Question 1

What is the CMA Part 1 exam?

Accepted Answer

CMA Part 1 covers Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics. It has 100 multiple-choice questions (90 scored) plus 2 essay scenarios in 4 hours total. The six domains are External Financial Reporting (15%), Planning/Budgeting (20%), Performance Management (20%), Cost Management (15%), Internal Controls (15%), and Technology/Analytics (15%).

Question 2

What score do I need to pass CMA Part 1?

Accepted Answer

You need a scaled score of 360 out of 500 to pass. MCQs contribute 75% of your score and essays contribute 25%. You must score at least 50% on the MCQ section to have your essays graded. The Part 1 pass rate is approximately 34-40%.

Question 3

What are the CMA eligibility requirements?

Accepted Answer

You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 2 years of relevant professional experience. You can sit for the exam before completing the experience requirement, but must fulfill it within 7 years of passing to receive certification. IMA membership is required during the certification period.

Question 4

How much does the CMA Part 1 exam cost?

Accepted Answer

CMA Part 1 costs $415 for IMA members or $520 for non-members. Annual IMA membership starts at $275, which is worthwhile if you're taking both parts. The exam is offered during three testing windows: January-February, May-June, and September-October.

Question 5

Can I take CMA Part 2 before Part 1?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can take CMA Part 1 and Part 2 in any order. Both parts must be passed within 3 years of entering the CMA program. Many candidates prefer to start with Part 1 since it covers foundational topics that support Part 2 content.

Question 6

Is this free CMA Part 1 prep as good as paid courses?

Accepted Answer

Our content covers all 6 CMA Part 1 domains with comprehensive study guides and practice questions—content that paid courses like Gleim, Becker, and Wiley charge $1,000-2,000+ for. We include variance analysis, budgeting, cost management, and analytics content. All study materials are free forever, plus 10 free AI interactions daily.

Question 7

What's included for free?

Accepted Answer

All study guides, practice questions, and explanations are completely free. We also include 10 AI-powered questions daily. For unlimited AI assistance, you can upgrade to Pro.

Question 8

Why is the content free?

Accepted Answer

OpenExamPrep was founded by Ran Chen, a CFP® who passed multiple financial exams and believes quality exam prep shouldn't cost hundreds of dollars. With AI, we can create quality content at scale and make it accessible to everyone.

Question 9

Is the content up to date?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our content is aligned with the latest exam outlines and updated regularly. Last update: January 2026.

CMA Part 1

Free CMA Part 1 Exam Prep

CMA Part 1 Exam Details

CMA Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics

Exam Content Breakdown

What's Included

7 Chapters

Practice Quizzes

Free to Start

Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds

What's Next After the CMA Part 1?

CMA Part 2

CPA

CFP

CMA Part 1 Exam FAQ

Course Content

Introduction

1. External Financial Reporting Decisions

Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting

Performance Management

Cost Management

Internal Controls

Technology and Analytics

Compare the CMA Part 1

Official IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) Resources

More Free Resources

Ready to Start Your Free CMA Part 1 Prep?