I completed my CIMA Operational Level back in 2014, if memory serves me right and then, like many, I procrastinated. Years passed, and it wasn’t until 2022 that I decided to pick things up again. I attempted the traditional route but quickly realised the journey felt too long to reach my goal. That’s when I moved to the FLP route and successfully passed the Managerial Case Study in 2024 with another provider.

In June 2024, I joined CharterQuest for the Strategic Case Study (SCS). However, shortly after, I had to travel to Germany for two weeks due to work, which caused me to miss key classes across all three levels. I fell behind and wasn’t ready for the November 2024 exam. I thought I had time and worked slowly through the FLP until December. After the holidays, I resumed studying in January 2025, aiming for the February exam, but the fear of failure and having to sit a new case study in May led me to delay again.

This time, I fully committed. I prepared seriously for the May exam, studying late after work and sacrificing weekends. It was exhausting, and there were many moments when I felt like giving up. But I reminded myself: this was the final hurdle, and with one last push, I’d be done. So I kept going—weekday after weekday, weekend after weekend.

To all students out there: never give up. Keep pushing, make the sacrifices, and put in the effort—it will be worth it. Don’t procrastinate, and keep practising—practice leads to polished, confident exam responses.

The joy and satisfaction of passing this final level is indescribable. It’s opened doors to new career opportunities and brought me a deep sense of accomplishment. I want to thank the CharterQuest team for their invaluable support and my lecturer, Noel, whose unique approach—getting us to read our answers aloud—helped me identify and correct my mistakes and refine my exam technique. That made all the difference.