CMA Sri Lanka SL3 Business Strategy & Risk Management Exam exam-day guide
CMA Sri Lanka SL3 Business Strategy & Risk Management Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission / confirmation document
Print or download the admission notification or exam confirmation issued when you registered (through the Institute or its exam provider). It typically carries your candidate number, exam centre and session times. Confirm with the provider which document is mandatory and whether a printed copy is required.
Valid photo ID matching your registration
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (typically national ID card or passport) in the exact name used on your registration. Expired or photocopied IDs are commonly refused; confirm the accepted ID types and name-matching rule with the provider before exam day.
Candidate/index number and centre details written down
Note your candidate number, the centre address, hall/room, reporting time and the exam session start time on a single sheet or in your phone's notes. Do not rely on memory or on last-minute emails.
Exam calculator consistent with the permitted model list
Business strategy exams usually require some numerical work (ratios, break-even, NPV-style comparisons). Bring a non-programmable calculator you have practised with. Confirm with the provider whether programmable or graphing calculators are banned and whether the centre supplies one.
Stationery: black/blue pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler
Bring at least two working pens. Use pencil only where instructed (e.g., multiple-choice answer sheets). Confirm whether the centre provides answer booklets and graph paper, or whether you must bring your own.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many halls have no visible clock or the clock is at the front only. A plain analogue or basic digital watch helps you pace the four sections. Smart watches and any device with connectivity are almost always prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle and light snack for after the exam
Confirm the centre's policy on drinks at the desk. Keep snacks in your bag for after the session; check whether a supervised break is allowed and whether bags are accessible during the exam.
Plan and pre-check the route to the centre
Do a dry run or check the route and travel time the day before. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time to absorb delays. Confirm the centre's reporting time and late-entry cut-off with the provider; do not assume you will be admitted after the start.
Know what is prohibited and leave it at home or in your bag
Phones, smart watches, notes, textbooks and unauthorised electronic devices are standard prohibited items. Confirm the provider's rules on where bags and phones must be stored and whether they must be switched off.
Confirm the exam format and section weightings from the official syllabus
Check the current syllabus and any examiner's report or past-paper guidance for the number of questions, choice, marks and time allocation per section. If the format is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Review your own summary sheets, not new material
Bring one or two pages of your own condensed notes (models, frameworks, risk terminology, formula reminders) to review before entering the hall, then leave them in your bag. Do not bring commercial question banks or unauthorised materials into the hall.
Medical or access arrangements confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other access arrangements, these must usually be requested and approved before the exam. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and the deadline; do not expect to arrange it on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read the admission document and check the centre address, reporting time and session start. Confirm travel arrangements and, if needed, accommodation. Check the provider's website or your email for any change of venue or timing notice. Confirm with the provider any rule you are unsure about (ID type, calculator model, permitted stationery, break policy).
Work through your own summary sheets for the four syllabus areas: strategic analysis (external environment, industry and competitor analysis, internal resources and capabilities), strategy formulation and choice, strategy implementation and change, and risk management (risk identification, assessment, treatment and governance). For each area, write a one-page map of the main models and how they connect. Practise applying two or three models to a real company you know well so you can illustrate answers quickly.
Do at least one timed practice run using the official format: read the required number of questions, allocate minutes per mark, plan each answer for two to three minutes, then write. Afterwards, mark your own script against the syllabus learning outcomes and note where you lost marks: missing application to the scenario, no conclusion, or unbalanced time. Fix one technique issue per practice run.
Prepare a reusable answer skeleton: short introduction defining the issue in the scenario, analysis using named models with explicit application to the case facts, evaluation of trade-offs, and a clear recommendation with risks and next steps. Practise writing this skeleton for a strategy question and a risk question so the structure is automatic on the day.
Do a final pass over your summary sheets and any formula or definition list. Pack your bag: admission document, ID, calculator with fresh batteries, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, and your notes for pre-exam review. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off and store it. Set two alarms. Check the weather and travel conditions.
Stop heavy study by early evening. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, and sleep at your usual time. Do not start a new topic or read unfamiliar material late; it increases anxiety without improving marks.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare before the reporting time. Keep your admission document and ID in an accessible pocket. Review only your one-page summary; do not discuss topics with other candidates in a way that unsettles you. Follow instructions on where to store bags and phones.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions, choice and marks. Fill in your candidate details exactly as on your ID. Scan all questions and mark which ones you will answer. Write a time budget on your answer booklet: total minutes divided by total marks, with a reserve of about ten minutes at the end for checking.
Spend two to three minutes per answer writing a brief plan: the models you will use, the case facts you will apply, and your conclusion. This prevents drifting and shows structure to the marker. Use headings and short paragraphs; underline model names and key terms.
For every model you name, state what it shows for this specific organisation: which forces are strong or weak, which capabilities are valuable, rare, hard to imitate, and what that implies for the strategic choice. Avoid textbook definitions with no application; application earns the marks.
Identify the risk, classify it (strategic, operational, financial, compliance/reputational), assess likelihood and impact, then propose a treatment (avoid, reduce, transfer, accept) with a control and an owner. Link risk to the strategy you recommended so the answer is coherent.
At the halfway point, check how many marks you have attempted against your budget. If you are behind, move on and leave space to return. In the last ten minutes, check you have answered the required number of questions, filled in all answer-sheet fields, numbered your answers clearly, and written a conclusion for each essay-style answer. Stop writing when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID that matches your registration exactly and keep it on the desk for inspection. If your ID is expired, lost or in a different name, contact the provider before exam day; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, textbooks or unauthorised electronic devices into the exam hall. Switch devices off and store them where the invigilator directs. Possession of unauthorised material, even if unused, is commonly treated as misconduct; confirm the provider's exact rules.
Calculators must be of a permitted type. If you are unsure whether your model is allowed, confirm with the provider in advance and bring a simple non-programmable backup.
Arrive before the reporting time and follow the invigilator's instructions. Late entry and early departure are usually restricted; confirm the provider's cut-off and whether you may leave before the end of the session.
Breaks are normally not permitted during the exam; if you need to leave the hall, you may be escorted and may not be allowed extra time. Confirm the provider's policy on comfort breaks and on access arrangements approved in advance.
Write only in the answer booklet or answer sheet provided, number your answers clearly, and do not write in the margins or on question papers unless instructed. Follow the rubric on the required number of questions; extra answers are usually not marked.
Marks are awarded for application, analysis and evaluation, not just recall. Answer the question asked, apply models to the scenario given, and reach a conclusion; confirm the marking approach from the official syllabus and examiner guidance.
Any suspected misconduct, including communication with other candidates or use of unauthorised material, is reported under the provider's disciplinary procedure. If you are unsure about a rule, ask an invigilator before the exam starts, not during it.