US CMA Syllabus 2025: What’s New?
The CMA (US) Learning outcome statement (LOS or exam syllabus) is undergoing significant changes starting in the September/October 2024 exam window. There are a lot of questions students have regarding these changes. Let’s dive into the new changes for both Part 1 and Part 2 of the CMA exam to help you prepare effectively.
How big are the changes?
The changes in LOS are very small, there is no major addition or deletion of any topic. One of the key areas of change is where students now need to demonstrate an understanding of Consolidated financial accounts, students specifically don’t need to perform consolidation, but they should know what happens during consolidation, like eliminations of Intracompany transactions.
Apart from these, there are a few other changes, which are as follows
Section Name Changes: A Fresh Outlook
Several sections in both Part 1 and Part 2 have undergone title changes, but the underlying content remains the same:
- Part 2, Section C Decision Analysis is now: Business Decision Analysis
- Part 2, Section D, Risk Management is now: Enterprise Risk Management
- Part 2 Section E, Investment Decisions is now: Capital Investment Decisions.
While these name changes might seem minor, it’s important to be aware of them when studying or revisiting your textbooks. Update your study materials accordingly to reflect these changes.
Key Changes in US CMA Syllabus Part 1 (2025)
Part 1 of the CMA exam focuses heavily on financial planning and performance analytics. For the exams after September/October 2024 syllabus, there are notable content updates and deletions. Here’s what’s new:
Additions
- Consolidated Financial Statements: This topic is new in Section A, Topic 1. If you’re using older textbooks, ensure they have a supplemental guide covering consolidated financial statements.
- Contribution Margin Added to Section C, Topic 2: Contribution margin is now a critical concept in Part 1, so you’ll want to include this in your study plans.
- New Additions in Internal Controls: Testing methods for internal controls and control deficiency remediation are new topics introduced in Section E, Topic 1. Make sure your study material covers these additions.
- Plantwide Overhead Renamed to Corporate Overhead: This is a small but important change in Section D, Topic 3. You’ll now see corporate overhead mentioned in your exams instead of plantwide overhead.
Deletions
- Process Costing: In Section D, Topic 2, process costing has been deleted. However, basic knowledge of it is still recommended, though you won’t need to calculate it.
- Theory of Constraints and Activity-Based Management Deleted: These topics have been removed entirely from Section D. Don’t waste time preparing for these, as they will no longer be tested.
Key Changes in US CMA Syllabus Part 2 (2025)
Similar to Part 1, CMA Part 2 has undergone content adjustments for 2024. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing:
Additions
- Financial Statement Analysis: The description of basic financial statement analysis is updated to comparative financial statement analysis in Section A, Topic 1.
- Foreign Exchange Rates: The topic impact of foreign operations has been renamed to the impact of foreign exchange rates on financial statements. The content remains similar but focuses more on how foreign exchange affects financial statements.
- New Additions in Section B: Several new topics are introduced here, including debt financing and the switch from Working capital to net working capital. It’s important to review these updates carefully.
- Price Elasticity of Demand: In Section C, the term elasticity of demand has been replaced with price elasticity of demand, but the concept remains unchanged.
- New Focus on Data Ethics: In Section F, Topic 3, data ethics has been added to reflect the growing importance of ethical data usage in business.
Deletions
- Section F deletions: In Section F, topic Moral Philosophies &Statement on Management Accounting, “Values and Ethics have been removed from the syllabus on account of the above additions
While you won’t need to study these areas anymore, it’s good to have a basic awareness of them, as they might still show up in learning outcome statements, albeit with less emphasis.
How to Prepare for the Updated US CMA Exam
With these updates in mind, it’s essential to adjust your study strategy. Here are some tips to help you ace the exam:
- Review Your Materials: Ensure your textbooks and practice questions are updated for the 2024 exam changes.
- Seek Supplemental Guides: If you’re using older textbooks, get the supplemental PDFs that cover new topics like consolidated financial statements and data ethics.
- Practice New Topics: Pay extra attention to new topics such as financial trend analysis, price elasticity of demand, and data management.
- Stay Updated: Exam syllabi can change every 3-4 years, so keep an eye out for further updates.
Conclusion
The CMA (US) exam pattern changes for 2024 are significant, but with the right preparation, you can navigate them successfully. Make sure your study materials are up-to-date and take time to understand the new additions and deletions. By staying on top of these changes, you’ll increase your chances of passing the exam on your first attempt.
At Synthesis Learning, we offer comprehensive CMA coaching to help you ace the exam, no matter the updates. Get access to expert faculty, up-to-date materials, and personalized study plans to ensure your success.
This blog provides a detailed overview of the changes to help you adapt your study plan. Don’t let these updates overwhelm you—embrace them and approach your exam with confidence!
