CMA Foundation Paper 3 study plan

CMA Foundation Paper 3 · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Fundamentals of Business Mathematics

Convert ratios, proportions and percentages into single-step business problems and solve 20 of them without notes
Distinguish simple and compound interest formulas and compute maturity values and present values for 15 mixed cases
Apply average due date and equated instalment logic to at least 8 loan-style scenarios
Build a one-page formula sheet for Domain 1 in your own words and annotate each formula with when it is used

A timed 25-question Domain 1 set scored at 80% or above, with every wrong answer rewritten correctly in an error log

Week 2

Solve annuity, sinking fund and net present value problems using interest tables or a calculator, 15 items
Simplify algebraic expressions involving indices, surds and logarithms and state the laws used at each step
Translate five word problems per session into equations before solving them, keeping the translation visible
Memorise and apply the three logarithm rules to solve for unknown exponents in 10 problems

A written solutions sheet of 20 combined Domain 1-2 problems showing the setup line, the working and the final answer for each

Week 3

Factorise and solve quadratic equations by factorisation and by formula, 20 equations
Solve simultaneous linear equations in two and three variables and check answers by substitution
Set up and solve profit, break-even and cost-volume problems from word descriptions, 12 cases
Identify arithmetic and geometric progressions in business contexts and compute nth term and sum, 10 items

A closed-book 30-minute quiz on equations and progressions scored at 75% or above, with a list of the error types you made

Week 4

Compute perimeter and area of triangles, quadrilaterals and circles, and state the formula used for each of 20 figures
Apply Pythagoras and similar-triangle properties to find unknown sides in 12 stated problems
Calculate surface area and volume of cubes, cuboids, cylinders, cones and spheres, 15 items
Convert between units of length, area and volume accurately in at least 10 mixed-unit problems

A one-page mensuration reference card plus a 20-question self-test scored at 80% or above

Week 5

Differentiate polynomials, products, quotients and simple composite functions using standard rules, 25 functions
Compute marginal cost, marginal revenue and elasticity from given total functions and interpret each result in one sentence
Find maxima and minima using the first and second derivative tests for 10 business optimisation problems
Integrate standard power and exponential forms and evaluate definite integrals for 12 items

A worked portfolio of 10 applied calculus problems (cost, revenue, profit, optimisation) each ending with a written business interpretation

Week 6

Classify data by type and scale and choose an appropriate presentation for 10 described datasets
Construct a frequency distribution with correct class intervals and draw a histogram and ogive from raw data
Compute mean, median, mode, quartiles and standard deviation for grouped and ungrouped data, 12 sets
Interpret coefficient of variation and compare consistency between two datasets in 8 written comparisons

One complete statistical report on a dataset you construct yourself: table, histogram, five summary measures and a two-paragraph interpretation

Week 7

Compute Karl Pearson and rank correlation coefficients for 10 paired datasets and classify strength and direction
Fit a least-squares regression line, interpret slope and intercept, and predict a value for 8 datasets
Apply the addition and multiplication rules of probability to solve 15 stated problems, including mutually exclusive and independent events
Compute expected value and decision outcomes for 8 simple business decision scenarios

A combined correlation-regression-probability worksheet of 20 problems scored at 75% or above, with a scatter plot for at least two datasets

Week 8

Complete two full-length timed mock papers under exam conditions and record domain-wise scores
Re-work every question missed across all eight weeks from your error log until each is solved unaided
Rehearse your formula sheet from memory and rewrite it from blank paper twice
Rank your weakest three domains by mock score and drill 15 targeted questions in each

A final mock paper scored at 70% or above overall with no domain below 50%, plus a completed error log signed off as closed

Week 2: Domain 1 and 2 practice accuracy at 75% or above; formula sheet covers interest, annuity and logarithm rules without gaps

Week 4: Domain 3 self-test at 80% or above and mensuration card memorised; cumulative error log reviewed and every entry re-solved

Week 6: Statistical report completed and mean, median, mode and standard deviation computed correctly for both grouped and ungrouped data

Week 8: Final mock at 70% or above overall with no domain below 50%, and two full papers completed within time limit