This Fundamentals of Business Mathematics Learning System has been devised as a resource
for students attempting to pass their CIMA computer-based assessments, and provides:
● a detailed explanation of all syllabus areas;
● extensive ‘ practical ’ materials;
● generous question practice, together with full solutions;
● a computer-based assessments preparation section, complete with computer-based assessments
standard questions and solutions.
This Learning System has been designed with the needs of home-study and distancelearning
candidates in mind. Such students require very full coverage of the syllabus topics,
and also the facility to undertake extensive question practice. However, the Learning
System is also ideal for fully taught courses.

This main body of the text is divided into a number of chapters, each of which is organised
on the following pattern:

● Detailed learning outcomes expected after your studies of the chapter are complete. You
should assimilate these before beginning detailed work on the chapter, so that you can
appreciate where your studies are leading.
● Step-by-step topic coverage. This is the heart of each chapter, containing detailed explanatory
text supported where appropriate by worked examples and exercises. You should
work carefully through this section, ensuring that you understand the material being
explained and can tackle the examples and exercises successfully. Remember that in
many cases knowledge is cumulative: if you fail to digest earlier material thoroughly, you
may struggle to understand later chapters.
● Activities. Some chapters are illustrated by more practical elements, such as comments
and questions designed to stimulate discussion.
● Question practice. The test of how well you have learned the material is your ability to
tackle exam-standard questions. Make a serious attempt at producing your own answers,
but at this stage do not be too concerned about attempting the questions in computerbased
assessments conditions. In particular, it is more important to absorb the material
thoroughly by completing a full solution than to observe the time limits that would
apply in the actual computer-based assessments.
● Solutions. Avoid the temptation merely to ‘ audit ’ the solutions provided. It is an illusion
to think that this provides the same benefi ts as you would gain from a serious attempt
of your own. However, if you are struggling to get started on a question you should read
the introductory guidance provided at the beginning of the solution, where provided,
and then make your own attempt before referring back to the full solution.
Having worked through the chapters you are ready to begin your fi nal preparations for the
computer-based assessments. The fi nal section of the CIMA Learning System provides you
with the guidance you need. It includes the following features:
● A brief guide to revision technique.
● A note on the format of the computer-based assessments. You should know what
to expect when you tackle the real computer-based assessments, and in particular the
number of questions to attempt.
● Guidance on how to tackle the computer-based assessments itself.
● A table mapping revision questions to the syllabus learning outcomes allowing you to
quickly identify questions by subject area.
● Revision questions. These are of computer-based assessments standard and should be tackled
in computer-based assessments conditions, especially as regards the time allocation.
● Solutions to the revision questions.
Two mock computer-based assessments. You should plan to attempt these just before the
date of the real computer-based assessments. By this stage your revision should be complete
and you should be able to attempt the mock computer-based assessments within the
time constraints of the real computer-based assessments.
If you work conscientiously through the CIMA Learning System according to the guidelines
above you will be giving yourself an excellent chance of success in your computerbased
assessments. Good luck with your studies!