Passing the Chartered Accountancy exams is a feat all students who apply for the degree wish to achieve. Therefore, many join tuition centers and academies to get the guidance needed to score well on the exams. However, since many people appear for exams more than once, they opt for CA self-study later. While this might be a good technique for a few people, only some know how to make the most of the study time and resources that they have available, especially when you are on your own. Therefore, suppose you find yourself in a position where you must learn how to prepare for chartered accountancy exams. Read this blog. We have compiled all the important CA preparation tips you need to keep in mind to ensure success for the exam season.
The most critical time of your preparation is the last few months before your exams. It teaches you a lot of discipline because you need to manage past papers, course content, and revision accordingly. Make sure you cover all chapters and try to do questions separately.
Summarize your Notes
The best advice you will get from any chartered accounting senior, who has experience in giving exams and preparing for them by CA self-study, is to make a summary of your notes. This will help you with last-minute preparations and allow you to review all content, letting you retain vital information. To make the most out of this, you need to ensure that the summary of your notes covers all concepts briefly and does not leave anything out. This is because your notes will be your primary guide on the last day of revision and exam day.
Schedule your preparation
Try to allocate separate time frames to different stages of your preparation. For example, when studying for your exams, you go into more detail and read all chapters carefully. This will be your first stage. The second stage is reading summaries and making quick notes and charts for revision purposes. At this point, just skimming through the content helps you remember everything. Finally, the third stage comprises making mind maps that help you relate to what question belongs to which chapter.
We suggest dividing your preparation time into these stages accordingly during CA self-study. For example, give the first three months to the first stage if you have five months left for your exam. The following two months can equally be divided among the remaining stages. This will organize your revision and give it a proper structure. It will also make it easier for you to keep tabs on your progress.
Do a lot of Past Papers
Practicing questions in past papers is an essential determinant of how well you will do in exams. This is why you must practice as many past papers as you can. Not only will you be able to identify paper patterns that will aid your preparation, but it will also help you manage your time better on the day of your exam. Every time you solve a practice paper, try to time yourself according to the time you will be allowed on the exam. Gauge how much time each question takes you and try to align it with the time you are allowed. If a particular question leads you to be late, practice a good number of similar questions. Once you do this, you will be well-equipped to sit through the exams. Identify areas where you lack and search CA preparation tips that will lead you to avoid making them. Moreover, if you practice enough, there is a higher chance you will maintain your nerves on the exam day and not panic if you run out of time.
Take Regular Breaks
CA self-study can easily cause one to study continuously without allowing themselves a break in between. Especially if you are facing difficulty in any question or concept, you will often find yourself too hard on yourself. One crucial pattern found in people who study on their own without any coaching is that they tend to overwork themselves because they think they are already at a disadvantage when it comes to other applicants. Every minute they do not spend working feels like it is being wasted.
While having a sense of responsibility when you are in the exam preparation process is good, it is also essential to let your mind rest. Often, the only reason someone cannot solve a question might be because the brain might need a break or a change of place. Try to put in short gaps between every 3–4-hour study session, and in that time, do something that helps you relax. This can be exercising, driving, or meeting up with friends.
CA self-study is easy. You need to be motivated and persistent in your practice and goals. Once you do that, keep in mind the CA preparation tips mentioned above, and you will surely pass all your exams.