Yash Heda from Amravati who stood AIR 3 in CA IPCC, Nov'13

Yash Heda from Amravati who stood AIR 3 in CA IPCC, in an exclusive interview with CA. Anurag Singal, founder of www.cajobportal.com

a)      A brief story of your CA journey so far and your future dreams

It’s a very nice journey till now. Just looking forward for articleship and definitely it’s going to be great. Short term dreams are just to focus on articleship as it’s a most important part of CA course.

b)      How do you propose to pursue your article ship and prepare for CA Finals

    I will pursue my articleship in one of the  BIG 4 and also CA finals  in Mumbai.

c)      What were the challenges you faced?

  As such I didn’t face any challenges it was quite fun. The only challenge is to motivate you each and every day during this journey. I just suggest having some specific thing which can refresh and motivate you. In my case its music, I listen songs whenever I feel down.

d)     Overall approach to the IPCC exam?

Planning is very important part. Plan to revise whole portion at least 4-5times. And prefer to study two subjects simultaneously.

The only key to success is multiple revisions & study 100% don’t leave anything.

I studied in last three months I planned my studies for whole 3 months at start of 3 months.

I completed my first revision on 10 September. After that I planned to revise syllabus 3-4 times in remaining 2 months. In between I attempted for two test series that gave me enough confidence so the main exams were just like normal test.

e)      Subject wise strategy for the 8 papers

•           Paper – 1: Accounting

      Focus on concepts because in exam hall only concept works. Try to SOLVE each problem     and not AUDIT.

According to me book of TAXMANN publication of author D G Sharma is the best book for this subject. I didn’t read anything except this.

                                                         

•           Paper – 2: Business Laws, Ethics and Communication

         REVISION is the only key to law. Don’t remember too much of sections number only the meaning of provision is required. For ethics and communication study material and practice manual is best thing to refer.

•           Paper – 3: Cost Accounting and Financial Management

Again its practical subject only CONCEPTS work in this. Solve problems at your own without looking in solutions. Believe in book you solve. 

•           Paper – 4: Taxation

Revise all provisions as many times as u can. Do not forget to read all amendments.

For scoring in tax it is must to solve Practice manual. Don’t keep separate time in mugging up section number , its not that much important.

•           Paper – 5 : Advanced Accounting

Focus on concepts and solving and not auditing.

According to me book of  TAXMANN publication of author D G Sharma is the best book for this subject. I didn’t  read anything except this.

•           Paper – 6 : Auditing and Assurance

Just study 100% and try to understand the subject its not at all tough . Revise as many times as u can.

•           Paper – 7 : Information Technology and Strategic Management

IT is the only subject I found somewhat difficult. Actually I neglected this subject till one month before exams. So I just suggest not to neglect this subject.

SM is interesting subject . Once u understand all things u can write very well. 2-3 revision is sufficient.

f)       Useful tips while answering questions during exams

Try to write answer point to point and not to add unnecessary points to make answers long.

Present answers in reasonably good way but do not pay too much attention on presentation.

In theory subjects highlight main points and words in answers and it is preferable to write answers point wise rather than to write in paras.

Remember to keep Watch On Time while writing answers.

g)      General advice to examinees

Don’t set marks as a goal just give your 100%.

Give test series so that main exam will seem just like normal test.

2 basic keys for cracking exams are -

1)STUDY 100%

2)REVISE 

All the best…….

Interview with Dhruv Jain from Surat; AIR 2 in CA IPCC

 

Dhruv Jain from Surat who stood AIR 2 in CA IPCC, in an exclusive interview with CA. Anurag Singal, founder of www.cajobportal.com

a)      A brief story of your CA journey so far and your future dreams

It was a big journey. Firstly, I made my schedule in the last 2 weeks of March and then I executed it. I started my self-study from April month and I used to study for around 4-5 hours for the first 3 months. And for the last 3-4 months I used to study for 8-10 hours along with my coaching. And I started kept on revising theory subjects again and again. My syllabus got over in the month of September and for the whole month of October I revised all the 7 subjects.

b)     How do you propose to pursue your article ship and prepare for CA Finals

Till now, actually I have not thought about my article ship but surely I will be doing my article ship and CA Final from Surat itself

c)      What were the challenges you faced?

 I did not face any major challenge but the main challenge what I found difficult was to make my schedule in the beginning but I made it and it took me around 14-15 days.

d)     Overall approach to the IPCC exam?

Just make the schedule for each subject for 6-7 days and then keep on executing it and please don’t study just one subject for the whole day. Do theory and practical subjects daily and keep on changing the subjects within 20-25 days.

e)      Subject wise strategy for the 8 papers

Paper – 1: Accounting

Don’t keep on wasting much time for this subject as it is not a tough subject. Just focus on main chapters like Amalgamation, Internal Reconstruction etc.

Paper – 2: Business Laws, Ethics and Communication

For Law, I would advise you to go through ICAI Study Mat and Practice Manual thoroughly and please keep on revising the case laws. And for Ethics & Communication, study only the practice manual and that will be more than enough.

Paper – 3: Cost Accounting and Financial Management

This subject is slightly a typical one. So I would advise to practice more and more sums from 1-2 reference books. And please keep your concepts clear in this subject. Don’t try to mug up.

Paper – 4: Taxation

Read all the provisions of Income Tax 7-8 times and please study the Practice Manual of Income Tax thoroughly and for Service Tax and VAT, study the  Study Mat and Practice Manual thoroughly.

Paper – 5: Advanced Accounting

This was the subject I used to found a little tough. So I practiced a lot from the textbook authored by Sh.B M Agarwal along with ICAI books

Paper – 6: Auditing and Assurance

Study Company Audit nicely as it will be help u in practical life and please do give serious attention to vouching, verification and special audit also. Don’t waste your much time on standards on auditing.

Paper – 7: Information Technology and Strategic Management

In Information Technology, revise it for 5-6 times if u seek to score 85+. And please study regularly this subject as it is the most typical one.

For Strategic Management, revise it for 2-3 times.

f)       Useful tips while answering questions during exams

Answer the questions what is being asked. Don’t try to make the answer lengthy by adding unnecessary points and please don’t give much attention to aesthetic presentation while answering the questions. And make sure you utilize the reading time of 15 minutes wisely.

g)      General advice to examinees

Don’t panic for your exams. Actually these exams’ are also like normal exams only.

All the best for your exams

Interview with Mridu Garg, AIR 2 in CA Final November 2013

Mridu Garg 

AIR-2 in CA Final November 2013

In an exclusive interview with Anurag Singal, founder of cajobportal.com, 

here's what Mridu had to convey to budding CA finalists

a.  A brief story of your CA journey and your future dreams

It has been a great experience. Going through the articleship process, getting to learn the corporate culture, alongwith the theoretical knowledge, it a very well drafted course indeed.

I am continuing with my articleship at the moment.

b) What were the challenges you faced  

The main challenge with CA course while doing the articleship is the time constraint. (I did my articleship from KPMG)

But I would want to reiterate the fact that for CA course, regular studies is of utmost importance. We must make some time even during the articleship, probably over the weekend, and study regularly.

Keep revising on things already studied to ensure it remains in the sub conscious mind.

Proper steps should be taken to improve on our writing skills and expression.

The CA Course tests us on various things, like stress handling capability, managing priorities and time.

c) Overall approach to the exam

In the 15 minutes that we get to read the paper, please mark the questions you would attempt and the order in which you would attempt the questions. The best answer should be written first.

Divide your time amongst the questions to be attempted, and ensure that you are able to write the answer within the time framed, to ensure timely completion of paper.

Write section numbers and quote Accounting standards when you are 100% sure of the number.

d) Subject wise strategy for the 8 papers

  Developing the writing strategy is very important. Please write and practice.

Take out 3 hours and write any exam paper/ mock test paper. Thereafter, compare your answers with the Institute’s suggested answers.

This helps us understand where we lack and where to invest more time.

So, for practical subjects, please go through maximum questions for the first time, and mark the comprehensive questions. Cover these marked questions in subsequent revisions.

For theory subjects, underline important things, and go through them multiple times to be able to retain things.

e) Useful tips while answering questions during exams

 Please read the question carefully, and understand its requirements.

Then, write direct, precise answers.

Length of the answer depends upon the marks the question carries and what is asked in the question.

f)  General advice to examinees

Please keep your focus, stay calm. Self confidence is very important.

Give yourself proper rest. Take proper sleep, and ensure you give your fullest concentration when studying.

Always motivate yourself, “I CAN DO IT”.

Interview with Akshay Losalka- AIR-3 in CA Final November 2013

Akshay Losalka

AIR-3 in CA Final November 2013

In an exclusive interview with Anurag Singal, founder of cajobportal.com, 

here's what Akshay had to convey to budding CA finalists

a.  A brief story of your CA journey and your future dreams

-The reason why I am into this CA course is because of my aunt, who herself is a Chartered Accountant, and she inspired me and also my elder brother to get into this profession. At the time of clearing CPT I didn’t had any idea what I am getting into, or how tough this course was, but when I started taking tuitions for IPCC, then I realised that it was not at all an easy task. I prepared for the IPCC exams, and eventually I landed up getting AIR 38^th – it was a great feeling, got congrats from my family, friends and relatives. Then the real task started – i.e  searching for articleship, and then those three years of articleship together with tuitions, and that huge never ending syllabus of CA finals. Further that expectation of doing great in finals, of everyone added to the pressure . But the amount of knowledge that this course provided me together with those three years of practical exposure is something which has no match. Finally getting a call from the president of the institute itself, and hearing that you have achieved AIR 3^rd is like a dream come true, and I couldn’t have asked for any better end of this journey.

So this entire journey of various ups and downs, struggles, and also some happy moments together with the constant support of my family, friends, teachers and relatives, taught me an important lesson – that “there is no alternative to hard work for success”.

But now I am a part of this CA community and a new journey has started, and I would like to excel myself in this field as well and explore industrial applications of the knowledge that I have acquired. I am also very fond of teaching, so in future I would be looking forward to get into that profession as well.

b) What were the challenges you faced  

 -Some of the major challenges were –

The first year of article ship together with the morning college classes from 6 to 9 AM.

 Managing tuitions with article ship.

Completing that huge syllabus of CA final.

Coping with the pressure of huge expectations of others from me for doing good in finals.

c) Overall approach to the exam

-For me CA exams was all about testing our logic and conceptual understanding of every subject. My objective was to cover maximum portion of the syllabus, and revising it for at least two times before the exams. I focused on understanding the concepts rather than mugging it, and tried to score good in practicals.

d) Subject wise strategy for the 8 papers

  -I took tuition for 5 practical based subjects and for law, Audit and ISKA, I followed Munish Bhandari, Surbhi Bansal, and practice manual respectively. MAFA and DT were the subjects in which I had to work a little extra. The subjects for which I took tuitions, I just followed the tuition notes.

e) Useful tips while answering questions during exams

-Try to attempt the entire paper, and answer all the questions to the point. Careful reading of questions before answering prevents a lot of silly mistakes. And also the choice of as to which questions we should attempt first, followed by others is also important i.e, try to answer those questions first, which you are more confident about.

f)  General advice to examinees

-Work hard, be organised and follow your own routine for completing the syllabus, and stay patient.

Interview with CA Final Topper-Gaurav Shrawagi-AIR-1 in CA Final November 2013

Gaurav Shrawagi 

AIR-1 in CA Final November 2013 in an exclusive interview 

with Anurag Singal, founder of cajobportal.com!!

Here's what Gaurav had to convey to budding CA finalists

a.  A brief story of your CA journey and your future dreams

It was a memorable journey. Especially 3 years of my articleship.

I never thought that one day i will become a CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT. I was supposed to become an Engineer.

After 12th, i decided to go for commerce field & i m very happy with my decision.

My next aim is to go for a job in the field of International taxation.

b) What were the challenges you faced  

 Out of 8 subjects in CA final exam, i initially found SFM very tough to crack. So i dedicated extra efforts for SFM & at the end of the day I end up securing highest marks (84) in SFM.

c) Overall approach to the exam

U shuld give equal weightage to all 8 subjects. You can not compromise one subjects & favor another subject. Because all 8 subjects carry 100 marks.

While studying dont think about results. Give ur best, God will take care of rest.

d) Subject wise strategy for the 8 papers

  For practical subjects like FR, SFM, Mgt A/c do writing practice as much as possible.For remaining theoretical   subjects,  do as many revisions as possible. It will be very useful if you can quote section numbers & reference of case laws in subjects like DT, IDT, Law.

In audit, please write precise answers. Dont write haphazard answers.

PLEASE GO FOR ONLY ONE BOOK. DON'T GO FOR MULTIPLE BOOKS.

e) Useful tips while answering questions during exams

 At the begining, Start with the questions which are easy to solve. If you are not sure about any point/question, dont waste ur time on that que/point. Leave that que & try other one. i never solved my paper serially.

Be positive. If paper is tough, it is tough for everyone.

After completion of paper, PLEASE DONT DISCUSS ANSWERS WITH UR FRNZ. just concentrate on next paper.

f)  General advice to examinees

There is no substitute for hardwork & discipline. Hardwork never goes unrewarded.

Be confident.

"sapne dekho aur mehnat karo, apka har sapna pura honga"

All the best !!!!!!!!!!!