We’ve all heard it, haven’t we? That dreaded belief whispered in classrooms, etched into late-night study sessions, and repeated like a universal truth: this exam is impossible to clear. Over time, it has grown into more than just a thought—it has become a myth, shaping the way students see themselves and their abilities.
But here’s the thing about myths: they survive only as long as we let them. The moment we challenge them with preparation, perspective, and persistence, they begin to lose their power.
Over my four decades in this profession, I’ve had the privilege of watching countless students evolve into successful Chartered Accountants. The journey you are on is a demanding one—a true marathon of dedication and perseverance. While the fundamentals of study haven’t changed much, the tools available to you today are light-years ahead of what we had.
What follows is not a rulebook, but a collection of insights based on my experience. Take what works for you and adapt it to your unique style of preparation.
Part I: Study and Preparation
1. Build a Realistic Study Plan
* Create a detailed daily schedule and track your progress.
* In our time, we used pen and paper. Today, you can use AI-powered study planners—feed in your syllabus, exam date, and weak subjects, and let technology generate an optimized plan.
* Remember: the best plan is the one you actually follow.
As Mark Twain wryly put it: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.” A gentle reminder that procrastination is easy—so make your plan realistic and actually stick to it.
2. Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity
* A focused three hours is better than a distracted ten.
* Your brain isn’t a machine—it needs efficiency, not endless hours.
* To make focus enjoyable, try tools like the Forest App: when you study, a virtual tree grows. If you get distracted, the tree dies. Over time, your forest becomes a living record of your discipline.
3. Cover the Entire Syllabus
* Avoid selective study. A skipped chapter can cost you dearly.
* If a chapter feels too large, use an AI summary tool to condense key concepts. It won’t replace full study but can give you a fighting chance.
4. Aim for Conceptual Clarity
* Rote memorization won’t suffice. Examiners test understanding, not recall.
* A simple test: If you can’t explain it to a child, you don’t truly understand it.
* Use AI tools creatively—e.g., “Explain ‘Deferred Tax Liability’ as if I’m five.”
* For Tax and Law papers, stay updated on amendments—they are non-negotiable in our profession.
5. Stick to ICAI Material
* The Study Material, Practice Manuals, RTPs, MTPs, and past papers are your foundation.
* Coaching notes may help, but ICAI sources are gospel.
* Use a searchable PDF database of ICAI material to quickly locate references.
6. Revision, Mock Tests & Practice
* Prepare concise handwritten notes, summaries, and mind maps. The small bullet points list or one line per section notes can be your saviour on the exam morning.
* Practice problems by hand to build speed and accuracy. Results are directly proportional to the number of problems you solve!
* Plan at least three revisions:
* First: you’ll feel confident.
* Second: you may feel you’ve forgotten everything.
* Third: concepts will click into place.
* Use flashcards or spaced-repetition apps to strengthen memory.
* Attempt 3–4 full-length mock tests under timed conditions.
* Don’t chase perfection—chase realism.
* Let your first mock be a wake-up call. Better in practice than on exam day.
* Afterward, get feedback—or even train AI tools like GPT-4 to grade your answers against model solutions.
* Note down all the silly or other mistakes you seem to be making so that you can consciously avoid them.
To be contd
Rajeshwari S
Partner
PKF Sridhar & Santhanam LLP