CIMA OCS past questions

CIMA OCS past questions: Forecasting and big data

Every sub-task on forecasting and big data set in the Operational Case Study pre-seens we cover, summarised in our own words.

Sub-tasks: 15
Sittings: 3 of 3
Exam variants: 11 of 18
Last set: May & Aug 2026

Mostly filed under core activity B (Discuss budget information for the purposes of planning and control). Syllabus: P1 B, budgeting and budgetary control. These are patterns from past exams, not a forecast: CIMA can test any part of the syllabus.

May & Aug 2026 · SoPa

Every task set for SoPa

Restaurants · CIMA's post-exam materials

OCS past sub-tasks on Forecasting and big data, May & Aug 2026 (SoPa)
Task	Core activity	What was asked (our summary)
V2 · Task 1(a)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Whether time series analysis of past sales would give a usable sales forecast.
V2 · Task 1(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	How AI and big data could improve sales forecasts.
V3 · Task 1(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Benefits of big data analytics and AI for forecasting restaurant sales.
V4 · Task 1(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	How data-gathering technology can inform the pop-up restaurant's budgets.
V5 · Task 4(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Technology and data sources for forecasting outside demand for a crop.

V2 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Budgeting
Whether time series analysis of past sales would give a usable sales forecast.
V2 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
How AI and big data could improve sales forecasts.
V3 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
Benefits of big data analytics and AI for forecasting restaurant sales.
V4 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
How data-gathering technology can inform the pop-up restaurant's budgets.
V5 · Task 4(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
Technology and data sources for forecasting outside demand for a crop.

Nov 2025 & Feb 2026 · SumTrix

Every task set for SumTrix

Ski manufacturing · CIMA's post-exam materials

OCS past sub-tasks on Forecasting and big data, Nov 2025 & Feb 2026 (SumTrix)
Task	Core activity	What was asked (our summary)
V1 · Task 2(c)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Sources and types of big data for a product range's sales budget.
V3 · Task 1(a)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Using trend lines and seasonal variations to forecast sales in a new overseas market.
V3 · Task 1(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Factors that limit the accuracy of that forecast.
V3 · Task 1(c)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Benefits of big data and analytics for forecasting overseas sales revenue.
V4 · Task 1(c)	Core activity B: Budgeting	What market data says about demand for a new range and whether it supports a sales forecast.

V1 · Task 2(c)Core activity B: Budgeting
Sources and types of big data for a product range's sales budget.
V3 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Budgeting
Using trend lines and seasonal variations to forecast sales in a new overseas market.
V3 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
Factors that limit the accuracy of that forecast.
V3 · Task 1(c)Core activity B: Budgeting
Benefits of big data and analytics for forecasting overseas sales revenue.
V4 · Task 1(c)Core activity B: Budgeting
What market data says about demand for a new range and whether it supports a sales forecast.

May & Aug 2025 · Halfpenny

Every task set for Halfpenny

Bakery · CIMA's post-exam materials

OCS past sub-tasks on Forecasting and big data, May & Aug 2025 (Halfpenny)
Task	Core activity	What was asked (our summary)
V2 · Task 1(a)	Core activity B: Budgeting	What a sales chart shows and how to find a trend line and seasonal variations.
V2 · Task 1(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	How far a forecast for a new range can rely on that trend and seasonality.
V3 · Task 2(a)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Using big data and AI to plan and control a key material cost in the budget.
V4 · Task 2(c)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Benefits of big data and AI when setting sales budgets.
V6 · Task 3(b)	Core activity B: Budgeting	Using big data and analytics for planning and control in sales budgets.

V2 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Budgeting
What a sales chart shows and how to find a trend line and seasonal variations.
V2 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
How far a forecast for a new range can rely on that trend and seasonality.
V3 · Task 2(a)Core activity B: Budgeting
Using big data and AI to plan and control a key material cost in the budget.
V4 · Task 2(c)Core activity B: Budgeting
Benefits of big data and AI when setting sales budgets.
V6 · Task 3(b)Core activity B: Budgeting
Using big data and analytics for planning and control in sales budgets.

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