The Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) curriculum and exam concentrate on your ability to apply a balance of theory and practical knowledge to provide insightful guidance, portfolio construction, portfolio management, and risk management for individual and institutional clients.
What Is the CIMA® Certification Exam Format?
The CIMA® certification exam is proctored, and you can take it online or in person. Either way, when you schedule your exam, you’ll want to plan for a full day.
5
hours for the timed and proctored exam
125
scored multiple-choice questions
150
hours of preparation recommended
How Do CIMA® Certification Exam Questions Evaluate My Knowledge?
The questions on the CIMA® certification exam are multiple choice—a format that enables broad representation of the certification curriculum while testing your knowledge and skills at various levels.
Recall questions test your ability to recognize and remember specific facts, generalizations, theories, and principles.
Application questions draw on your ability to use what you know in different situations.
Analysis questions tap into your ability to synthesize what you know and come up with effective solutions, make judgements, or recommend a course of action.
Learn More About How CIMA® Exams Are Developed →
Looking for guided review, self-study guides, and ways to practice for the exam?
What Topics Will Appear on the CIMA® Exam?
The CIMA® certification exam aligns with the curriculum in the CIMA® Core Body of Knowledge.
TIP: Download and use the CIMA® detailed content outline as a study guide→
5 Knowledge Domains
22 Knowledge Sections
Exam Percentage | Domain | Sections |
| 15% | Fundamentals | • Statistics and Methods • Applied Finance and Economics • Global Capital Markets |
|---|---|---|
20% | Investments | • Vehicles • Equity • Fixed Income • Alternative Investments • Options and Futures • Real Assets |
20% | Portfolio Theory and Behavioral Finance | • Portfolio Theories and Models • Behavioral Finance • Investment Philosophies and Styles • Tools And Strategies |
20% | Risk and Return | • Attributes of Risk • Risk Measurements • Performance Measurement and Attribution |
25% | Portfolio Construction and Consulting Process | • Ethics • Client Discovery • Investment Policy • Portfolio Construction • Manager Search and Selection • Portfolio Review and Revisions |
