Exam nerves rarely come from the accountancy itself. More often, they come from the unknown. The unfamiliar software, the buttons you have never pressed, the worry that you will lose minutes just working out where to click.
Here is the good news. You can take all of that off the table before exam day, for free. The CIMA Pearson VUE sample assessments let you sit at the real exam software, try the real question styles and get comfortable, all in your own time.
In this guide, you will find out what these practice tools are now called, why they are worth a spare hour, and exactly how to register and start one.
You might still hear them described as sample assessments. Pearson VUE now calls them question tutorials, and they live inside the AICPA and CIMA testing portal. Same idea, clearer name.
There are two main types, plus a general tutorial worth knowing about.
The tutorials are free, and the few minutes you spend on them pay you back on exam day.
One thing to remember. The live OT exam differs slightly from the tutorial. There is no navigator button in the real test, so you move forward with next and flag any question you want to revisit before you finish.
The whole process takes a few minutes. Here is how to register and start one.
Quick tip. Set your account up a couple of days before you plan to practise, so nothing holds you up on the day. The page opens in the United States version of the Pearson VUE site, so use the language selector at the top to switch to the United Kingdom if you prefer.
A little structure turns a quick look around into useful practice.
The tutorials run in your browser, with a few simple requirements.
These requirements are for the tutorials. The live online exam through OnVUE has its own system and security checks, which you can read about on the Pearson VUE OnVUE page.
The sample assessments are a great first step, but they are a warm-up rather than a workout. To know whether you are genuinely exam-ready, you need full, marked practice under timed conditions.
That is where our CIMA mock exams come in. They are written to mirror the real OT papers and marked, so you can see exactly where to focus. Pair them with our 3 round approach to the CIMA OT exam, and you will walk in with a clear plan, not just familiarity with the buttons.
If you are still choosing your path, our CIMA courses cover every level from the Certificate in Business Accounting through to strategic. They are all built around our flipped classroom, so your live time with tutors goes on coaching and exam practice rather than lecturing.
The sample assessments get you comfortable. Real, marked mocks get you ready. Work through both, and exam day becomes just another sitting you have already practised. If you want help building a study plan around your exam date, talk to the team, and we will point you in the right direction. You can also call us on 0121 647 8238.
Are the CIMA sample assessments free?
Yes, they are completely free. You create a Pearson VUE account, choose a tutorial and check out with nothing to pay.
Do the sample assessments give you a pass mark?
No. The objective test tutorial shows which questions you answered right, which you got wrong and which you skipped, but there is no overall score and no pass or fail result.
How are the sample assessments different from the real exam?
They run on the same software, so the experience feels realistic. The main difference is that the live OT exam has no navigator button. You move forward with the next and flag any questions you want to revisit before you finish.
How long can I access a tutorial for?
You can start straight away or return any time within one month of registering.
