financial factorsActivity E · Short-term decisionsIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 19% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Watch closely | Budget data & technologyActivity B · BudgetsIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 16% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Supporting | CGMA Cost transformation modelActivity A · CostingIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 12% of variants | Lower frequency. Cover the method, but do not over-invest your limited time here. |
| Watch closely | Other costing methodsActivity A · CostingIn 1 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 8% of variants | Trending up in recent windows. Keep your technique fresh with timed practice. |
| Watch closely | Cash managementActivity F · Working capitalIn 2 of 5 mocks |
Lower · 8% of variants | Under-weighted in past papers but rising for 2026/27. Do a focused revision block. |
The five mock exams are built on the same demand data, so the highest-frequency topics recur across the most mocks and your practice volume tracks the exam's own emphasis:
Search and filter every past OCS 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 OCS 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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