100+ Free CSCA Practice Questions

Pass your IMA CSCA Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 100

Question 1

Score: 0/0

In a SWOT analysis, which of the following would be classified as an internal factor?

A new tariff imposed on imported components

Proprietary manufacturing technology owned by the firm

A competitor announcing a major product launch

Rising consumer demand for sustainable products

to track

Same family resources

More CMA Exam Prep

Continue through related practice pages, study guides, comparisons, and articles from the same exam family.

Practice Pages

CMA Part 1 Practice200 questions CMA Part 2 Practice200 questions

Study Guides

CMA Part 1 Study Guide

Comparisons

EA Enrolled Agent vs CMA Part 1Compare with EA Enrolled Agent PMP Project Management Professional vs CMA Part 1Compare with PMP Project Management Professional

FREE CMA Part 1 Exam Guide 2026: Pass Your Management Accountant Certification15 min read FREE CMA Part 2 Exam Guide 2026: Pass IMA Strategic Financial Management (100 MC + 2 Essays, 4 Hours, 360/500 Pass, 6-Month Plan)30 min read CMA Part 1 Hardest Topics 2026: 6 Sections Ranked18 min read

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CSCA Exam

75%

Passing Score

IMA

~3 hrs

Exam Time

60 MC + 1 essay

$600

Standard Exam Fee

IMA (HOCK partner ~$450)

40-75 hrs

Suggested Study Time

IMA

2 windows/yr

Testing Windows

Mar-Apr & Sep-Oct

Active CMA

Prerequisite

Plus bachelor's + 2 yrs experience

CSCA is IMA's post-CMA designation in strategy and competitive analysis. The exam runs about 3 hours with roughly 60 multiple-choice questions plus 1 essay scenario, and a passing score of 75%. The fee is $600 (HOCK partner discount commonly brings it to about $450). Eligibility requires an active CMA, a bachelor's degree, and 2 consecutive years of business experience. Two testing windows per year (March/April and September/October). IMA suggests 40-75 study hours.

Sample CSCA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CSCA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In a SWOT analysis, which of the following would be classified as an internal factor?

A.A new tariff imposed on imported components

B.Proprietary manufacturing technology owned by the firm

C.A competitor announcing a major product launch

D.Rising consumer demand for sustainable products

Explanation: SWOT separates internal factors (Strengths and Weaknesses) from external factors (Opportunities and Threats). Proprietary manufacturing technology is owned and controlled by the firm, making it an internal Strength. Tariffs, competitor moves, and shifting consumer demand are all external environmental factors.

2According to Porter's Five Forces, which force is most directly intensified when buyers can easily switch between suppliers with little cost?

A.Threat of new entrants

B.Bargaining power of buyers

C.Threat of substitutes

D.Rivalry among existing competitors

Explanation: Low switching costs strengthen the bargaining power of buyers because customers can credibly threaten to take their business elsewhere, forcing suppliers to reduce prices or improve terms. This is one of Porter's structural determinants of buyer power, alongside concentration, volume, and product differentiation.

3In Porter's value chain, which of the following is classified as a primary activity rather than a support activity?

A.Procurement

B.Human resource management

C.Outbound logistics

D.Technology development

Explanation: Porter's value chain has five primary activities (inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing & sales, service) and four support activities (firm infrastructure, human resource management, technology development, procurement). Outbound logistics — distributing finished goods — is a primary activity.

4A business unit holds a small relative market share in a high-growth industry. According to the BCG growth-share matrix, this unit is classified as which of the following?

A.Star

B.Cash Cow

C.Question Mark

D.Dog

Explanation: The BCG matrix plots relative market share against market growth rate. High growth and low relative share = Question Mark (also called Problem Child), which typically requires heavy investment to gain share. Stars are high share/high growth, Cash Cows are high share/low growth, and Dogs are low share/low growth.

5PESTEL analysis is most useful for assessing which type of factors influencing strategy?

A.Internal resource capabilities

B.Macro-environmental external factors

C.Competitive rivalry within an industry

D.Customer segmentation patterns

Explanation: PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) frames the macro-environmental forces shaping an industry. It complements Porter's Five Forces (industry-level) and SWOT (firm-specific) by isolating broad external trends that affect all competitors.

6The GE/McKinsey nine-cell matrix evaluates business units on which two dimensions?

A.Market growth rate and relative market share

B.Industry attractiveness and business unit competitive strength

C.Product life cycle stage and profitability

D.Cost position and differentiation level

Explanation: Unlike the simpler BCG matrix (growth vs. share), the GE/McKinsey 9-cell matrix uses multi-factor measures of industry attractiveness (size, profitability, regulation) on one axis and business unit competitive strength (share, margins, distinctive capabilities) on the other.

7Under the VRIO framework, a resource provides a sustained competitive advantage only when it is valuable, rare, costly to imitate, and the firm is:

A.Vertically integrated

B.Operating in a regulated industry

C.Organized to capture the resource's value

D.Listed on a major stock exchange

Explanation: VRIO (Barney) requires a resource to be Valuable, Rare, costly to Imitate, AND for the firm to be Organized to exploit it. Without organizational structures, processes, and culture to capture value, even a unique resource yields only temporary advantage.

8In Porter's Five Forces analysis, high capital requirements, strong economies of scale, and proprietary technology primarily affect which force?

A.Bargaining power of suppliers

B.Threat of new entrants

C.Threat of substitutes

D.Industry rivalry

Explanation: Capital intensity, scale economies, and proprietary technology are barriers to entry that reduce the threat of new entrants. The higher these barriers, the less likely new firms can profitably enter and erode incumbents' margins.

9A firm conducts an analysis of its supply network and identifies that a single overseas supplier provides a critical, hard-to-substitute component. This finding should be flagged as which of the following in a SWOT?

A.Opportunity

B.Strength

C.Weakness

D.Threat

Explanation: Dependence on a single supplier for a critical component is an internal vulnerability — a Weakness — because it reflects the firm's own sourcing decisions and capability gap. Some analysts also map the disruption potential as a Threat, but the dependence itself is internal and is conventionally a Weakness in CSCA materials.

10Which of the following best describes a 'Cash Cow' in the BCG matrix?

A.Low market share in a high-growth market

B.High market share in a low-growth market

C.High market share in a high-growth market

D.Low market share in a low-growth market

Explanation: Cash Cows have high relative market share in low-growth markets, generating substantial cash flow with limited reinvestment needs. The cash they throw off is typically used to fund Question Marks or Stars or returned to shareholders.

About the CSCA Exam

The CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) is IMA's post-CMA strategic-analysis credential covering strategic frameworks (SWOT, Porter, BCG, GE/McKinsey), strategy formulation, implementation (Balanced Scorecard, change management), performance measurement, ERM, big data and AI in strategy, and IMA ethics. It is restricted to active CMA holders.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (60 MC + 1 essay)

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

$600 (HOCK discount $450) (Institute of Management Accountants (IMA))

CSCA Exam Content Outline

25%

Strategic Analysis

SWOT, PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces, value chain, BCG and GE/McKinsey matrices, VRIO/resource-based view

20%

Strategy Formulation

Porter's generic strategies (cost leadership, differentiation, focus), Ansoff matrix, Blue Ocean Strategy and value innovation

20%

Strategy Implementation

Balanced Scorecard, strategy maps, OKRs and KPIs, organizational structure, Lean/Six Sigma, Kotter and ADKAR change models

15%

Performance Measurement & Strategic Control

DuPont analysis, EVA, MVA, ROIC vs WACC, Critical Success Factors, scorecard cascades

10%

Risk & Risk Management in Strategy

COSO ERM 2017, risk appetite/tolerance/capacity, inherent vs residual risk, KRIs, heat maps, Monte Carlo simulation

Big Data, AI & Strategic Decisions

Big data 4 Vs, predictive analytics, NLP for competitive intelligence, generative AI in strategic planning, AI governance

IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice

Honesty, Fairness, Objectivity, Responsibility; resolution of ethical conflict process; conflicts of interest

How to Pass the CSCA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 3 hours (60 MC + 1 essay)
Exam fee: $600 (HOCK discount $450)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CSCA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Porter's Five Forces and the Value Chain — they recur across Strategic Analysis (25%) and many implementation scenarios

2Memorize the Balanced Scorecard's four perspectives and how strategy maps link them through cause-and-effect chains

3Practice EVA, DuPont, and ROIC vs WACC calculations until they are mechanical — quantitative items are common in Performance Measurement

4Learn COSO ERM 2017's distinction between risk appetite, tolerance, and capacity — and the inherent vs residual risk pairing

5Know the IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice cold: Honesty, Fairness, Objectivity, Responsibility — and the Resolution of Ethical Conflict steps

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be an active CMA to take the CSCA?

Yes. The CSCA is a post-CMA credential. To sit for the exam you must hold an active CMA, plus a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 2 consecutive years of professional experience in business. The CMA prerequisite is the most distinctive eligibility rule and cannot be waived.

What is on the CSCA exam?

CSCA covers Strategic Analysis (25%), Strategy Formulation (20%), Strategy Implementation (20%), Performance Measurement & Strategic Control (15%), Risk Management in Strategy (10%), Big Data and AI in Strategy (5%), and IMA Ethics (5%). Format is roughly 60 multiple-choice questions plus 1 essay scenario over about 3 hours.

How much does the CSCA exam cost?

The standard CSCA exam fee is $600 through IMA. HOCK International is an IMA learning partner and frequently offers a discounted bundled price of about $450 when you purchase review materials, so total out-of-pocket varies depending on whether you study self-directed or with a partner provider.

How long should I study for CSCA?

IMA suggests 40-75 study hours. Most active CMAs find the lower end realistic if they have recent strategy or FP&A experience, while those further from a strategy role plan closer to 75 hours. Focus on Porter's frameworks, the Balanced Scorecard, COSO ERM 2017, and the IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice.

When can I take the CSCA exam?

The CSCA is offered in two testing windows per year: March-April and September-October. The exam is computer-based at Prometric centers, and ProProctor remote proctoring may be available. Register through IMA in advance of each window.

What is the passing score for the CSCA?

Candidates must earn a 75% scaled score across the multiple-choice and essay portions. The multiple-choice section is weighted heavier than the essay, but you must perform reasonably on both — strong MCQ scores cannot fully offset a weak essay.