u/Aizmu

Hi everyone!

I'm currently preparing for CMA USA Part 2. While studying, I don't want to wait until after the exam to start building other skills. I want to use this time to become more job-ready.

I'm planning to start my career in India first and hopefully move to the Middle East in the future.

I'd like to know:

•What software should I learn? (Excel, ERP systems like SAP/Oracle, Power BI, etc.)

•Which of these are actually used in accounting and management accounting jobs?

•Are there any good free or affordable websites/courses to learn them?

•What other skills do you wish you had learned before your first accounting job?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people already working in the field. Thanks in advance!

Finally, it's over. 🥹

The exam wasn't what I expected. I'd say it was around a mid-level exam. Surprisingly, I recognized almost every question. There were a lot of theory questions, and I actually liked that. The CBQs were easier than I expected too, so I was really happy. My scheduled exam time was 1:30 PM, but the staff told me it was okay to start early, so I actually began my exam around 11:45 AM.

Getting to this point wasn't easy. After my second mock exam, I was completely devastated. I genuinely thought I was going to fail. With only 13 days left, I decided to give it everything I had. For the next 11 days, I followed Chinese gaokao-style study marathon. I focused only on my weakest sections—C, E, and F—reviewed my weak areas, and studied around 14 hours a day. Then, the day before the exam, I went through my notes from all the sections one last time.

When exam day finally arrived, I didn't touch a single book. Everyone around me was reading notes and formulas, but I felt that if I started reviewing, I'd only focus on my weak spots and become even more anxious. So I trusted the work I'd already put in and walked in.

Will I pass or fail? I honestly don't know. I guessed a few questions, and who knows maybe I even got some of the easy ones wrong.Whatever the result is, I'll accept it and continue my journey. 💜

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13 days left until CMA Part 1.

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I took my first mock exam a week ago and scored 47%.

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I spent the last week reviewing my mistakes, studying weak areas, and trying to improve. Today I took my second mock exam,47% again.

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I'm not even angry. Just exhausted.

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I know mock exams are supposed to expose weaknesses, but seeing the exact same score after a full week of studying feels like a punch in the gut.

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Right now it feels like no matter how much I study, I'm not making any progress. The exam is getting closer every day, and I'm starting to question whether I can pull this off.

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Has anyone else been in this situation this close to the exam and still managed to pass?

23 days left.

Confidence: 📉

Stress: 📈

Question bank: still not finished.

At this point, me and the MCQs are in a toxic relationship, but we're staying together until exam day.

I’m preparing for CMA Part 1, and my exam is on June 26 (about 56 days left).

I’ve already completed one full round of Hock MCQs, and now I’ve started a second round—but the problem is, it still feels like I’m seeing many questions for the first time.

When I read notes or watch lectures, everything makes sense and I feel confident. But when I do MCQs, I get stuck and feel like I don’t recognize the concepts, even though I’ve already studied and practiced them.

Is this normal even after finishing one round of MCQs? What should I change in my study approach to actually retain and apply concepts before the exam?