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CIMA SCS · Strategic Case Study

Built for the November 2026 window.

A 3-hour integrated assessment combining E3, P3, and F3 knowledge in a listed company scenario, requiring board-level strategic thinking and professional communication. Included in the Strategic Level Pass Pack, £399, with lifetime access. The pre-seen is released on 2 October.

Get the Strategic Level Pass Pack · £399See 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 SCS course lines up against CIMA's dates for this sitting.

  1. 01

    Before the pre-seen

    Pre-seen released 2 October
    You
    If E3, P3 and F3 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 17 November
    You
    Register by 3 November. 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

    18 November to 20 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 3 November.

The next SCS 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
    18 to 20 November 2026
    Registration closes
    3 November 2026
    Pre-seen released
    2 October 2026

  • February 2027

    Exam window
    17 to 19 February 2027
    Registration closes
    2 February 2027
    Pre-seen released
    2 October 2026

The November 2026 and February 2027 sittings share one pre-seen, and the SCS 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

Stuart Murphy, VIVA’s Strategic Case Study specialist

Stuart Murphy, VIVA tutor
Strategic Case Study

If you are reading this, you have one exam left. The Strategic Case Study takes marks off strong candidates in three predictable places: theory they have not touched since their Objective Tests, a pre-seen they know less well than they think, and three timed hours writing to a board-level brief for the first time.

So that is precisely what we train. We revise every pillar properly, read the pre-seen together section by section, and practise exam-standard scenarios until the real thing feels familiar. You will not have to guess whether it is working, because every mock is marked against the marking grid, with feedback on every task.

And if something in a lesson does not make sense, ask. You can put a question to a tutor on any lesson in the course.

Stuart Murphy Strategic Case Study tutor

The exam

What SCS asks of you.

The Strategic Case Study is the final integrated assessment of the CIMA Professional Qualification. Set in a listed company environment, you'll act as a senior finance professional advising the board on complex strategic decisions. It's the hardest and most prestigious of the case study exams, drawing on E3, P3, and F3.

What it draws on

The course, section by section

11 sections · 55 lessons · 11h of video

  1. 01 The exam and this course 3 lessons1h 4m of video
    1. Getting the most out of the SCS course Coming soon
    2. SCS foundations and mechanics Coming soon
    3. Workshop 1 - Course orientation and exam preparation 64m
  2. 02 The pre-seen: Understand your company 2 modules16 lessons4h 55m of video
    1. How to use the pre-seen 10m
    2. Financial statements and ratios Coming soon
    3. Industry overview - Part 1 - Themes 01 and 02 16m
    4. Industry overview - Part 2 - Themes 03 and 04 19m
    5. Industry overview - Part 3 - Themes 05 and 06 22m
    6. Industry overview - Part 4 - Themes 07 and 08 25m
    7. Industry overview - Part 5 - Themes 09 and 10 25m
    1. Read the pre-seen 1 lesson
      1. Pre-seen documents
    2. Pre-seen analysis 8 lessons 2h 58m
      1. Pre-seen analysis - Part 1 - Introduction 10m
      2. Pre-seen analysis - Part 2 - Vennlisk Introduction and Call Centres 22m
      3. Pre-seen analysis - Part 3 - Outsourced Call Centres and KPIs 28m
      4. Pre-seen analysis - Part 4 - Westland and About Vennlisk 26m
      5. Pre-seen analysis - Part 5 - About Vennlisk and Board 23m
      6. Pre-seen analysis - Part 6 - Principal Risks and Financials 23m
      7. Pre-seen analysis - Part 7 - Sustainability and Blog 30m
      8. Pre-seen analysis - Part 8 - Chatbots and Analyst Report 16m
  3. 03 Writing an effective SCS answer 4 lessons38m of video
    1. Exam technique Coming soon
    2. Planning your answer 16m
    3. Structuring a clear answer 6m
    4. Covering every requirement 16m
  4. 04 Core Activity A 1 module4 lessons48m of video
    1. Theory refresher - business strategy - Part 1 - Strategic Options and Acquisitions Or Divestments 14m
    2. Theory refresher - business strategy - Part 2 - Digital and Sustainability 17m
    1. Core Activity Testing 2 lessons 17m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough 17m
      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
    • Mock Core Activity A Mini-mock 3 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity A Mini-mock 4 Marked against the grid
  5. 05 Core Activity B 1 module7 lessons1h 5m of video
    1. Theory refresher - the business ecosystem and environment - Part 1 - Stakeholders and Strategic Tools 11m
    2. Theory refresher - the business ecosystem and environment - Part 2 - Objectives and KPIs 9m
    3. Theory refresher - the business ecosystem and environment - Part 3 - Political Economic and FX Risk 10m
    1. Core Activity Testing 4 lessons 35m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 1 9m
      2. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 2 16m
      3. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 3 10m
      4. 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
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 3 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 4 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 5 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 6 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 7 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity B Mini-mock 8 Marked against the grid
  6. 06 Core Activity C 1 module5 lessons43m of video
    1. Theory refresher - financing strategies - Part 1 - Sources of Finance and Dividend Policy 16m
    2. Theory refresher - financing strategies - Part 2 - Business Valuation and Efficient Market 13m
    1. Core Activity Testing 3 lessons 14m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 1 6m
      2. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 2 8m
      3. 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
    • Mock Core Activity C Mini-mock 3 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity C Mini-mock 4 Marked against the grid
  7. 07 Core Activity D 1 module5 lessons50m of video
    1. Theory refresher - risk evaluation and mitigation - Part 1 - Risk and Ethics 20m
    2. Theory refresher - risk evaluation and mitigation - Part 2 - Cyber Risk and Internal Controls 13m
    1. Core Activity Testing 3 lessons 17m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 1 10m
      2. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 2 7m
      3. 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
    • Mock Core Activity D Mini-mock 3 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity D Mini-mock 4 Marked against the grid
  8. 08 Core Activity E 1 module5 lessons47m of video
    1. Theory refresher - the control environment - Part 1 - Internal Audit and Controls 14m
    2. Theory refresher - the control environment - Part 2 - Governance and The Board 14m
    1. Core Activity Testing 3 lessons 19m
      1. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 1 9m
      2. Mini-mock 1 walkthrough - Part 2 10m
      3. 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
    • Mock Core Activity E Mini-mock 3 Marked against the grid
    • Mock Core Activity E Mini-mock 4 Marked against the grid
  9. 09 Mock preparation and technique 1 lesson10m of video
    1. Time management on exam day 10m
  10. 10 Mock debriefs 5 lessons
    1. Mock 1 debrief Coming soon
    2. Mock 2 debrief Coming soon
    3. Mock 3 debrief Coming soon
    4. Mock 4 debrief Coming soon
    5. Mock 5 debrief Coming soon
  11. 11 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

Three tasks of about an hour each, answered as a senior finance manager advising the board. Pre-seen material released about seven weeks before exam day.

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

SCS is £399, 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 SCS - 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 SCS 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 Strategic Level Pass Pack, £399, lifetime access.

When is the next SCS sitting?

November 2026. The pre-seen is released on 2 October and registration closes on 3 November.

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

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

Do I need E3, P3 and F3 first?

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

How is SCS examined?

3 hours. Three tasks of about an hour each, answered as a senior finance manager advising the board. Pre-seen material released about seven weeks before exam day.

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 SCS on its own?

No. The case study comes with the Strategic Level Pass Pack. If you already own E3, P3 and F3, 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 your exams.
Get on with your life.

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

Get the Strategic Level Pass Pack · £399