CIMA · objective_test
Managing Performance (E2)
E2 – Managing Performance — implementing strategy at team and project level, and managing individual, team, and organisational performance
90 minutes
Exam length
100 out of 150 scaled score (equivalent to approximately 67%)
Pass mark
Computer-based objective test
Format
On demand at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide or online, bookable up to 48 hours before the exam date
Sittings
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Managing Performance (E2) — overview
E2 is the Enterprise pillar at the Management level — the paper where CIMA students move from managing their own work to managing teams, projects, and performance across an organisation. It's the bridge between technical accounting skills and the softer leadership and project skills that finance professionals need to succeed.
You'll study how strategy is implemented through teams and individuals; how project management tools and techniques are used to deliver change; how performance is measured and managed at individual, team, and organisational levels; and how to manage internal and external stakeholders — especially during periods of change.
E2 mixes technical frameworks (balanced scorecard, stakeholder analysis, project governance) with applied scenario questions. Exam success depends on being able to apply frameworks to realistic workplace situations, not just recite them.
The Enterprise pillar is the people-and-process side of finance — how the function is organised, how decisions are implemented, and how performance is managed. It's essential for finance business partners, performance managers, and anyone running finance transformation or change programmes. Completing the Management level earns the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA Adv Dip MA) and qualifies you for roles such as Senior Management Accountant, Finance Manager, Business Partner, Financial Controller (assistant), Commercial Finance Analyst, and Group Reporting Accountant. It's also the gateway to the Strategic level and full CGMA status.
Learning outcomes
What you'll be able to do.
01
Business Models and Value Creation
02
Managing People Performance
03
Managing Projects
Managing Performance (E2) syllabus
The content areas you'll cover in E2 and their assessment weightings.
Business Models and Value Creation
30%
Business Models and Value Creation
30%Managing People Performance
40%
Managing People Performance
40%Managing Projects
30%
Managing Projects
30%Subscription includes
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Managing Performance (E2) exam format
How E2 is assessed, how long you have, and what to expect on exam day.
Duration
90 minutes
Format
Computer-based objective test
Structure
60 equally-weighted questions drawn from all content areas in the blueprint. Item types include multiple choice, multiple response, fill-in-the-blank (number entry), and drag-and-drop. All questions are independent — partial marks are not available. Candidates may answer in any order and navigate between questions.
Sittings
On demand at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide or online, bookable up to 48 hours before the exam date
Pass mark
100 out of 150 scaled score (equivalent to approximately 67%)
How to pass Managing Performance (E2)
Expert tips from Learnsignal's CIMA tutors for passing E2.
Frameworks need practice, not just memory
Balanced scorecard, Kotter's 8-step change, Kaplan and Norton's strategy map — all examinable. The exam tests your ability to apply them to a scenario, not recite them. Practise past-style case questions.
Project management tools are examinable
WBS, Gantt charts, critical path, PERT, PRINCE2 principles — know the tools of project management and their application to finance-led projects (ERP implementation, process change, M&A integration).
Performance management is individual and team
Motivation theories (Maslow, Herzberg, Vroom), goal-setting, feedback, coaching, appraisal — all examinable. Behavioural topics get weighted more than students expect.
Stakeholder analysis — use Mendelow
Stakeholder mapping using power/interest matrices is a reliable exam topic. Know the matrix and be ready to apply it to a scenario and recommend engagement strategies.
Leadership styles and situational leadership
Transformational vs transactional, Tannenbaum-Schmidt continuum, Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership — each appears. Know them and be able to pick the right style for a scenario.
E2 is scenario-heavy — practise applying
Unlike P1 and F1 which test calculations, E2 tests applied judgment. The best revision is working through past-style scenarios and practising short written reasoning.
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See CIMA pricing →Managing Performance (E2) — frequently asked questions
Common questions about E2 — what's covered, how it's assessed, and how to prepare.
What does the E2 exam consist of?+
E2 is a 90-minute computer-based objective test with 60 equally-weighted questions. You'll see multiple choice, multiple response, fill-in-the-blank, and drag-and-drop items. All questions are independent and partial marks are not available — every element of a question must be answered correctly for it to be marked correct.
What's the pass mark for E2?+
The pass mark for every CIMA objective test is a scaled score of 100 out of 150 — roughly 67%. Scaled scoring ensures different versions of the exam are comparable in difficulty, so your raw mark and your scaled mark can differ slightly.
When can I sit E2?+
CIMA objective tests are available on demand at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide or online. You can book up to 48 hours before the exam date, subject to availability. There are no fixed sitting windows.
How long should I spend studying E2?+
CIMA's indicative study time is around 150 hours of structured study per objective test, though this varies by student. Most part-time students take 3–4 months per paper. Management Level students often study two objective tests in parallel to keep momentum.
What's the difference between E2 and the case study?+
E2 is a stand-alone objective test that assesses the specific subject's content. The Management Level case study is a synoptic assessment that brings together content from all three Management Level objective tests into a real-world business simulation. You must pass all three objective tests before sitting the case study.
Do I need the E2 knowledge to sit the other Management Level papers?+
The three Management Level objective tests are designed to be independent — you can sit them in any order. That said, many students find that the content overlaps in subtle ways, so understanding all three gives the strongest foundation for the case study.
How is the scaled score calculated?+
CIMA uses scaled scoring to ensure comparable difficulty across different versions of each exam. Your raw score is converted using a formula that accounts for the difficulty of the specific questions you saw. You'll see the scaled score on your results dashboard within 48 hours of sitting.
What does Learnsignal provide for E2?+
Your Learnsignal subscription includes recorded lectures by CIMA tutors, interactive quizzes, structured topic notes, a full question bank of past-style questions, and timed mock exams — all mapped to the current CIMA Professional Qualification Syllabus and accessible 24/7.
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