CMA Inter Paper 6 exam-day guide
CMA Inter Paper 6 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admit card / hall ticket
Carry at least one printed copy (some centres also accept a digital copy, but print as backup). Verify your name, paper code, centre address, and reporting time on it. If any detail is wrong, contact the institute's helpdesk before exam day rather than at the centre. Confirm with the provider whether a colour print or attestation is required.
Original photo ID matching the admit card
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose number you entered in the application (commonly Aadhaar, passport, PAN, voter ID, or driving licence). Photocopies and expired IDs are usually rejected. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for CMA Inter Paper 6.
Two recent passport-size photographs
Same photo as uploaded on the application, if possible. Centres sometimes ask for one for the attendance sheet; keep spares in case one is damaged.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (two or three)
Paper 6 is a descriptive/calculation paper written in a physical answer book, so carry working pens plus a spare. Avoid gel pens that smudge and any correction fluid unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Simple non-programmable calculator
Financial management and costing questions need discounting, ratios, and interest computations. Carry a basic non-programmable calculator with fresh batteries. Confirm with the provider whether scientific or programmable models are barred, and never bring a phone as a substitute.
Analog wrist watch
Many centres have wall clocks but not always in clear view. A plain analog watch helps you pace 3-hour papers. Smartwatches and any device with communication or storage capability are normally prohibited.
Transparent pouch or small clear case
Holds pens, calculator, ID, and admit card so nothing is loose on the desk. Opaque pencil cases and bags are often not allowed at the desk.
Water bottle (clear, label removed)
Stay hydrated for a long paper. Confirm with the provider whether bottles are permitted at your centre; some venues restrict them.
Recheck centre location and travel route
Visit or map the exact centre a day earlier and note the reporting time, which is usually well before the start. Account for traffic, metro delays, and security screening queues.
Revise your own formula and format sheet
One or two pages of your own summary: ratio formulas, NPV/IRR steps, leverage formulas, working capital cycle, and the structure you use for report-style answers. This is for the last revision, not for the exam hall.
Confirm exam-day contact and backup plan
Save the centre's and institute helpdesk's numbers, and arrange a backup transport option. If you fall ill, check the provider's rules on rescheduling or medical certificates in advance.
Read the current instructions bulletin
The institute publishes instructions on permitted items, reporting time, and conduct. Read the latest version for your attempt. If you cannot find a clear answer on a specific item, confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Spend these three days on revision only: your formula sheet, past-question patterns, and the topics you repeatedly get wrong. Do one timed full-length or half-length paper under exam conditions, then mark it honestly and list the three biggest time sinks. Reconfirm centre address, reporting time, and travel plan, and print the admit card if you have not already.
Do a focused pass over high-weight, high-recall areas: cost of capital, capital budgeting, leverage, working capital management, dividend policy, and ratio analysis. Practise writing one full answer with workings, because Paper 6 marks are earned for presentation and steps, not just the final figure. Check your calculator works and batteries are fresh, and assemble the transparent pouch with pens, ID, photos, and admit card.
Light revision only in the morning, then stop by early evening. Lay out clothes and the pouch, charge nothing that is banned (leave smartwatches and phones at home or switched off in your bag), and set two alarms. Sleep at your normal time rather than cramming. Eat a familiar dinner, avoid heavy late meals, and reread the admit card once to confirm the reporting time.
Eat a proper breakfast, carry water, and leave with a buffer so you reach the centre before the reporting time. Do not carry loose notes into the hall; leave them with a companion or in your bag. On arrival, complete ID checks calmly, locate the seat and washroom, and keep only permitted items on the desk. Use the minutes before the bell for breathing and a quick mental outline of your answer strategy, not for new topics.
Read the instructions and the full question paper carefully. Mark questions you can do well, and plan the order: start with your strongest section to build momentum, but leave enough time for the compulsory or high-mark questions. Note the marks per question and allocate minutes roughly in proportion, keeping 10-15 minutes at the end for checking.
Show workings clearly, label each step, and state assumptions where a question is ambiguous. Write the formula before substituting numbers so partial credit is visible. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, and if a question stalls, move on and return later. Number answers exactly as the question paper does, and cross out rough work neatly.
Stop new questions. Check that every attempted question is numbered correctly, that totals and units are stated, and that no page or sub-part is left blank unintentionally. Verify your roll number and question-paper details on the answer book, then hand over only when instructed.
Rules to check
Carry the original admit card and the original photo ID specified in your application. Entry is normally refused without them, and photocopies or digital-only versions may not be accepted. Confirm with the provider what counts as valid ID for your centre.
Reach the centre by the reporting time printed on the admit card. Late entry is usually not allowed once the paper has started, and no extra time is given for delays. If you are running late, contact the centre or helpdesk immediately, but do not assume entry will be granted.
Electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, and programmable calculators, are generally prohibited in the exam hall. Switch phones off and leave them outside the hall as directed. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted before the exam.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, answer-book details, and question-paper verification. Fill in your roll number and other particulars exactly as instructed; mismatched details can invalidate your answer book. Do not start writing before the signal.
Breaks are normally not permitted during the paper, and washroom visits are usually escorted at the invigilator's discretion, without extra time. Plan water intake and use the washroom before the paper begins. Confirm with the provider if you have a medical condition requiring accommodation.
Do not communicate with other candidates, exchange materials, or use unauthorised notes. Suspected unfair means is typically dealt with under the institute's examination misconduct rules, which can lead to cancellation of the paper or debarment. Keep your desk clear except for permitted items.
Scoring follows the institute's marking scheme and pass criteria for the paper, including any minimum marks requirement. Do not rely on memory or hearsay about cut-offs; check the current scheme published by the institute and confirm with the provider if anything is unclear.
If you believe a question is wrong or the centre has a problem, raise it with the invigilator at the time and note it in the prescribed manner. Follow the provider's published grievance procedure afterwards rather than confronting staff at the centre.