CIPS Level 2 Procurement study plan
CIPS Level 2 Procurement · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Procurement and supply principles
Define procurement, purchasing and supply chain management, and state two differences between each pair
Explain the stages of the sourcing cycle from identification of need to contract review in sequence
Apply the five rights of procurement to three short workplace scenarios
Match the CIPS ethical principles to given conduct examples and justify each match
Your checkpoint
A 400-word explainer mapping the full sourcing cycle onto one named organisation, plus a 10-question self-marked recall quiz scored at 8/10 or better
Procurement and supply principles & Procurement and supply functions
Compare centralised, devolved and centre-led procurement structures against cost control, responsiveness and expertise
Describe how the procurement function interfaces with finance, operations and marketing
Distinguish direct from indirect spend and classify ten sample purchases
Explain public sector procurement constraints (transparency, competition, value for money) versus private sector goals
Your checkpoint
A comparison table of three organisational structures scored against four criteria, with a 200-word recommendation for a chosen organisation
Procurement and supply functions & Procurement and supply processes
Distinguish conformance, performance and functional specifications and select the right type for five given needs
Outline when to use an RFI, RFQ and ITT, and list the content of each
Construct weighted evaluation criteria that separate technical and commercial scores
Identify the stages of a tender process from advertisement to award and standstill
Your checkpoint
A functional specification for a real purchase with at least five measurable KPIs, plus a weighted evaluation matrix totalling 100%
Procurement and supply processes
Evaluate supplier responses against a weighting matrix and justify scores with evidence
Prepare a negotiation brief covering objectives, tradeables and walk-away position for one purchase
Explain the purpose of key contract terms: price, payment, delivery, title, termination and remedies
Describe the main supplier appraisal and financial viability checks used before award
Your checkpoint
A completed mock tender evaluation with three fictional bids, a weighted scoring sheet and a 300-word award recommendation
Procurement and supply administration
Sequence requisition, purchase order, goods receipt, invoice and payment into a process map with control points
Explain three-way matching and identify five common invoice query causes
List the records that must be retained for an auditable procurement transaction
Apply basic Incoterms to three delivery scenarios to allocate cost and risk
Your checkpoint
A one-page purchase-to-pay process map with at least twelve steps and the control applied at each stage
Procurement and supply administration & Procurement and supply stakeholders
Map internal and external stakeholders by power and interest, and match each quadrant to an engagement approach
Draft a communication message to a difficult stakeholder that states position, evidence and next steps
Describe how procurement supports sustainability, modern slavery and equality objectives
Outline the main procurement performance measures and what each reveals
Your checkpoint
A stakeholder map of at least eight named roles with a written engagement plan for the two highest-priority stakeholders
Procurement and supply principles & Procurement and supply functions & Procurement and supply processes & Procurement and supply administration & Procurement and supply stakeholders
Diagnose weak areas from practice questions and rank them by frequency of error
Answer case-style questions that combine process, stakeholder and administration content
Practise timed multiple-choice technique and eliminate distractors deliberately
Re-teach each of the three weakest topics in your own notes
Your checkpoint
A full 40-question timed mock completed in one sitting, scored at 70% or above, with an error log listing every wrong answer and its cause
Procurement and supply principles & Procurement and supply functions & Procurement and supply processes & Procurement and supply administration & Procurement and supply stakeholders
Recall definitions and process stages under time pressure without notes
Retest every item on the week 7 error log until each is correct twice
Rehearse justification skills for justify and explain command words
Confirm final review of high-risk topics and exam-day logistics
Your checkpoint
Two timed 30-question mocks scored at 75% or above, plus a one-page recall sheet covering all five domains
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain the sourcing cycle and the centralised versus devolved debate aloud in five minutes without notes
Week 4: Can build a weighted evaluation matrix and defend an award recommendation in writing; at least half of study time now spent on practical tasks rather than reading
Week 6: Can trace a purchase from requisition to payment and name the control at each step, plus produce a stakeholder engagement plan unsupervised
Week 8: Two timed mocks at 75% or better and an error log with zero uncorrected items before exam day