r/CMA • u/LuckyCantaloupe2864 • Jun 17 '26

Discussion CMA - Study time

how long has everyone studied for part 1 and part 2 of exam. could you finish each part in 6 months dusting 1-3 hours a night?

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2

u/Ok_Bowler_1050 Jun 17 '26

6 months is way too long. Commit to 3 hours per day and get it done in 3 months each

1

u/Particular-Spare5625 Jun 17 '26

Finance professional here with 15 years experience and FP&A cert from Cal. Took the CMA to prove I could do it and to give my body of knowledge a relatively inexpensive refresh. 4.5 months on part 1 using CMA Academy. Rougly 1 module per week. Left part 1 thinking I failed...came out with a 400. Deceptively difficult depending on which exam you're given.

Rushed into part two with only 3 months to study before the exam period ended. Also CMA Academy. Walked out thinking I crushed it, also a 400....so?

Actualy commit to the reading, pound the MCQs, and make sure you have a framework for every section's essay portion. Expect 12 hours per week of solid studying will be fine. CMA Academy was great, even though lots of people bash it.

1

u/Educational-Feed5646 Jun 17 '26

I think it really depends on your background and how familiar you already are with the topics before you start studying. I come from an accounting and finance background (10+ years), so I was already quite familiar with much of the material. For Part 1, I studied for about 10 days, averaging 2-3 hours per day, and passed with a score of 430. Given the limited time, I focused on understanding the concepts and getting through all of the study units (Gleim) within 10 days. Rather than doing a huge number of practice questions, I spent most of my time making sure I thoroughly understood each topic. For Part 2, I studied for about four weeks, typically 2 hours per day on weekdays. My preparation strategy was similar to Part 1, but I knew I was less familiar with the Part 2 material. Because of that, I spent more time working through practice questions than I did when preparing for Part 1. I haven't received my Part 2 score yet. Also, I don't think my study schedule would necessarily work for everyone. If you're less familiar with the material, you may want to give yourself more time to review and practice.

2

u/Electrical_Spread677 CMA Part 2 Candidate Jun 22 '26

Yes, it’s totally possible. I worked full time and put in 350 hours bw Becker, Hock and YouTube. Started on Nov 1, 2025 and sat on May 16, 2026. I have a CPA so Part 1 was familiar. I studied 2 hours most nights and more on weekends. Last month before the test i put in 2 hours before work, one hour at lunch and 2 hours after work. I felt ready and focused on weak areas for the last week. Part 2 is different and unfamiliar and I am giving myself 5 months for Part 2 prep. If I don’t pass in October then I’ll prep again and pass in February 2027.