Why Staying Motivated Is Key to CMA® Exam Success

If you’re in a study slump, it can be hard to get out — especially when preparing for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam. Many candidates struggle with self-doubt, distractions, burnout, and other obstacles, but fear not! Our 8 tips will help keep you motivated to power through the material and succeed on exam day.

#1 Begin with Belief

When you don’t believe in yourself or your abilities, it creates a breeding ground for self-sabotage. You start making excuses for why you can’t study or questioning why you’re even trying to earn your CMA. Convincing yourself that you’re a competent and capable learner is the first step. After all, you’ve made it this far, right? You’d be surprised how a simple change in mindset can clarify your long-term vision. That brings us to our next tip!¹

#2 Don’t Lose Sight of the Big Picture

What does being a CMA mean to you? A higher salary? Greater responsibility? A stepping stone to the C-suite? No matter your vision, you must keep your “eye on the prize.” Doing so will ensure that you have a goal worth working toward. Our CMA Review Course, complete with a personalized Study Planner, will help you break down that goal into smaller daily study tasks.

#3 Focus on Discipline Rather than Motivation

These tips are designed to motivate you, not discipline you, but hear us out. When you’re motivated to study, it’s often a response to a fleeting spark of inspiration. Maybe you watched a TED Talk or read a success story in The New York Times. Regardless, that spark may be here today but gone tomorrow. When you’re disciplined, you make a conscious decision to show up and study at the same time every day, no matter what. If you want to earn your CMA designation, don’t wait for inspiration. CMAs take action. That’s why they’re CMAs!²

#4 Minimize Distractions

From Instagram feeds to YouTube recommendations to your meme-sharing friend, everything is competing for your attention. While reaching for your smartphone is tempting, you don’t need to get caught in a doomscrolling spiral. After all, it’s important to stay sharp if you want to pass the CMA exam. Do yourself a favor: Silence your notifications and find 2 to 3 places that foster a good study atmosphere.

#5 Celebrate Small Wins (Without Overdoing It)

If you stay on track with your study hours and assignments all week, celebrate! Reward yourself with a reasonable study break or a treat like coffee, dessert, or book purchase. We’d recommend CMA Study Guides, but you (hopefully) already have them. Bottom line: It’s a good idea to incentivize your study efforts. Just don’t break your routine (or the bank) in the process.

#6 Find Your Study Style

Since everyone’s different, we all study differently, too. Discovering what works best for you is key to staying motivated, optimizing your study time, and passing the CMA exam. Check out these common study styles to see which resonate with you.

• Visual: You retain information better through images and symbols. Our CMA video lectures are perfect for this style!
• Kinesthetic: Hands-on practice is your strength. This may include participating in simulations or using physical learning tools.
• Aural: After hearing information, you remember it. How much can you retain after reading out loud from your CMA digital notebook?
• Logical: Ideal for mathematical learners who use structure and numbers to retain information. Honestly, you probably wouldn’t be pursuing your CMA certification if you didn’t prefer this style!
• Verbal: Also known as linguistic learning. You respond best to written or spoken words, using rhymes or acronyms.
• Solitary: You study most effectively alone. There’s nothing wrong with being a lone learner; you’re less likely to be distracted and can fully absorb the material in our 2-part CMA Review Course.
• Social: Unlike solitary learners, you thrive in group study sessions. Speaking of which, our next tip is a must-read for those who prefer this style!³