CMA Part 1 vs Part 2: Which Is Harder—and Which Should You Start First?
This is a very common student situation:
You’re excited to start CMA. You open the syllabus. You see Part 1 and Part 2. Then your brain says, “Which one do I start first?”
And immediately after that: “Which part is harder?”
Here’s the truth: there is no universal “harder part.” The part that feels hard depends on your background and the way you study. But there is a smart way to choose your starting part—and it can save you months.
The Difference in One Line
Think of Part 1 as running the business internally. It teaches you how costs behave, how budgets are built, why performance changes, and how internal controls work.
Part 2 feels more like business decisions and finance. It focuses on analysing statements, making finance decisions, evaluating risk, and thinking strategically.
So Part 1 is more “inside operations and performance control.” Part 2 is more “analysis, finance, and strategic decision-making.”
Which CMA Part Feels Harder (and Why)
Students who struggle with formulas and costing often find Part 1 challenging at first. Variance analysis can feel like a puzzle until you understand the story behind it. Once the logic clicks, Part 1 becomes very manageable—especially with structured practice.
Part 2 can feel harder for students who are uncomfortable with finance concepts or who don’t like questions where multiple options look correct. Part 2 rewards students who practice decision-style questions regularly rather than reading theory only.
So the real issue isn’t “which part is harder.” The real issue is: which part will give you momentum faster?
Which Part Should You Start First? (Student-Friendly Logic)
If you are a student or fresher and you want a structured foundation, starting with Part 1 often works well. It builds core thinking that helps you later, and the practice structure makes your progress feel visible.
If you already work in finance or you’re naturally comfortable with ratios, analysis, and decision-making, starting with Part 2 can work very well because you can connect topics to real-life work scenarios. That makes learning faster and less stressful.
If you’re still unsure, we usually recommend you choose the part where:
you understand topics faster, and
you can practice consistently without fear.
Momentum is everything in CMA.
The Fast-Finish Strategy Students Love (Simple but Powerful)
Most students don’t fail CMA because they’re weak. They fail because they stop for 3–6 weeks, forget topics, and then the syllabus looks too big.
A fast-finish strategy is built on three things:
Start practice early (don’t wait until “finishing theory”)
Follow progression (basic → exam level MCQs)
Add mocks once you’ve covered about 60–70% so your timing improves
A small mistake log also makes a big difference. When students revise only their mistakes weekly, their scores jump faster than students who keep re-reading notes.
How We Help You Choose the Right Starting Part (and Stay Consistent)
When students join us, we don’t just hand them a syllabus and say “good luck.” We help you pick the best starting part based on your background and time availability, and then we support you with a structured plan, recordings for revision, progressive practice, and mock readiness.
Tell us your background (student/fresher/working) and how many hours you can study weekly. We’ll recommend whether you should start with Part 1 or Part 2—and give you a clear timeline to finish both.
