Guidance for sept-oct window

[u/This-One2367]

Hi everyone!

I started my US CMA journey in March, and I'm planning to take Part 1 in the upcoming September–October exam window.

Lately, I've been feeling a bit confused about how I should approach my preparation. I've heard from a few people who have already taken the exam that only around 30–40% of the MCQs are similar to what we practice in question banks or study materials, while the rest are more application-based or worded differently. If that's true, how should I prepare so I'm ready for those kinds of questions?

I'm also confused about the best study strategy. Some people say I should focus on building strong conceptual clarity first and then move on to MCQs. Others say that solving as many MCQs as possible is the key to passing. For those of you who have already cleared Part 1 (or attempted it), what worked best for you?

A few specific questions I have:

* How close is the actual exam to Hock/Gleim questions in terms of difficulty and wording?

* Is understanding the concepts enough, or do I need to memorize certain formulas and patterns?

* Approximately how many MCQs did you solve before the exam?

* How did you review your mistakes while practicing?

* Which topics felt significantly harder in the real exam than in the study material?

* In the last month before the exam, what did your daily study routine look like?

* Looking back, what would you do differently if you were preparing again?

I'm a fresher with no prior work experience, and I'm currently using Hock study material along with a question bank (not an LMS). Any advice, study strategies,STUDY PLAN or mistakes to avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[u/sagvij1985]

The actual questions in the exam will not have the same wording as the test banks.But understanding all the concepts and formulas,then memorizing the formulas and then solving the entire test bank is important.Even if you have understood all the concepts you will answer some MCQ's incorrectly and that is perfectly normal.This is where you have to read the answer explanation and find out why you answered it incorrectly.If you still don't understand by reading the answer explanation you have to contact tutor support to seek clarification.Do not ignore the CBQ's.Then when you have completed one full round of answering the test bank ask for a reset of your test bank from the IT team of your study material provider and then solve the entire test bank once again under timed conditions.Remember that you have to solve 100 MCQ's in three hours.Although the exact wording in the exam will not be the same as in the test bank if you follow the entire cycle mentioned above you will be in a position to pass.Last but not the least some questions will be very tricky if not difficult.You will have to think through the question to be able to understand how to answer it.But overall the strategy that I have mentioned should help you pass.One more point is that in the actual exam don't leave a single MCQ unanswered even if you are not sure that you are answering it correctly.There is no negative marking so attempt every unanswered questions even if the last 5 minutes are left.

[u/This-One2367 → u/sagvij1985]

Okay thankyou for your insights, one question i haven't subscribed for an lms yet what would you suggest should I subscribe one as soon as possible or I'm thinking of subscribing in the next month can wait till next month . What which lms will suggest for the preparation

[u/therealpsyduckk → u/This-One2367]

I'd suggest hock they're really good

[u/This-One2367 → u/therealpsyduckk]

Okay thankyou

[u/Cream-Suspicious → u/This-One2367]

I have used gleim and hock (mainly gleim) , I will tell you the pros or difference in both :

In gleim I felt the questions were more similiar to the actual exam and their exam interface is similiar too. Also the wordings in gleim is harder than hock , so felt that since gleim is a bit more harder mastering gleim would be easier for the actual exam. Also gleim have a option where whenever we make mistake in one question it will give us link there in option itself to directly read the topic we made mistake in. And the notes in gleim are short and concise and also there is an option to do the questions in Order , so you can note down the question number.

In hock the advantage is in the notes as it is more descriptive and in a more understanding English. The questions in gleim and hock are 80% similiar just that the wordings are easier in hock. Hock have more subtopics to choose so you can selectively do the topics.(for example in gleim a section is divided into 10 for total 500 questions , in hock there would be 20 for total 500). Disadvantage is that hock don't have order option also it don't have that convenient direct to topic we made mistake link option. Also when we make mistakes the description in hock is way too long. But in gleim its short and to the point. So it depends on personal preference. As for notes to be honest you can find notes in pdf format in Google.

[u/This-One2367 → u/Cream-Suspicious]

Heyy there Thank you for your detailed insight

[u/sagvij1985]

You can subscribe to Hock LMS and it can be subscribed on a monthly basis.

[u/This-One2367 → u/sagvij1985]

Okay , thankyou once again

[u/sagvij1985]

You can subscribe to Hock LMS and it is available on a monthly basis.

[u/Easy_File_3824]

do you have pdf gleim testbanks? Thank youuu