Generally, you get a maximum of 20 hours to study before your CA Intermediate exam. The best way to effectively utilize this time is to pre-plan your schedule and bring together your study material. In this article, we will be sharing some tips to help you revise efficiently in this short span.
Disclaimer: It is important for you to have completed multiple revisions of all the subjects to fully appreciate and incorporate the tips given in this blog.
What you should be ‘prepared’ with for the exam days?
- Be completely aware of all the topics your syllabus and fix down on the summarized notes and list of questions you would like to revise in the 1.5 days. Do not change your content between the last read and your final one day before the exam read.
- Make sure you have the base formats for your practical questions and all formulae together in place so that you can revise them quickly.
- Go through past years’ (at least 2) RTPs and MTPs and prepare a list of important questions from them.
- Revise the case study MCQs well in advance and prepare a repository of MCQs to be revised before the exam day.
How to manage your time and timetable?
We’ve bifurcated the preparation tips on the basis of practical and theory subjects here.
| 1.5 days for Preparation | On the exam day | |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Papers (Accounting, Cost & Management Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Financial Management) | Go through every single concept in the textbook | Refer to your mock test papers to see the mistakes and avoid repeating them |
| Revise your formulae multiple times | Go through your attempt’s RTP & MTP and then go through the list of important questions from other RTPs, MTPs and past papers. | |
| Skim through the base formats for the major chapters. | Revise your formulae for the last time | |
| Prepare a list of important sums to glance through, only to understand the learnings (and not to work the numbers) | ||
| Theory Papers (Law, Audit, Taxation, EIS, SM, Economics) | Use your summary notes for revision; avoid going through the detailed explanations on every section/topic. | Go through your attempt’s RTP & MTP and then go through other RTPs, MTPs and past papers |
| Revise your list of section/ clause numbers and penalties multiple times | Revise your list of section/ clause numbers and penalties for the last time. | |
| Go through the repository of MCQs that you would have prepared for the respective subjects | ||
| For Taxation – Avoid solving questions but make sure you scribble down a rough format for important chapter sums from memory |
Pro Tip: Make sure you keep in mind the section wise weightage given by ICAI.
Now that you’ve understood how the subject syllabus can be managed, below is a timeline to help you utilize the limited time at hand to the maximum:
| Time | Breaks one can take | Syllabus to be covered | Target Portion Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| After the previous exam | |||
| 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Snacks Dinner |
Important but light topics | 20-25% |
| On the exam leave day | |||
| 06:00 AM – 01:00 PM | Breakfast Lunch |
Topics with the maximum weightage | 25-30% |
| 01:00 PM – 07:00 PM | Snacks | Miscellaneous topics in the order of your priority | 15-20% |
| By this time, you should have got done with your 60 – 70% of the syllabus. Analyse your progress and strategize your balance preparation. |
|||
| 07:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Dinner | Miscellaneous topics in the order of your priority | 15-20% |
| On the exam day | |||
| 06:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Breakfast Lunch |
Finish the balance topics (if any) Do important questions, RTPs, MTPs & past papers |
5-10% |
*One must take the necessary breaks as per their comfort and requirement.
What you must avoid?
- Studying right till the exam centre – Set aside your studies an hour before your exam time and be fresh for your paper.
- Discussing the paper once you’re home – you’ll be crying over spilt milk.
- Covering new topics and new sums on the eve of your exam.
- Attempting papers/Solving any detailed and time-consuming questions on the revision days.
- Oily meals that may upset your belly, make you drowsy and ruin your mood.
- Compromising on your sleep – Rest well by sleeping for 6-7 hours before the exam day.
- Taking unnecessary stress/pressure.
Conclusion
Believe you know it well! Now it’s time to put your best thoughts on paper most efficiently & convince the examiner that YOU ARE THE ONE.
For additional resources to assist you in your CA preparation, reach out to us.
Good Luck!
