Hi Joelly

I would say that your frien is correct about the difficulty of CGA exams. Basically, in 12 weeks course window, there are usually 9 or 10 weekly assignment, which are marked by someone CGA subject expert. You must have to get 65% markes in all assignments to be elligible to sit for final exam. If you do not get total 65% marks in assignments, then you cannot write final exam. These assignments are killer, not like usuall university assignments. Each assignment is usually comprised of 4 to 6 applied case based descriptive questions. Also, one question is for 10 to 20 MCQs. Same is the structure of final exam that would be 4 hours long (each exam). Assignments and final exams are comprised of cases, Memo, and report writing etc. For example, in Management Auditing (final level) exam a candidate would write a report on a case that would have 40% of final marks. Management Information System (another final level paper) has also a report with 50% of final marks. All remaining questions are either Memos, or letter to someone explaining situation and providing solutions.

Each assignment has a weekly deadline. You cannot submit after that deadline. In each term CGA changes assignment questions, so you cannot get solution from previous students. Then also, you would have to submit electronic copy of assignments on word file. CGA screens and passes all assignments through a software to ensure that you did not copy and pasted material from the book or previously submitted assignments.

So basically you have 1 week for one chapter to study from scratch, then to solve the assignment and submit it before deadline each week. I was spending 90% of my study time on these assignments. So was not able to prepare well for the final exam or to repeat previous chapters.

Then in the final exam, continuos writing memos, reports, letters for 4 hours on case based applied questions when each question includes many issues and providing recommendations are the few of the examples each CGA paper has. My last exam paper was comprised of 10 descriptive pages including 4 pages long case. Imagine how much time it would take only to read the exam paper and to understand and highlight the issues to discuss.  

Thanks

CPAToronto:

Wow!!! Thanks for this!!! I feel like I just get an eye opener.

Here I am thinking that my friend difficulty is because she is not an accounting major. So, this has nothing to do with being an accounting major or not, am I right?

Hi Joelly

Basically any one can start with CGA. No matter the person has accounting major or not. But by the time a person enrolls in FINAL CGA paper he/she must have at least 4 years degree in any discipline. Plus he/she must have passed or got exemptions in all CGA papers from level 1 to level 5 (final level). Each level has 4 or 5 papers plus about 2 or 3 Business Case Studies in addition to these papers. Before appearing in final 2 papers i.e. Professional Application (PA) 1 and 2 he/she must have satisfied all educational requirements. These 2 final papers are competancies based. Each paper has about 8 competancies. Each exam question would have all of these 8 competancies. Competancies are in Financial accounting, Managament Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Accounting Theory, Communication, Information Systems etc. Both PA1 and PA2 has different competancies. Candidate must have to find out issues and provide recommendations on these 8 competancies in EACH of the exam questions and must have to get at least 65% marks in each individual question. These two exams are available only twice in a year and you must have to pass first PA1 before appearing in PA2. Both have assignments and online group discussions requirements with 65% marks also to be elligible to sit in the exam.  

One thing to clear is that, in EACH CGA paper,  assignment marks DO NOT count for final exam. They only make you elligible to sit for the exam. If you do not get at least 65% marks in assignments, one attempt for the paper would be counted and you have only 4 attempts for each CGA paper. If you do not pass a paper in 4 attempts then you are out of the whole CGA program, no matter at what level/ stage you are.

CGA is also very lengthy and time consuming. Most of the candidates who start from level one pass final level in 7 to 9 years. CGA also requires 3 years accounting experience, with atleast 1 year Senior level Canadian experience before they give you a certificate.

CPA is far better then CGA. CPA gives access to both Canadian and US job markets. But in US not many people know about CGA and prefer CPA. In Canada CPA is acceptable, if not generally acceptable, and accountants/ employers know about CPA. Also from global point of view, CPA is widely acceptable as compared to CGA.

Above are only some of the difficulties I could tell you about CGA. List is very long.

CPAToronto,

Thank you so much for your reply. It has been an eye opener for me. I'm sure to pass down this information to my friend.

I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavour.

Hi CPAToronto,

I am also in Toronto and recently got my CPA. I am now starting to get into CFA as well which I find is a much better bet than CMA since you already have an accounting desination. Having many accounting designations does not add value to your profile in my opinion. But you can never go wrong with an Accounting combined with a Finance designation in business field. If you are interested looking into CFA, email me as I am also in toronto so we can chat about it.

ahmad.cpa97@gmail.com