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CIMA OCS · Operational Case Study

Built for the November 2026 window.

Three hours applying E1, P1 and F1 to a company you first meet in the pre-seen, released on 18 September. The course reads the pre-seen with you, then puts you through Core Activity Mini-mocks and full timed mocks, each marked by AI against our marking grid with a model answer at the end. Included in the Operational Pack, £349, with lifetime access.

Get the Operational Level Pass Pack · £349See how the window works
Modern tuition Real mock exams Feedback on every mock

The November 2026 window

Work back from exam day.

A case study is a timetable as much as a syllabus. Here is how the OCS course lines up against CIMA's dates for this sitting.

  1. 01

    Before the pre-seen

    Pre-seen released 18 September
    You
    If E1, P1 and F1 are not all passed yet, that comes first. Then the exam technique lessons: the exam format, and how a task is marked.
    The course
    Exam technique video lessons, with an AI Tutor in every lesson.
  2. 02

    The pre-seen

    Now to 3 November
    You
    Register by 20 October. Read the pre-seen with your tutor, then start writing to a brief under time.
    The course
    Pre-seen video lessons. Core Activity Mini-mocks, one task at a time, marked by AI against the grid.
  3. 03

    The window

    4 November to 6 November
    You
    Full timed mocks in the weeks before your slot, then the exam.
    The course
    Full mock exams, marked by AI against the grid, with feedback on every task and a model answer after each attempt.

Dates are CIMA's for the November 2026 sitting. Registration closes on 20 October.

The next OCS sittings

The next two windows.

The timetable above works back from the next window. Here are the next two side by side, with every date CIMA has published for them.

  • November 2026

    Exam window
    4 to 6 November 2026
    Registration closes
    20 October 2026
    Pre-seen released
    18 September 2026

  • February 2027

    Exam window
    3 to 5 February 2027
    Registration closes
    19 January 2027
    Pre-seen released
    18 September 2026

The November 2026 and February 2027 sittings share one pre-seen, and the OCS course is built around that pre-seen, so one course covers both. Sitting in February 2027? You buy the same course.

Dates are CIMA's published dates. Each window is a three-day sitting.

A word from your tutor

Robert Cook, VIVA’s Operational Case Study specialist

Robert Cook, VIVA tutor
Operational Case Study

The Operational Case Study is a different kind of exam from the three you have just sat. Nobody is testing whether you can recall E1, F1 and P1 any more - they are testing whether you can use them, at speed, for a business you met seven weeks ago.

So that is what we train. We read the pre-seen together rather than leaving you to it, we practise writing to a brief under time, and every mock you sit is marked against the marking grid, with feedback on every task and a model answer once you have finished.

The material is not the hard part by now. Applying it under pressure is, and that is what the course is built around.

Robert Cook Operational Case Study tutor

The exam

Four tasks, three hours.

Four tasks, each with multiple requirements, answered in the role of a finance officer at the pre-seen company. Open book on the pre-seen; the unseen material lands on the day.

What it draws on

The course, section by section

12 sections · 65 lessons · 15h 45m of video

  1. 01 The exam and this course 4 modules12 lessons22m of video
    1. The exam and marking 4 lessons 8m
      1. Welcome to the OCS 1m
      2. The exam at a glance 3m
      3. How the marking works 1m
      4. The six core activities 3m
    2. The Pre-seen: Tendra Tents 3 lessons 4m
      1. This sitting and the pre-seen 1m
      2. Tendra Tents in brief 1m
      3. Your role at Tendra Tents 2m
    3. The Examiner Reports 2 lessons 2m
      1. What separates a pass from a fail 1m
      2. Six points to take away 1m
    4. How to Use this Course 3 lessons 8m
      1. Your route through the course 2m
      2. The importance of practice 5m
      3. Before you move on 1m
  2. 02 The Pre-seen: Understand Tendra Tents 2 modules10 lessons3h 21m of video
    1. Financial statements and ratios 19m
    2. Industry overview 22m
    1. The pre-seen document 2 lessons 10m
      1. Pre-seen documents
      2. How to use the pre-seen 10m
    2. Pre-seen analysis 6 lessons 2h 30m
      1. Pre-seen analysis 1 44m
      2. Pre-seen analysis 2 17m
      3. Pre-seen analysis 3 27m
      4. Pre-seen analysis 4 22m
      5. Pre-seen analysis 5 25m
      6. Pre-seen analysis 6 15m
  3. 03 Writing an effective OCS answer 3 lessons36m of video
    1. Planning your answer 15m
    2. Structuring a clear answer 8m
    3. Covering every requirement 13m
  4. 04 Core Activity A 1 module3 lessons42m of video
    1. Theory refresher 21m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 21m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 21m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity A Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity A Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  5. 05 Core Activity B 1 module3 lessons41m of video
    1. Theory refresher 21m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 20m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 20m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  6. 06 Core Activity C 1 module3 lessons43m of video
    1. Theory refresher 22m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 21m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 21m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity C Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity C Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  7. 07 Core Activity D 1 module3 lessons41m of video
    1. Theory refresher 20m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 21m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 21m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity D Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity D Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  8. 08 Core Activity E 1 module3 lessons44m of video
    1. Theory refresher 22m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 22m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 22m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity E Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity E Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  9. 09 Core Activity F 1 module3 lessons43m of video
    1. Theory refresher 22m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 21m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 21m
      2. Mini-mock 2 walkthrough Coming soon
    • Mock Core Activity F Mini-mock 1 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity F Mini-mock 2 Marked against the grid
  10. 10 Mock preparation and technique 6 lessons2h of video
    1. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 1 20m
    2. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 2 20m
    3. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 3 20m
    4. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 4 20m
    5. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 5 18m
    6. Exam technique, approach and time management - Part 6 22m
  11. 11 Mock debriefs 16 lessons5h 12m of video
    1. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 1 13m
    2. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 2 28m
    3. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 3 28m
    4. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 4 23m
    5. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 5 30m
    6. Mock 1 debrief and writing technique - Part 6 3m
    7. Mock 2 debrief - Question 1 26m
    8. Mock 2 debrief - Question 2 23m
    9. Mock 2 debrief - Question 3 24m
    10. Mock 2 debrief - Question 4 24m
    11. Mock 3 debrief - Question 1 20m
    12. Mock 3 debrief - Question 2 24m
    13. Mock 3 debrief - Question 3 24m
    14. Mock 3 debrief - Question 4 22m
    15. Mock 4 debrief Coming soon
    16. Mock 5 debrief Coming soon
  12. 12 Mock exams 5 full mocks
    • Mock Full mock exam 1 180 minutes, marked by AI against our marking grid
    • Mock Full mock exam 2 180 minutes, marked by AI against our marking grid
    • Mock Full mock exam 3 180 minutes, marked by AI against our marking grid
    • Mock Full mock exam 4 180 minutes, marked by AI against our marking grid
    • Mock Full mock exam 5 180 minutes, marked by AI against our marking grid

Modern tuition

Exam technique first, then the pre-seen together.

Short lessons on the exam itself before the pre-seen lands, then lessons on the pre-seen once it does, with an AI Tutor in every lesson and a real tutor a question away.

  • Exam technique lessons The format, the marking grid and how a task is answered, before there is a company to talk about.
  • Pre-seen lessons We read it with you rather than leaving you to it.
  • Ask a tutor On the case studies you can ask a tutor a question on any lesson.

Real mock exams

Write it before you write it.

Core Activity Mini-mocks to practise one task under time, and full mocks in an exam-style interface, so the format is familiar long before your slot.

  • Core Activity Mini-mocks One timed task on a single core activity, for practising without sitting a whole paper.
  • Full mocks Every task, on the clock, written online as you will on the day.
  • In the exam interface Same layout, same clock.

Feedback on every mock

Marked against the grid, not against a feeling.

Every full mock and Core Activity Mini-mock comes back marked by AI against our marking grid, with feedback on every task and the model answer once you have finished.

  • The marking grid Marks per task, so you see which requirement cost you.
  • Feedback on every task What was missing, and what a stronger answer does.
  • Model answers Opens after your attempt, never before.

Personalised CIMA pack

Finish CIMA from £349 a level, with lifetime access as standard.

Tell us which CIMA subjects you have already passed, or are exempt from taking. We have pre-ticked everything CIMA requires before OCS - adjust it if that is not you.

Step 1 of 2

First, what have you already passed?

Tick what you've passed or been exempted from - we'll only show what's left.

Operational Level
Management Level
Strategic Level

Exempt from a whole level through your degree? Use Tick all on that level.

Questions

The things students ask before buying.

What does the OCS course include?

Exam technique and pre-seen video lessons with an AI Tutor in every lesson, and full mock exams and Core Activity Mini-mocks written online in an exam-style interface, marked by AI against our marking grid, with feedback on every task and a model answer after your attempt. You can also ask a tutor a question on any lesson. Included in the Operational Level Pass Pack, £349, lifetime access.

When is the next OCS sitting?

November 2026. The pre-seen is released on 18 September and registration closes on 20 October.

I am sitting OCS in February 2027. Which course do I buy?

The November 2026 and February 2027 sittings share one pre-seen, and the OCS course is built around that pre-seen, so one course covers both. Sitting in February 2027? You buy the same course.

Do I need E1, P1 and F1 first?

Yes. CIMA only lets you sit the case study once all three Operational Objective Tests are passed, or exempt.

How is OCS examined?

3 hours. Four tasks of about 45 minutes, each with multiple requirements. Open-book pre-seen material released about seven weeks before the exam.

Are the mock exams marked?

Yes, by AI against our marking grid. We write a grid for each mock, modelled on CIMA's published guidance and post-exam reports. Every task gets feedback, and the model answer opens once you have finished.

Can I buy OCS on its own?

No. The case study comes with the Operational Level Pass Pack. If you already own E1, P1 and F1, or some of them, the price you paid comes off the pack.

How long do I have access?

Lifetime access, on every course. There is no subscription and no renewal - if you need to resit, or come back to the material years later, it is still there.

November 2026 is closer than it looks.

Get through OCS.
Get on to Management.

Take the Operational Level Pass Pack, or add the case study to the subjects you already own.

Get the Operational Level Pass Pack · £349