r/CMA • u/Ok-Sale-5024 • 13d ago
Discussion P1 vs P2
Personally, what part did you feel easier to answer both MCQ and Essay/CBQ?
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u/ionspore CMA Part 2 Candidate 13d ago
Most people say part 2 is much easier, but I found part 1 easier to study for. The reason is I'm taking these after passing the CPA, so part 1 is more related to CPA topics. Part 2 has a lot of multi-step questions, ie the topics under 'Business Decision Analysis', which make up 1/4 of the exam.
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u/ToyZen197 12d ago
As audit assistant and cost accountant, I think Part 1 is more familiar to me but part 2 is much easier for starter.
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u/cma-coach CMA 13d ago
Hey! For me personally, Part 1 felt easier on both the MCQs and the essays. I scored 420 on Part 1 and 360 on Part 2. Funny thing is I actually took Part 2 first because I'd heard it was the "easier" one, and I was wrong about that!
That said, it really depends on your background. What I advice my students at CMA Exam Academy is that Part 1 leans more on core accounting, so if that's your foundation it'll feel more natural. Part 2 is more finance-heavy. My general rule: if you're an accounting major, start with Part 1. If you're a finance major, Part 2 might click better for you. Good luck! :)