Free CMA resources worth your time
Last checked October 20, 2026 · Sources: IMA’s CMA certification pages and case-based questions page; HOCK’s free membership; Becker’s CMA pages (14-day trial, free practice questions); Gleim (free trial).
The best free CMA resources come from IMA itself: enrolled candidates get retired exam questions, and IMA has published sample case-based questions for the 2026 format. On the course side, HOCK’s free membership opens the first 7 units of Part 1 and 5 of Part 2 for a year, Becker offers a 14-day free trial and free practice questions, and Gleim has a free trial. None will replace a full course for most candidates, but together they let you test the format and try courses before spending anything.
| Resource | Cost | What you get | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA exam support package | Free with enrollment | Retired exam questions and a glossary | A realistic final check |
| IMA sample case-based questions | Free | How the new case-based format works | Learning the format early |
| HOCK free membership | Free for a year | First 7 units of Part 1 and 5 of Part 2; no card needed | Starting study before you buy |
| Becker free trial | Free for 14 days | A full unit from each part, with lectures and questions | Trying Becker’s teaching style |
| Becker practice questions | Free download | Sample CMA questions | Quick practice |
| Gleim free trial | Free | A sample of Gleim’s course | Comparing question styles |
From each organization’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026.
Free CMA resources from IMA
Enrolled candidates receive retired exam questions and a glossary of terms. These are real past questions, which no course can offer.
IMA has published sample case-based questions showing how the new format works. Try them before exam day so the interface is not a surprise.
→The official rules: requirements, fees, testing policies and permitted calculators. It answers most questions before you need to ask them.
Free trials and free tiers
- HOCK has a free membership with the first 7 units of Part 1 and 5 units of Part 2, for a year, without payment details.
- Becker offers a 14-day free trial of its CMA course, covering a full unit from each part, plus free downloadable practice questions.
- Gleim offers a free trial of its CMA review.
- UWorld: check its site for any current trial or sample material.
- FreeFellow has a free tier with CMA practice questions and lessons. It is newer and smaller than the established courses, but useful for extra practice.
Use the trials to compare teaching styles side by side before you buy. The course you will actually open every day is worth more than the one with the longest feature list. See our best CMA review courses for ratings.
How to use free resources well
Try a handful of questions from IMA's samples or a course trial before choosing a course. It shows you which areas need the most teaching.
Try two or three courses on the same topic, then buy the one that explained it most clearly.
Work through the sample case-based questions so the new section isn't a surprise.
Retired questions are best kept for the final weeks, when you want a realistic check of your readiness.
Common questions about free CMA resources
Can I pass the CMA using only free resources?
Some people do, usually with a strong recent accounting or finance background. For most candidates, a failed part at $545 costs more than a course would have.
Does IMA offer free practice questions?
Yes. IMA has published sample case-based questions, and enrolled candidates get retired exam questions in IMA’s support package.
Which free CMA trial lasts longest?
HOCK’s free membership lasts a year and covers the first units of both parts; Becker’s trial lasts 14 days.