Sitting for Your CMA: What to Expect on Exam Day

• You can have your CMA exam administered remotely or at a Prometric testing center.
• For remote exams, log in 15 minutes before the start of the exam.
• For in-person exams, arrive at the testing center 30 minutes early.
• Don’t forget to have your non-programmable calculator ready for exam day.
• You will have four hours to complete 100 multiple-choice questions and two essay questions.
• Exam scores will be available between six and 10 weeks following your exam.

To administer the CMA exam, the IMA partners with Prometric, which has physical testing centers throughout the world and remote proctoring capabilities. Educational Testing Services, Prometric’s parent company, administers many common computer-based exams such as the GRE and TOEFL. What sets Prometric apart, as you’ll see, is the level of security and verification required for exam candidates.

Technology and Space Requirements

Prometric has strict environment and system requirements for remote testing. Your testing locations must meet the following requirements:

• Indoors
• Well lit
• No background noise
• No other people or animals present
• No clutter on your workstation

And system requirements include:

• Laptop/PC plugged directly into power source
• No docking stations
• No dual monitors
• Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768
• Minimum screen scaling of 100%
• Operating system of Windows 8.1 or higher or MacOS 10.13 or higher
• Working camera, speaker, and microphone (no Bluetooth headsets)
• Internet connection speed of 1.0 Mbps or greater

Launch Exam 15 Minutes Before Your Exam Time

You should run a System Readiness Check and install the ProProctor application days in advance of your exam to ensure everything is downloaded and working correctly. This includes making sure your camera and audio equipment are working properly.

On the day of the exam, you will need to launch the exam application 15 minutes before your scheduled start time so you can complete the testing environment inspection. To launch the exam, enter your appointment confirmation and the first four letters of your last name.

Self-Service Check-In

Before being greeted by a Prometric Readiness Agent, you will need to go through a self-serve check-in process.

1. Use the camera on your computer to take a clear photo of yourself.
2. Use the camera on your computer to take a clear photo of your ID.
   
   1. ID must be current, valid, and government-issued.
   2. Specific ID requirements can be found in your exam confirmation email.

    

3. Review the Readiness Checklist on what to expect from the remote testing process.

Meet With Your Readiness Agent

Once you have completed the self-serve check-in process, you will meet your Readiness Agent, and they will guide you through three security checks.

1. Identification Confirmation
   
   1. You will verify your name, email address, and exam details.

    

2. Full Environment Check
   
   1. You will need to show your Readiness Agent a 360-degree view of your testing environment via your computer camera.

    

3. Physical Check
   
   1. You will need to stand up to perform a physical scan. This includes turning pockets inside out, examining sleeves, glasses, checking ears, etc.

    

Take the Exam

It is now time to take the exam.

Make sure to review the Prometric ProUserGuide prior to your exam so you are aware of any items or behaviors that are prohibited during remote testing.

Here is what you need to know if you’re taking the CMA exam at a physical Prometric testing location.

Where Is Your Testing Center?

This should come as no surprise, but you need to know exactly where your assigned testing center is and how to get there (in good and bad traffic). Use the locator tool to find your testing center.

Arrive 30 Minutes Prior to Your Exam Time

Your Prometric testing center will likely be a small office space located in a nondescript business park or strip mall. Arrive at least half an hour before your scheduled exam time. You will need this time.

Check In With the TCA

First, check in with the Testing Center Administrator, or TCA, when you arrive. They’ll check your ID and physically look to see that the picture matches your appearance.

The IMA requires you to present either:

• A valid international passport
• Or two (2) forms of ID, including a valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., a driver’s license)

There is no leeway on this requirement so ensure you have these documents in hand.

Stow Your Stuff

You will be issued a key to a numbered locker. You are required to stow all your belongings in the locker for the duration of the exam.

This includes:

• All books, notes, pens, and pencils.
• Laptops, cell phones (even dumb phones), and tablets.
• Personal keys, wallet, money, etc.
• Jackets, hats, and other secondary clothing.

You may be allowed to wear a sweater or layers if you are concerned about being cold, but it is up to the TCA’s discretion.

ID Verification

Now, the TCA will go through Prometric’s thorough verification process to ensure you are who you claim to be.

Steps in this process may include:

1. The TCA will take your picture with a digital camera. Your picture will be stored with your account.
2. Your government-issued forms of ID will be scanned/swiped for validation, and your personal information will be entered into your profile.
3. You will be asked to provide up to six different fingerprint scans, all of which will be combined to create a unique biometric ID for you to use when you log in and log out of one of Prometric’s testing centers (remember, there is a Part 2 of the CMA exam)

Physical Check

Next, the TCA will ask that you turn out all of your pockets to show you are taking nothing into the testing environment. They will then wave a handheld metal detector over your body to ensure you are not carrying any electronics or metal objects. This scan has no ill health effects and is completely safe. Do know that a TCA will not place their hands on your body in any way.

Whew! After all that fun stuff, the TCA will present you with the official IMA rules and regulations for your CMA exam. Please read these carefully and be sure to ask the TCA any questions if something is unclear. You’ll also be given a pair of No. 2 pencils and blank paper for use during the exam.

Don’t Forget a Non-programmable Calculator!

The ONE thing that the IMA will let you bring and use during the CMA exam is a non-programmable calculator. If you’re one of those people who thinks the kind of calculator you use matters, the CMA Coach recommends the Texas Instruments BA II Plus Financial Calculator. Be sure to bring a calculator–you’re going to need it!

See the picture to the right? That’s an actual Prometric exam center and exactly what you can expect to see at an in-person exam once you’ve had your biometric ID scanned and you’re allowed to enter the testing room. The in-person CMA exam is administered via a Windows-based PC. So, if you’re a diehard Mac user, try to (re-) familiarize yourself with Windows prior to the exam. If you are taking the exam remotely, there are special installation instructions for Mac users.

15-minute tutorial

Using the account information provided by the IMA, you’ll now log in to your exam. Before your time starts, you’ll receive a 15-minute tutorial on how to use the computer and take the CMA exam.

While UWorld CMA’s practice exams and questions are designed to recreate CMA exam conditions, that doesn’t mean you should ignore or blaze through this tutorial. Be sure you’re comfortable with how the program and computer work before starting the exam.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS: Let your proctor know or raise your hand and the TCA will come to assist you.

100 MCQs

You now have three hours to answer 100 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four potential answers, and you have roughly 1 minute and 48 seconds to read, process, and answer each question.

Skim the questions where possible and try to quickly narrow your options to the two most likely answers — then work from there. Do your best, because if you complete the MCQ section in under three hours…

2 Essays

You have one hour (or more) to complete two essay questions which each may contain up to eight parts … that’s a possibility for 16 parts you have to answer!

Once you complete the CMA exam, if in-person, you’ll have your biometric ID scanned again and you’ll log out of the testing center. The TCA will present you with an information packet and details about how you’ll receive your exam scores.Expect to receive your CMA exam scores between six and 10 weeks following your exam.