The next CIMA case studies run in November 2026: OCS on 4 to 6 Nov, MCS on 11 to 13 Nov and SCS on 18 to 20 Nov. Booking for the November OCS closes on 20 Oct 2026. After that come sittings in February, May and August 2027. Each sitting runs OCS first, then MCS a week later, then SCS a week after that.
When are the CIMA case study exams in 2026 and 2027?
This is CIMA's official timetable, updated 2 Sep 2026. Booking deadlines are in bold. Miss one and you wait for the next sitting.
| Sitting | Level | Booking closes | Exam days | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | OCS | 20 Oct 2026 | 4 to 6 Nov 2026 | 7 Jan 2027 |
| Nov 2026 | MCS | 27 Oct 2026 | 11 to 13 Nov 2026 | 14 Jan 2027 |
| Nov 2026 | SCS | 3 Nov 2026 | 18 to 20 Nov 2026 | 14 Jan 2027 |
| Feb 2027 | OCS | 19 Jan 2027 | 3 to 5 Feb 2027 | 25 Mar 2027 |
| Feb 2027 | MCS | 26 Jan 2027 | 10 to 12 Feb 2027 | 1 Apr 2027 |
| Feb 2027 | SCS | 2 Feb 2027 | 17 to 19 Feb 2027 | 8 Apr 2027 |
| May 2027 | OCS | 20 Apr 2027 | 5 to 7 May 2027 | 24 Jun 2027 |
| May 2027 | MCS | 27 Apr 2027 | 12 to 14 May 2027 | 1 Jul 2027 |
| May 2027 | SCS | 5 May 2027 | 19 to 21 May 2027 | 8 Jul 2027 |
| Aug 2027 | OCS | 20 Jul 2027 | 4 to 6 Aug 2027 | 23 Sep 2027 |
| Aug 2027 | MCS | 27 Jul 2027 | 11 to 13 Aug 2027 | 30 Sep 2027 |
| Aug 2027 | SCS | 3 Aug 2027 | 18 to 20 Aug 2027 | 7 Oct 2027 |
Each case study is a 3 hour exam. You sit it on one of the three exam days, which run Wednesday to Friday.
When does booking close for each sitting?
Booking closes about two weeks before the exam days. The deadlines you need now:
- November 2026: OCS by 20 Oct, MCS by 27 Oct, SCS by 3 Nov.
- February 2027: OCS by 19 Jan, MCS by 26 Jan, SCS by 2 Feb.
- May 2027: OCS by 20 Apr, MCS by 27 Apr, SCS by 5 May.
- August 2027: OCS by 20 Jul, MCS by 27 Jul, SCS by 3 Aug.
You book in MyCIMA, through Pearson VUE. Put the deadline for your level in your calendar today, with a reminder a week earlier.
Which pre-seen will I use?
Two sittings share each pre-seen in this cycle:
- February 2027 reuses the November 2026 pre-seen. If you sit in November and need a resit, February uses the same material. Your preparation carries over.
- May and August 2027 share one pre-seen, released in March or April 2027.
There is also a syllabus point to note. CIMA's new syllabus added sustainability and AI, and case studies switched to it from May 2026. A further update for IFRS 18 reaches case studies in May 2027 (and objective tests in January 2027). The exam names and structure do not change.
When are CIMA case study results released?
Results follow several weeks after the exam:
- Nov 2026: OCS on 7 Jan 2027; MCS and SCS on 14 Jan 2027.
- Feb 2027: OCS on 25 Mar, MCS on 1 Apr, SCS on 8 Apr 2027.
- May 2027: OCS on 24 Jun, MCS on 1 Jul, SCS on 8 Jul 2027.
- Aug 2027: OCS on 23 Sep, MCS on 30 Sep, SCS on 7 Oct 2027.
Notice one thing. November results arrive in January, close to the February booking deadlines. The Feb 2027 OCS booking closes on 19 Jan, less than two weeks after the 7 Jan OCS results. Have a plan for both outcomes before results day.
What is the pass mark, and what are the latest pass rates?
| Length | Pass mark | |
|---|---|---|
| Case study (OCS, MCS, SCS) | 3 hours | 80 out of 150 |
| Objective test | 90 minutes | 100 out of 150 |
The latest case study pass rates, from May 2026:
| Case study | Pass rate, May 2026 |
|---|---|
| OCS | 66% |
| MCS | 62% |
| SCS | 64% |
In plain terms, about two in three candidates passed the OCS and SCS, and a little over six in ten passed the MCS. Around a third did not.
How much does a CIMA case study cost?
In India, CIMA charges these 2026 fees, in pounds:
| Case study | Fee |
|---|---|
| OCS | £241 |
| MCS | £250 |
| SCS | £354 |
Fees rise 2 to 4% on 1 January 2027. For example, the SCS becomes £365. So the February, May and August 2027 sittings will cost a little more than the table shows.
These are the case study fees for your country, in pounds:
How do I plan backwards from my sitting?
Start from the sitting you want and work back.
- Pick your sitting from the table above.
- Find your booking deadline. That is your real deadline, not the exam day.
- Clear your objective tests first. You can book a case study before you finish that level's objective tests, but CIMA cancels the booking if they are not passed or exempt by the time booking closes. For the OCS that is E1, P1 and F1. For the MCS, E2, P2 and F2. For the SCS, E3, P3 and F3.
- Leave room for a resit. Objective tests can be sat any day, at a Pearson VUE centre or online at home. Aim to finish your last one a few weeks before the deadline, so one bad day does not cost you the sitting.
- Plan your pre-seen time. Know which pre-seen your sitting uses, and when it is released.
An example. Say you want the February 2027 MCS. Booking closes on 26 Jan 2027. So E2, P2 and F2 need to be passed or exempt by 26 Jan. You then study the November 2026 pre-seen, which February reuses.
- Our case study courses prepare you for each level: OCS, MCS and SCS.
- Start free with our case study mini course, and use our free interactive guides for the OCS, MCS and SCS.
- Every Finntutors objective test course includes a TutorBot, an AI study assistant trained on our notes.
- Finntutors is a CIMA Global Learning Provider, has won CIMA's Global Pass Rate Excellence Award four times in a row, and is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot from 100+ reviews.
Not sure which route is yours?
Message us on WhatsApp with your qualification and years of experience. We will tell you your likely route, what CIMA needs from you, and help you apply. CIMA confirms the final route.
Questions people ask
When is the next CIMA case study exam?
November 2026. The OCS runs 4 to 6 Nov, the MCS 11 to 13 Nov and the SCS 18 to 20 Nov 2026.
When does booking close for the November 2026 case studies?
OCS on 20 Oct 2026, MCS on 27 Oct 2026 and SCS on 3 Nov 2026.
Does the February 2027 case study use a new pre-seen?
No. February 2027 reuses the November 2026 pre-seen. May and August 2027 share a new pre-seen, released in March or April 2027.
What is the pass mark for CIMA case studies?
80 out of 150. The exam lasts 3 hours.
When are November 2026 case study results released?
OCS results come on 7 Jan 2027. MCS and SCS results come on 14 Jan 2027.
Please check before you apply. CIMA sets its own fees, exemptions and entry rules, and they can change. This article reflects CIMA's published information as of 16 Oct 2026. Your exact route and fee are confirmed only by CIMA when you apply. Contact the CIMA India office ([email protected]), or ask us and we will connect you. Finntutors is an independent tuition provider and does not decide exemptions or fees.
Sources
- CIMA case study timetable, official, updated 2 Sep 2026
- AICPA & CIMA fees page, aicpa-cima.com, updated 7 Oct 2026
- CIMA exam pass rates (May 2026 case studies; page created 15 Jul 2026)
- CIMA 2026 syllabus upgrade (13 May 2025)
