By the time I cleared my CA Final exam, I was in my early 30s.
To put that into perspective, two years into my CA, our State CM died in a helicopter crash, and after ten years, his son became the CM. This tells you how long my CA life has been.
My CA History
I cleared CA Inter (back then it was called IPCC) after 8 attempts.
If that feels so long, it took me another 13 attempts to clear CA Final.
I wish I could go back in time and talk to the 17-year-old myself. Tell him everything will be okay. Give confidence, suggestions. I cannot.
But I want to use this platform to offer my thoughts.
Don’t get into the 6-month vicious cycle:
I failed in an attempt. Then I immediately paid the exam fee for the next attempt, even before thinking once if the two and a half months of preparation time were going to be enough or not.
It was not enough. Then again I failed. Then again I paid the fee for the next attempt. Again studied for two and a half months, failed. This cycle went on and on.
Then the realization came.
After my 10th attempt, I did not appear for exams immediately.
I skipped the next attempt. This meant, now I had 9 months’ time to prepare.
This way I appeared and cleared my Group-2 in the very next attempt.
In the next attempt, I appeared for Group-1 but failed. However, I got an exemption in two papers.
And in the 13th attempt, I cleared my CA Final.
I hope ICAI conducts exams every 8 months, which breaks this cycle, and then students will get enough time for the next attempt.
Mark Papers:
Categorize the subjects strategically.
Choose 1-2 subjects which you want to target for exemption.
Choose 1-2 subjects to target for obtaining aggregate marks.
There will be around two rigid papers for each student, in which they fail continuously. Take special care of them and spend 60% of your time on them.
Stay Physically Strong:
Whether you are a boy or a girl, if you are physically strong, then you will be mentally strong.
Stay active and train your body. Do some outdoor activity.
Prepare your body for all the worst things going to happen in your life.
If you take care of your body, it will take care of you when you are down with failures.
Other Thoughts:
Don’t over-rely on CA coaching centers or faculties. Most of them are misleading and work only for their self-interests.
Do group study. Or study at a place where there are other students too. This will keep your motivational levels high.
Give importance to articleship. Even though academically I failed many times, I was one of the efficient students in my firm.
My Principal has kept me with his firm all these years with very good pay. Once I cleared my CA Final, he even offered me to join as a partner in their firm.
Do not listen to people who say CA is easy. It’s not easy. For me or most of us. We have to work hard every day and for every mark. Anything worthy will not come easy. I know the pain of failing exams by just 3 marks.
Make a habit of waking up early. The time before 11.00 AM is very productive. You can study and finish a topic in one hour during this time, which takes 3 hours in the evening or late at night.
This course will take the life out of you, and then it will be your life one day. Just wait for that day. Keep working hard.
by CA Adithya.
