CMA Exam Results

Taking the CMA exam is a significant milestone in your career, and you should be proud no matter your results. Here we’ll show you how to interpret your CMA exam score and what to do if you fail.

• The CMA exam score is a scaled score between 0-500, 500 being a perfect score and 360 being the minimum passing score.
• It usually takes around one month for your CMA exam results to be posted.
• There are three performance ratings: Satisfactory (S), Marginal (M), and Unsatisfactory (U).
• If you fail, you are only required to retake the portions you did not pass.

Knowing how to properly interpret your CMA exam results is key to moving forward. Keep reading to learn how to understand your score.

We know firsthand that waiting for your CMA exam results can feel like forever. Instead of letting your nerves get the best of you, be sure to breathe a sigh of relief! CMA exam preparation is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Be confident that you did the best you could, especially if you prepared with UWorld’s CMA Review Course. Also, know that if you do not pass, we’re here to help you get back on your feet.

CMA exam results typically take over one month to be posted. Throughout these weeks, it’s easy to get caught up in worry and what-ifs. Here are some ways to ditch the nail-biting and remain optimistic.

• Relax: Phew, you did it! Pat yourself on the back for getting through exam day. Now’s the time to enjoy a break from studying before plotting your next steps toward earning your CMA certification.
• Maintain your routine: Going from rigorous exam prep to a mundane waiting period can feel like quite a shock. Once you’ve enjoyed a week or two off, maintaining a portion of your previous schedule can provide a sense of normalcy and keep you on track to achieve your goals. If you just completed CMA exam part 1, it may be helpful to browse exam part 2 materials to get a head start. Or, if there was a particular section you feel you may need to retake, check out some study materials for the topic areas you struggled with. Be sure to ease in slowly and take breaks when you need.
• Practice good mental health habits: Simple daily habits like drinking enough water, eating fruits and vegetables, and getting a good night’s sleep are natural ways to alleviate stress while you wait for your CMA results. When doubts sneak in, focus on calming your breath and staying positive.

The CMA exam score is a scaled score between 0-500, 500 being a perfect score and 360 being the minimum passing score. Parts 1 and 2 of the CMA exam are split between multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and essay questions. MCQs are worth 75%, while essay questions are worth 25%.

Note: You must answer at least 50% of the MCQs correctly in order to move onto the essay questions.

The ICMA (Institute of Certified Management Accountants), the certifying body of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), will email your exam results to you approximately six weeks from the end of the month in which you’ve taken your test. Essays are graded offline by ICMA, which causes the waiting period.

The ICMA email provides all the information necessary to find out if you achieved a CMA exam passing score. At the time grades are released, results are also available online in your Account Profile transcript. Unfortunately, the ICMA does not share exam scores via telephone.

2024 Exam Window	2024 Estimated* Score Release Dates
January and February	March 14, April 11
May and June	July 12, August 11
September and October	November 11, December 12

(*) Please note there are no official, set score release dates.

Your CMA exam score is based on a scoring scale. Earning above a 360 on the 0-500 scale is the minimum passing rate. However, since it is a scaled score, this means a 360 does not equate to 72%.

It is solely a score, not a percentage. The scaled score allows CMA candidates to know how they performed in relation to the passing standard of 360.

Performance Reports are sent via e-mail from Prometric to all candidates who take an exam part. These reports are emailed approximately 14 days after exam results are posted to the candidate’s profile.

Candidates who do not achieve a CMA exam passing score will receive a report that indicates their performance on each of the key topic areas in the multiple-choice section as well as their overall performance on the essay section of the exam.

There are three performance ratings: Satisfactory (S), Marginal (M), and Unsatisfactory (U).

If you do not receive your CMA exam results in the expected time period, contact the IMA.

If you fail the CMA exam, know that over 50% of candidates do not pass on their first attempt. In addition, you are only required to retake the portions you did not pass. This is where your CMA exam performance report comes in handy. This report includes the content specification outline to help you determine which topics require additional preparation.