Becoming a Chartered Accountant is not an easy feat, and my journey towards achieving this goal was no exception. My passion for finance and accounting led me to pursue a CA degree, which I joined in 2010. While I cleared the CA Foundation and IPCC exams in my first attempt, the CA Finals proved to be a challenging phase for me. Despite putting in a lot of effort and hard work, I struggled with Costing (Advance Management Accounting), where I attempted the exam multiple times without success.
However, I never gave up and continued to strive for success. I used to revise the ICAI module at least 4-5 times before writing the CA Final exams. But despite putting in so much effort, till November 2020, I couldn't score anything beyond the 30s in my Costing paper. It was then that I decided to explore my mistakes in previous attempts, rather than continue with the same study methods.
After thorough analysis, I realized that I was putting the same inputs in every attempt, but expecting different outputs. I knew I needed to make a change. I started to use different study materials like CMA materials and the Paduka Costing book, which helped me get a better understanding of the subject. I also solved each and every MTP and RTP ever issued by ICAI for Costing. Gradually, I started enjoying the subject more and more.
With a renewed approach, I was determined to clear the Costing paper to achieve my dream of becoming a CA. I studied with a wholehearted approach, putting my heart and soul into it. The hard work finally paid off, and I cleared the Costing paper with a score of 61, receiving three exemptions in total.
Looking back, I am not sure how much luck played a role in my success, but I firmly believe that hard work really counts. My experience has taught me that it's important to analyze your mistakes, change your approach when required, and put your heart and soul into your work to achieve success.