CIMA SCS · Nov 2024 & Feb 2025
Rotomyne past exam tasks: CIMA SCS Nov 2024 & Feb 2025
Rotomyne (lithium mining) was the Strategic Case Study pre-seen for Nov 2024 & Feb 2025. Here is every sub-task CIMA set on it, across 6 exam variants, summarised in our own words.
CIMA's post-exam materials for Nov 2024 & Feb 2025 (the real variants, suggested answers, marking guidance and examiner's report)
- Exam variants
- 6
- Sub-tasks
- 36
- Topics tested
- 15
- Industry
- Lithium mining
Core activity mix
Sub-tasks across all variants, under the core activity CIMA's marking guidance gives each one.
- ADevelop business strategyBlueprint weighting 15–25%8
- BEvaluate business ecosystem and business environmentBlueprint weighting 15–25%9
- CRecommend financing strategiesBlueprint weighting 15–25%6
- DEvaluate and mitigate riskBlueprint weighting 15–25%7
- ERecommend and maintain a sound control environmentBlueprint weighting 15–25%6
Topics tested
- Boards, governance and pay4
- Acquisitions and divestments3
- Cyber and digital security3
- Risk management and the risk register3
- Share price and market reaction3
- Stakeholders3
- Strategic choice, mission and SAF3
- Currency risk2
- Dividend policy2
- Ethics2
- Internal audit2
- Political risk2
- Scenario planning2
- Ecosystem and environment analysis1
- Raising finance1
The tasks, variant by variant
Each candidate sat one variant. Every variant covers every core activity, but on different topics and new information.
- V1 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Difficulties in understanding and managing the company's business ecosystem.
- V1 · Task 1(b)Core activity A: Strategy
Benefits of scenario planning for customers continuing to cut use of the main product.
- V1 · Task 2(a)Core activity D: Risk
Evaluating the risk register's mitigation of demand volatility.
- V1 · Task 2(b)Core activity E: Control environment
Whether the whole board should own the demand volatility risk.
- V1 · Task 3(a)Core activity C: Financing
Whether to keep paying the dividend next year.
- V1 · Task 3(b)Core activity A: Strategy
Challenges in designing an exit strategy for selling mines.
- V2 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Using stakeholder analysis to help identify likely culprits of a cyber-attack.
- V2 · Task 1(b)Core activity C: Financing
How the board can limit the attack's effect on the share price.
- V2 · Task 2(a)Core activity A: Strategy
The board's approach to managing digital security.
- V2 · Task 2(b)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Managing political risk in a host country after the cyber-attack.
- V2 · Task 3(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Controls to stop the cyber-attack happening again.
- V2 · Task 3(b)Core activity E: Control environment
Internal audit work to check compliance with new controls.
- V3 · Task 1(a)Core activity A: Strategy
How a perceived lack of climate transparency could change stakeholders' behaviour.
- V3 · Task 1(b)Core activity C: Financing
Possible share price effect of the perceived lack of transparency.
- V3 · Task 2(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
How relevant suitability, acceptability and feasibility are to deciding on new climate disclosures.
- V3 · Task 2(b)Core activity E: Control environment
Implications of linking board pay to climate performance.
- V3 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk
Factors in keeping the licence to operate in host countries.
- V3 · Task 3(b)Core activity A: Strategy
For and against selling the most polluting mines to a rival's customer.
- V4 · Task 1(a)Core activity D: Risk
Risks of continuing with traditional mining methods.
- V4 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Evaluating a proposal for suitability, acceptability and feasibility.
- V4 · Task 2(a)Core activity A: Strategy
Factors in deciding whether to acquire a target company.
- V4 · Task 2(b)Core activity C: Financing
Likely reaction of the target's shareholders to the dividend policy.
- V4 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk
Ethical issues raised in an employee's email.
- V4 · Task 3(b)Core activity E: Control environment
What the nomination committee should look for in executive and non-executive directors.
- V5 · Task 1(a)Core activity A: Strategy
Whether building a factory abroad fits the mission, vision and values.
- V5 · Task 1(b)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Effect of the factory on political risks in the host country.
- V5 · Task 2(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Power and interest of three stakeholder groups affected by the factory's location and design.
- V5 · Task 2(b)Core activity C: Financing
For and against funding the factory by borrowing locally in local currency.
- V5 · Task 3(a)Core activity D: Risk
Ethics of agreeing to build a hospital in the host country.
- V5 · Task 3(b)Core activity E: Control environment
Internal audit work to find out whether bribes are being paid on the factory project.
- V6 · Task 1(a)Core activity B: Ecosystem and environment
Challenges in understanding economic currency risk.
- V6 · Task 1(b)Core activity D: Risk
For and against accepting economic currency risk rather than mitigating it.
- V6 · Task 2(a)Core activity C: Financing
Whether currency exposure is likely to affect the company's beta.
- V6 · Task 2(b)Core activity E: Control environment
Pros and cons of adding a treasury executive director to the board.
- V6 · Task 3(a)Core activity A: Strategy
Scenario planning responses to several possible events.
- V6 · Task 3(b)Core activity D: Risk
Whether to pay a ransom after a ransomware attack.
Practise the same skills in Vennlisk
Rotomyne won't be set again, but the core activities will. Timed SCS tasks in the current pre-seen, marked in about a minute. Try one task free, no card needed.