Where the numbers come from

1. Pass rates

We cite 47%as the P1 first-time pass rate. Operational Level Objective Test pass rates published by AICPA & CIMA generally fall between roughly 47% (P1) and 78%+ (E1, F1), depending on the testing window. P1 is consistently the lowest because it leans heavier on calculation under time pressure than the Enterprise or Financial pillars.

Primary source: AICPA & CIMA — Exam pass rates (the publisher updates the figures each cycle; please cross-check against the latest snapshot).

We deliberately quote the lower bound (P1) on the landing page because it’s the module most people underestimate. We don’t cite an “industry average” figure because pass rates vary materially across modules and testing windows.

2. Resit cost — “£140+ per exam”

CIMA Operational Level Objective Test exam fees in 2026 sit at £140-160 per exam for student members, depending on whether you’re sitting in the UK or elsewhere and whether you book early.

We quote “£140+” because that’s the floor — exam fee alone, before factoring in updated study text (£40-80), additional practice resources, and the opportunity cost of another study cycle. The total real cost of a resit is materially higher; we just chose the most defensible single number.

Primary source: AICPA & CIMA — CGMA fees (refer to current fee schedule on the date you’re reading this).

3. “7 trap patterns”

The seven trap patterns we drill are an internal taxonomy built by Marek G. (founder) while sitting E1, P1 and F1, and refined through CharterPrep’s question authoring process. They are not an external CIMA classification.

The seven categories:

1. Keyword bait — a word in the question signals the wrong option.
2. Definition swap — two similar concepts swapped or confused.
3. Scope trap — correct in theory, wrong in this scenario.
4. Distractor confusion — a plausible alternative with a subtle flaw.
5. Partial truth — right in part, missing a key condition.
6. Timing trap — right concept, wrong period or sequence.
7. Calculation error trap — right method, misapplied number.

We don’t claim these are the only mistakes a CIMA student can make, or that recognising them guarantees a pass. They’re the patterns that catch repeat candidates most often in our experience.

4. Question and trap counts

The headline counts on the landing page (e.g. “2,000+ practice questions”) are computed directly from the CharterPrep question bank at build time. They reflect what’s currently queryable through /api/questions for paid users. If the number on the homepage doesn’t match the bank you see after purchase, something is broken — please email us.

5. What we don’t claim

• We don’t claim a guaranteed pass rate for CharterPrep users — pass rates depend on the student.
• We don’t claim affiliation with CIMA, Kaplan, BPP, or any official examiner.
• We don’t publish individual user diagnostic data or share results with third parties — see our Privacy Policy.
• We don’t use externally validated “students who used CharterPrep passed X% more often” figures. That kind of comparative claim requires a controlled study we haven’t run.

6. Spot a number that looks wrong?

Email us at charterprep@proton.me with the page and the figure. If we’re wrong, we update the page and credit you in the next changelog.