Choosing practice
How to choose CIMA case study practice
A checklist to use with any provider, including us. For each point: the questions to ask, why it matters and how we do.
Ask
- How long until I get a mark back: minutes, days or a week?
- Is there a limit on how many answers are marked?
- Is marking slower near the exam, when everyone is practising?
You improve by writing, getting feedback and writing again. The longer the wait, the fewer rounds you fit in before the exam, and the less you remember about why you wrote what you did.
How Eighty Marks does
Every task is marked following CIMA's published marking approach, in about a minute, within fair-use daily limits set for a full day of practice. In-depth reviews of a mock take longer: they are ready by 7am the next morning.
Ask
- Do I see the level and marks for each part of my answer, or one overall grade?
- Does it tell me what to change, not just what was wrong?
- Can I see a better version of my own answer?
- Who marks it: a qualified tutor, an AI, or both? Is that said plainly?
A single number tells you where you are, not how to move. Feedback you can act on names the requirement, the level it reached and the change to make.
How Eighty Marks does
Marked following CIMA's published marking approach: each part of your answer placed at Level 1, 2 or 3 on technical understanding, communication, use of the information and application to the scenario, with feedback by core activity. Strengths, the points to fix and the biggest win, plus your own answer rewritten to the next level up with the reason for each change. Every answer is first marked automatically by AI against this scheme. You can query any mark: an independent second marking looks at it first, then a CIMA-qualified (CGMA) moderator if it doesn't settle.
Ask
- How many full mocks are there for my pre-seen, and are they all different?
- Are they timed and in exam order, on a screen like the real one?
- Can I build up with shorter sittings first?
- Are mocks marked, and how quickly?
A full mock is the closest thing to the exam: 3 hours in timed sections (four sections at Operational and Management, three at Strategic), one company. A few different mocks, built up to from shorter sittings, tend to beat one paper sat several times.
How Eighty Marks does
Pass includes timed section practice and half mocks. Pass Plus adds up to 5 full mocks per level, each with different tasks, every timed section in exam order. How many there are depends on the question bank for your pre-seen. Every mock is marked automatically on submission.
Ask
- Does one price cover both exam windows that use the same pre-seen, or only one?
- What does it cost if I sit later than planned?
- Are in-depth reviews or extra mocks charged on top?
Each pre-seen is used for two exam windows. A price that looks low for one window can cost more if you need the second.
How Eighty Marks does
Pass is from £179 and Pass Plus from £319 per level, covering your next two exam sittings, whenever you buy. If you need more sittings after that, a returning student pays half the plan price. Pass Plus includes 3 in-depth reviews; more are £39 each or £99 for 3.
Ask
- What exactly do I have to do to qualify: attend, complete, score?
- What do I get if I don't pass: money back, or more access?
- Do I have to fill in forms, or is my effort tracked for me?
Most guarantees come with conditions. Read them before you buy, so you know what you are relying on.
How Eighty Marks does
Pass Plus has resit cover. If you don't pass a sitting you take while your plan is active, and you did the practice for it, your next exam window is free, and so is each one after it until you pass. To qualify, complete at least 40 marked answers at your level, and 1 full mock exam at that level, before each sitting, then report your result. Pass Plus only.
Ask
- Has the marking been checked against qualified markers?
- Are the results published, including where it disagrees?
- What happens if I think a mark is wrong?
Fast marking only helps if it points you the right way. Ask how a provider knows its marks are close to a real marker's.
How Eighty Marks does
We are double-marking a sample of answers with qualified human markers, and publish how closely the marks agree once there are enough to say something reliable. Any student can query a mark in the app: an independent second marking looks at it first, and a CIMA-qualified (CGMA) moderator checks any query that doesn't settle, or that you still disagree with.
How it compares with tuition and tutors
Speed of feedback
- Eighty Marks
- Usually in about a minute, after every answer
- Typical tuition pack
- Varies: often tutor-marked within days
- Private tutor
- Usually within days
Availability
- Eighty Marks
- Any time of day, on any device
- Typical tuition pack
- Fixed by the provider's schedule
- Private tutor
- By appointment
Set in your pre-seen
- Eighty Marks
- Every task
- Typical tuition pack
- Varies by provider
- Private tutor
- If your tutor prepares it
Human judgement and coaching
- Eighty Marks
- Marked automatically against CIMA's published approach. A query gets an independent second marking, then a CIMA-qualified (CGMA) moderator if it doesn't settle
- Typical tuition pack
- Varies by provider
- Private tutor
- A person who knows you and can coach you
A general comparison; providers and tutors differ. A good tutor brings human judgement and personal coaching that an AI tool does not, and many students use both. See Eighty Marks pricing
Also worth checking
- Is practice set in your actual pre-seen company, or in a generic one?
- Does it work on your phone, and is it accessible if you use a screen reader or need more time?
- Can you try it free before paying, without a card?
- Is it clear that the provider is independent of CIMA?
Many students use more than one source: a course for teaching, and a practice tool for writing and feedback. Pick what fills the gap in your own preparation.
Our marks follow CIMA's published 2026–27 marking approach. They are a practice estimate to help you improve, not an official CIMA mark or a prediction of your result. Prices and features are correct as of this page's last update; the pricing page is always current.
Judge us on one task
Try one marked task free, no card needed, and use the checklist above on us.