i wil tell u one thing from my experience....u r bothered abt big 4 articles.....many get there by recommendation n rankers get there....good,but its al up to u how u develop ur self as u proceed in ur career.... i have 3 frens....one got rank in pe2,rank 1 in may-07.....he did his articles in pe2.....he himself got out telling tht theres nothing to learn more in big 4 except for slavery.....other senior fren passed in 5th attempt with 407....he is 28 now n working as asst manager fin.in infy earning 19l p.a.....other fren is my junior....he passed pe1 in 3 attempt,got rank in pe2 n unable to clear final in 7th attempt...MORAL.....ITS NOT THE STRONGEST NOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT WHO SURVIVE,ITS THE PERSON WHO IS MOST RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE......if attempts had mattered,icai wud hav mentioned in marks list as u passed in xx attempt ....jus worry abt ur attitude to go ahead n cum bak strongly when u fail,not abt attempts n marks......take care..al the best....