Ethics, Corporate Governance and Law (BA4)
150 questions mapped to the CIMA Certificate syllabus (Fundamentals of Ethics, Corporate Governance and Law): stable since 2017, with no annual changes unlike ACCA. Covers the CIMA Code of Ethics (five fundamental principles, threats and safeguards), corporate governance, CSR and risk management, business and employment law, and company administration. BA4 is entirely narrative: the real exam is 85 questions in 2 hours. Switch to Exam Sim mode to practise under timed conditions.
→ BA4 Common Mistakes & Exam Technique: the errors that catch BA4 students out, and how to avoid them.
The BA4 exam format
| Format | Computer-based objective test. All questions are compulsory. |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 hours, 85 questions. |
| Scoring | Reported as a scaled score from 0 to 150. Questions are weighted by difficulty, so the scaled score is not a straight percentage of questions answered correctly. |
| Pass mark | 100 out of 150. |
Always check the current exam format on the AICPA & CIMA website before you sit.
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Sample BA4 questions
Three questions from this bank, each with its answer and worked explanation. The quiz above draws from all 150.
A key role of non-executive directors (NEDs) on a company's board is to:
- manage the day-to-day operations of the company
- Prepare the company's corporation tax return
- Provide independent judgement and scrutiny of management
- act as the company's external auditors
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Non-executive directors bring independent judgement, experience and objectivity to the board, scrutinising the performance of executive management and helping to protect shareholders' interests. They do not run day-to-day operations (the executives' role), prepare tax returns, or act as external auditors. Their independence is central to their contribution, which is why governance codes set criteria for assessing it.
The fundamental principle of integrity requires a professional accountant to:
- Maximise the client's profit at all times, regardless of rules
- Be straightforward and honest in professional and business relationships
- Keep all client information secret forever, without exception
- avoid ever expressing a professional opinion
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Integrity requires a professional accountant to be straightforward and honest in all professional and business relationships, including fair dealing and truthfulness. It does not require maximising profit, indefinite secrecy, or refusing to give opinions. An accountant should not be knowingly associated with information that is false or misleading. Integrity underpins the trust placed in the accountancy profession.
Goods displayed in a shop window with a price attached are generally regarded in contract law as:
- an invitation to treat
- a binding offer the shop must honour
- an acceptance
- consideration
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. A display of goods with a price is normally an invitation to treat — an invitation for customers to make an offer — rather than an offer itself. The customer makes the offer at the till, which the shop may accept or decline. Treating the display as a binding offer would oblige the shop to sell even where, for example, the price was wrongly marked. Acceptance and consideration are separate elements of contract formation.
About this question bank
150 questions across 4 syllabus sections, each mapped to a reference in the official CIMA syllabus for BA4 and each with a worked explanation. All 150 are multiple choice.
- Written to CIMA's 2017 Certificate in Business Accounting syllabus.
- Spotted a mistake? Report it and it will be corrected.
| Syllabus section | Questions |
|---|---|
| A: Ethics | 45 |
| B: Governance & CSR | 68 |
| C: Law | 22 |
| D: Company Admin | 15 |