DMAE DECA / Prepare
Study Resources
Use current DECA material, study the exam assigned to your event, and practice with purpose. Everything on this page is organized in the order you should use it.
Prepared events
What's a DECA Business Plan?
- A prepared research paper with a maximum of 20 pages.
- Completed individually, with a partner, or in a team of three.
- Presented to a judge in a 15-minute interview.
- Built around an original venture, international idea, existing business, or franchise.
- Requirements can change, so always confirm the current DECA Guide and your advisor's instructions.
There are 4 categories to choose from.
- EIB
Independent Business Plan (opens in a new tab): Develop a comprehensive proposal to start a new business. Any type of business may be used.
- IBP
International Business Plan (opens in a new tab): Develop a proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting.
- EBG
Business Growth Plan (opens in a new tab): Analyze an existing business and build the strategy needed to grow and expand it.
- EFB
Franchise Business Plan (opens in a new tab): Present a comprehensive proposal to buy into an existing franchise and become a franchisee.
Source of truth
Important Links & Files
Start with official materials before using third-party study tools. Open each event page for its guidelines, penalty-point checklist, integrity statement, performance indicators, and available samples.
- Start here2026–2027 DECA Guide (opens in a new tab)
The current rulebook for event requirements, prepared entries, evaluation criteria, and annual competitive-event topics.
- All eventsCompetitive Events Directory (opens in a new tab)
Browse every official high-school event and confirm its participants, format, exam, timing, guidelines, and sample materials.
- Exam planningHigh School Exam Blueprint (opens in a new tab)
See how DECA distributes exam questions across instructional areas so you can focus study time where it matters most.
- Role-play focusDistrict Instructional Areas (opens in a new tab)
Review the instructional areas DECA identifies for district-level scenarios and read the official competition-integrity policy.
- Practice methodRole-Play and Case Study Guide (opens in a new tab)
Learn how to break down a scenario, connect a solution to performance indicators, and practice with a partner or mock judge.
- Practice scenariosDECA Sample Case Studies (opens in a new tab)
Work through official sample situations as timed drills, written exercises, or chapter mock-competition sessions.
- Interactive practiceDECA+ Online Practice Exams (opens in a new tab)
Practice the seven industry-validated exam types online. Full access may require your chapter's DECA+ subscription.
- Resource libraryDECA Advisor Resource Center (opens in a new tab)
Filter official materials by career cluster, competitive event, instructional area, exam, role-play, PDF, or video.
- News and practiceDECA Direct Weekly (opens in a new tab)
Read the official weekly email archive for competition advice, timely announcements, and recurring case-study material.
- New JerseyNJ DECA Event Selection Guide (opens in a new tab)
Use New Jersey DECA's guidance to compare individual, partner, role-play, and prepared events before choosing one.
Role-plays and case studies
Exam Prep by Cluster
Confirm the exam assigned to your event, review its performance indicators, take the sample exam, and then practice the representative scenario aloud.
BACBusiness Administration CoreThe common exam used by all five Principles of Business Administration events for first-year members.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The knowledge and skills assessed by the Business Administration Core exam.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question exam with its descriptive answer key.
- Sample PBM role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative first-year scenario with judging materials.
BMABusiness Management and AdministrationFor management-focused events covering business law, human resources, operations, leadership, and project management.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The current BMA instructional areas and assessed skills.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question BMA exam with explanations and sources.
- Sample HRM role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative individual-series management scenario.
ENTEntrepreneurshipFor events centered on recognizing opportunities, building ventures, finding capital, and managing a growing business.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The current entrepreneurship knowledge and skill standards.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question entrepreneurship exam with its descriptive key.
- Sample ENT role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative individual entrepreneurship scenario.
FINFinanceFor accounting, business finance, financial services, investing, consulting, and related finance events.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The current finance instructional areas and assessed skills.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question finance exam with explanations and sources.
- Sample ACT role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative accounting and financial-analysis scenario.
HTHospitality and TourismFor hotel, restaurant, travel, tourism, and hospitality-service management events.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The current hospitality and tourism knowledge and skill standards.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question hospitality exam with its descriptive key.
- Sample HLM role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative hotel and lodging scenario.
MKTMarketingFor retail, merchandising, communications, food, automotive, sports, entertainment, and marketing-management events.View +Close −
- 2026–27 performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The current marketing instructional areas and assessed skills.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question marketing exam with explanations and sources.
- Sample MTDM case study (opens in a new tab)
A representative partner marketing-management case study.
PFLPersonal Financial LiteracyFor the individual PFL event, with a focus on earning, spending, saving, credit, investing, and managing risk.View +Close −
- Official performance indicators (opens in a new tab)
The personal finance knowledge and skills assessed in PFL.
- Official sample district exam (opens in a new tab)
A 100-question PFL exam with its descriptive answer key.
- Sample PFL role-play (opens in a new tab)
A representative personal financial-literacy scenario.
Optional practice
Community Study Sets
Community-created sets may be outdated. Cross-check answers against current performance indicators and official answer keys.
- Business Administration CoreBusiness Administration Core Practice Exam (opens in a new tab)
100 exam-style questions with answer explanations.
- Business Management and AdministrationBMA Career Cluster Exam: BLTDM (opens in a new tab)
100 management-cluster questions with many detailed rationales.
- EntrepreneurshipDECA Entrepreneurship Exam (opens in a new tab)
100 questions covering entrepreneurship and small-business concepts.
- FinanceDetailed Finance Cluster Vocabulary (opens in a new tab)
A broad 320-term vocabulary collection for finance competitors.
- Hospitality and TourismHospitality and Tourism Cluster Exam Questions (opens in a new tab)
100 practice questions for hospitality and tourism events.
- MarketingDECA Marketing Cluster Exam (opens in a new tab)
73 frequently studied marketing and channel-management concepts.
- Personal Financial LiteracyDECA Personal Financial Literacy Exam (opens in a new tab)
100 questions covering credit, investing, income, contracts, and risk.
Before registering or competing, confirm your event, exam cluster, and local eligibility with your DMAE DECA advisor.