CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting
Exam information

What it is, what's tested, and how it's scored.

CIMA Cert BA exam details

The Certificate in Business Accounting is an entry-level certification for early-career management accountants and financial professionals, administered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This globally recognized license is obtained after passing four individual exams that cover the basics of organizational accounting:

BA1: Fundamentals of Business Economics

BA2: Fundamentals of Management Accounting

BA3: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

BA4: Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Business Law

Each computer-based exam contains 60-85 objective test questions (multiple-choice, true/false, etc.) and takes 2 hours to complete.

Achievable currently offers a CIMA BA1 preparation course, and we are actively expanding our catalog to complete the full Certificate in Business Accounting series. The BA certificate often serves as a stepping stone to advanced designations, such as the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), which is recognized by both CIMA and the AICPA. We're currently developing courses to support candidates at every stage of the CGMA journey.

The CIMA Cert BA exam is hosted by AICPA & CIMA. Participants have 2 hours per exam (8 hours total) across all four exams to answer 60-85 objective-test questions per exam, 265 total questions across all 4 exams. The passing score is 100 (out of 150).

Time

2 hours per exam (8 hours total)

Format

60-85 objective-test questions per exam

265 total questions across all 4 exams

Exam fee

$133 registration + $157 per exam ($761 total)

Passing score

100 (out of 150)

Details

AICPA & CIMA

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting Exam requirements

In order to take these exams, you'll need to follow these steps:

Registration: All new students must register with CIMA and pay a one-time fee of about $133 (£99). Please note that registrations/subscriptions must be renewed yearly.

Pay the exam fee: Each exam costs $157 (£117). Exams can either be taken at Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide or online through remote proctoring.

Maintain your annual subscription: You must be a CIMA member to sit for their exams. The initial registration fee for new candidates covers the first year. Afterward, subscription fees vary based on membership level.

There is no waiting period between exams. You can learn more about CIMA annual memberships on their official website.

CIMA's Certificate in Business Accounting Exam summary

CIMA BA1: Fundamentals of Business Economics

Section	Questions	Percentage	Content
Macroeconomic and Institutional Context of Business	15	25%	Focuses on the macroeconomic and operating context of businesses, and how factors like competition and government economic policy can influence an organization.
Microeconomics and Organisational Context of Business	18	30%	Covers the microeconomic factors that affect business operations, from the state of financial markets to consumer behavior.
Informational Context of Business	12	20%	Assesses knowledge on the information available to assist management in evaluating and forecasting market and economic trends.
Financial Context of Business	15	25%	Tests the ability to understand areas of economic activity relevant to an organization’s decisions, as well as the quantitative skills needed to achieve these goals.

CIMA BA2: Fundamentals of Management Accounting

Section	Questions	Percentage	Content
The Context of Management Accounting	6	10%	Assesses knowledge of the role of management accountants, as well as the role of organizations such as CIMA.
Costing	15	25%	Focuses on cost classification, behavior, and methods (such as job and process costing).
Planning and Control	18	30%	Covers forecasting techniques, budgeting, variance analysis, and related techniques.
Decision Making	21	35%	Emphasizes sustainable and effective decision making for short- and long-term results.

CIMA BA3: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

Section	Questions	Percentage	Content
Accounting Principles, Concepts and Regulations	6	10%	Assesses skills related to accounting standards, the importance of financial recordkeeping, and regulations around reporting.
Recording Accounting Transactions	30	50%	Focuses on bookkeeping, transactions, and financial activities, payroll, ledger accounts, and control accounts.
Preparation of Accounts for Single Entities	18	30%	Tests knowledge of preparing profit and loss statements, statements of financial positions, and account adjustments such as accruals and depreciation.
Analysis of Financial Statements	6	10%	Involves applying analytical frameworks to statements to understand profitability, liquidity, and efficiency, and using agreed-upon methods to interpret data.

CIMA BA4: Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Business Law

Section	Questions	Percentage	Content
Business Ethics and Ethical Conflict	25	30%	Highlights the importance of upholding ethical standards and potential ethical conflicts within commercial activity.
Corporate Governance, Controls, and Corporate Social Responsibility	38	45%	Emphasizes the roles of corporate governance, social responsibility, and proper auditing, and their increasing impact on management.
General Principles of the Legal System, Contract and Employment Law	13	15%	Covers legal terms, administrative frameworks, contract and employment law, and how these structures underpin the administration and management of companies.
Company Administration	9	10%	Focuses on the role of company leaders and the general administration of duties and activities.

Achievable CIMA Cert BA content outline

Goals and decisions of an organization

Explores different types of organizations, their objectives, and how long-term shareholder wealth is measured and supported through strategic decision-making.

The market system

Introduces how markets operate through demand and supply, explaining how prices and quantities are determined in competitive environments.

The domestic economy

Examines key macroeconomic concepts, including economic growth, the circular flow of income, aggregate supply, government fiscal and monetary policy, unemployment, and inflation.

Macroeconomics: The international economy

Covers international economic issues such as globalization, protectionism, and the balance of payments.

Macroeconomics: Index numbers

Introduces index numbers and relative indices, focusing on how they are used to measure changes in economic variables over time.

Introduction to the financial context of business entities

Explains financial markets, financial instruments, interest rates, and the role of short-term and long-term financing in business.

Foreign currencies

Covers foreign exchange systems, currency risks, and the impact of exchange rate movements on organizations.

Investment appraisal

Introduces the time value of money and discounting techniques used to evaluate investment decisions.

Summarizing and analyzing data

Develops skills in organizing and presenting data using tables, charts, averages, and measures of spread.

Inter-relationships between variables

Explores relationships between variables using correlation analysis and introduces the use of big data in business decision-making.

Forecasting: Linear equation method and moving average method

Covers basic forecasting techniques using time series analysis, linear equations, and moving averages.

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting Exam information