How Hard Is The CMA Exam? Understanding CMA Exam Difficulty

Low pass rates, dense material, and a challenging exam structure can make even the most prepared candidates feel uncertain when it comes time to take the CMA exam. But most candidates struggle not because the exam is impossible, but because they don’t fully understand exactly why it’s challenging or how to approach it with a clear plan.

But I have good news for you: once you know what makes the CMA exam difficult — and what to do about it — you can approach your study plan with far more confidence.

Originally published in 2020, this article was updated and republished on December 1st, 2025.

How Hard Is the CMA Exam?

Pass rates sit at about 50% for both Parts One and Two, meaning most candidates don’t pass on their first attempt. Bluntly, the CMA exam is tough.

But understanding why it’s challenging and preparing intentionally can help you close the gap and work toward a passing grade.

How Long Does It Take to Study to Pass the CMA Exam?

To pass the CMA exam, you’ll need to dedicate a bare minimum of 90 hours to studying beforehand. However, we’d recommend shooting for closer to 300 hours to raise your chances of doing well on the exam.

You can space out your study schedule over a six to nine month period. The best CMA review courses will ensure you cover and review all the material.

CMA Exam Prerequisites

The first step in getting your CMA certificate is to earn a bachelor’s degree. What’s interesting about this is that the Certified Management Accountant requirements don’t specify what kind of degree you need to have.

Unlike other career niches where you are required to have an applicable degree, any bachelor’s degree will qualify you to take the CMA exam. That is to say, you could have a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and that qualifies you for the CMA exam.

In my opinion, this puts you at somewhat of a disadvantage because you will not be familiar with any of the study materials or content prior to preparing for the exam.

While there is an experience requirement that candidates must fulfill — two continuous years in an applicable field of management accounting — I still think the degree prerequisite adds to the low passing rates.

CMA Exam Structure

This exam is made up of two different parts. As I mentioned above, the passing rate for both Parts One and Two is 50%.

Each part of the exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and an essay section. The essay section consists of two scenarios with anywhere from two to seven questions that must be answered within it. Candidates have three hours to complete the MCQ section and one hour to complete the essays.

The exam is taken at one of the many global Prometric centers and is computer-based. It has been my experience that many candidates get jammed up on how to study for the CMA exam and don’t use the right tools to prepare; i.e. the right review course.

CMA Exam Content

In terms of content, each Part of the exam covers quite a bit of information. Part One is all about Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics. This requires understanding external financial reporting decisions, planning, budgeting and forecasting, performance management, cost management, internal controls, and analytics.

Part Two consists of Strategic Financial Management, which covers the topics of financial statement analysis, corporate finance, decision analysis, risk management, investment decisions, and professional ethics.

Each of these topics is broken down even further into more detailed sub-sections, which adds up to a lot of material to work through. So if you were wondering how to pass the CMA exam, be sure to use a study planner and strategically plan out all the material!

The sheer volume of information covered in each part of the exam is one of the reasons that getting a CMA exam passing score is so difficult. For this reason, I highly recommend using a review course so you can focus your study efforts on the information you don’t understand that well rather than wasting your time on content you comprehend.

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Skills the CMA Exam Tests You On

Due to the fact that the role of a certified management accountant is so specialized, it’s necessary that the exam tests candidates’ various cognitive skills to ensure they really know the material.

The ICMA (the governing body responsible for scoring the exams) tests the following skills:

• • Knowledge – ability to identify, define, and list learned materials and facts
  • Comprehension – ability to grasp and understand the content
  • Application – ability to demonstrate how knowledge is used in real situations
  • Analysis – ability to break down components, identify, and interpret relationships between causal relationships, etc
  • Synthesis – ability to use knowledge learned from analysis to formulate new procedures or operations
  • Evaluation – ability to criticize material, justify its accuracy, and form conclusions

Your ability to demonstrate each of these cognitive skills, especially during the essay portion of the exam, is critical to success.

CMA vs CPA Exam Difficulty

I get a lot of questions about whether or not the CMA or CPA is the right way to go. There are similarities between the two designations (a likeness for numbers and accounting), but there are several differences between the CMA vs CPA exams, respectively.

Unlike the CMA exam that covers all the aforementioned topics in just two exam parts, the CPA exam is broken down into four parts. By splitting up topics into smaller chunks, it makes it easier for CPA candidates to focus their study efforts on key material without overwhelming themselves with a ton of information.

This could account for the slightly higher CPA exam pass rates. The overall pass rate for CPAs is nearly 50%.

The scope of material covered for financial management varies by designation, and your personal interest in the material can have an effect on your success. For example, if you are enjoying the CMA content you will be more apt to stick to a study program and, of course, more likely to retain the information. On the other hand, if you find public accounting topics more exciting, then the CPA exam may be right for you.

How to Pass the CMA Exam with Ease

It’s true, the general format and volume of material covered in each part of the CMA exam can make it difficult, but there are ways around this.

For starters, understanding the multiple-choice section of the exam and what is expected from you during the essay section of the exam process can be incredibly beneficial. The more familiar you become with the exam structure, the more likely you are to succeed.

In addition to that, choosing a CMA review course that taps into your personal learning style while ensuring you study the right amount of hours per week can increase your odds, too.

Also, learning to avoid procrastination and surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family can make a world of difference.

When it comes down to it all, the CMA exam is constantly changing. Developed by the Institute of Management Accounts in 1972, they are continuously introducing new exam questions and evaluating the effectiveness so candidates are being tested fairly. Just make sure to put in the study time, use a high-quality CMA review course, and believe in yourself. You can do this!

And if you want more structure, accountability, and support, the CMA Exam 16-Week Accelerator course provides you with the same strategies I’ve shared with more than 80,000 accounting and finance professionals to help them study smarter and feel ready heading into exam day. But the Accelerator is packaged in the most efficient way possible to give you the best exam results.

Worried about passing or have any other questions to ask? Drop them in the comment section below.

More from Nathan:

• CMA Exam Passing Score: How is the Exam Graded?
• How to Study for the CMA Exam
• Why You Need Live Coaching Calls to Stop Over Analyzing Your CMA Study Material

Hi, I’m Nathan Liao (aka the CMA Coach)! For the last 10 years, over 82,000 accounting and finance pros came knocking at my door seeking guidance and help. If you’re also aiming to conquer the CMA exam on your very first try—without wasting away time or money—you’ve found your ultimate guide. Dive in deeper to discover more about me and the dedicated team that powers CMA Exam Academy. Click here and let’s embark on this journey together!