Can an Average Student Pass CA?

CA is one of the most sought-after professional courses in the nation and for good reason. One of the biggest concerns aspirants have is if the course can be very difficult for the. It is not possible to answer this in one word. CA becomes incredibly difficult to pass if you do not prepare well for it. It is also a course that requires its aspirants to set aside time religiously to study, focus, determination and seriousness for the exam are very crucial if you wish to do well. CA is a course that needs a lot of perseverance, the reason why many students don’t do well for the exam is because of the same reason, they do not completely invest themselves enough to gain the qualification.

CA is a great career option as it is highly regarded, respected and gets remunerated well. It is also a course which is high in demand cause every year almost 50,000 CAs are required by the industry and the demand to supply ratio never matches. The job is also very flexible as it gives its aspirants the right to decide if they would like to work on their own by setting up a firm, or work for a well reputed organization.

The requirements to clear the CA is very straight forward. Students are expected to score 50% of marks, and the syllabus also has been well laid out by the ICAI. The main mistake that students make is not paying attention to the study material and scanners that are provided by the institute. They focus on professional exam questions and skim through the study materials and scanners, but what we should know is that the chances of scanner questions and study materials being repeated on an exam are more. 

As attractive as the CA profession is, it is also a profession that is highly demanding. But this does not mean that the course is very difficult for an average student. If you have a natural liking or inclination for Accounts and Auditing then you won’t feel that the course is tough. Even an average student can do well and make a flourishing career in CA if they plan and study well. 

The number one thing that a student needs to focus on is creating a good time table. 

In this blog, we will also discuss on tips that will help students to clear the CA exam with ease. 

Tips for CA Theory Papers

• Start early and start with theory - It is always ideal for students to start their early. It gives them a lot of time to plan and set a mood for the day. Since the mind is more receptive to new information in the morning, starting with theory papers is a good way to go. 
• Continue with theory post lunch. If you are feeling tired or sleepy you can switch to practical. If you follow this technique then you will be able to easily touch 4 papers with ease each day. Try and make it a practice to do theory when your mind feels the most alert and stick to this routine. 
• Create a well define timetable - Never overburden yourself. Set realistic schedules and targets and set schedules prior to starting with the studies. Unlike the myth, you may have heard you don't have to study 16 hours a day to clear well. 10 hours a day should be more than enough, it is more about productivity and less about sitting in front of your books. This also gives you type to sleep well, which will also improve productivity. 
• Complete coaching classes 2 months before your exams - Set aside the last 2 months just for revision alone. Ultimately it comes down to you putting your best foot forward, coaching centres may be able to explain a topic but you need to do the studying yourself.
• Give equal importance to all your papers. Many a times students focus more on practical papers and not theory papers. But it may be interesting to note that most students who focus on theory papers tend to do very well in those papers. 
• Refer to the previous year's question papers and exam patterns. Go deep into your scanner, you would be able to see that 20-30 mark questions are directed to test your IQ. These questions are also repeated, so pay close attention to these questions as they may be repeated again. 
• When writing the papers make the answers precise. You don’t have to write long answers, you need to write just 2 sentences to convey your point. 
• Underline the answers so that it is very visible what you are trying to communicate. Also space it out. Underlining and spacing your answers well will bring attention to the paper examinor/checker. It will clearly convey what you are trying to say and will fetch you more marks. Even if it is one mark more that could make a difference between passing or failing and you attempting the exams another year. 
• Use jargon/ professional vocabulary. It could be your maxims for corporate law paper. Writing ‘Apex Court of India: Supreme Court” will showcase your professional skills and could earn you some brownie points. 
• If you recollect case law well then that is great. But if you are unsure of it but if you know which Court it is HC/SC/ITAT then state that. It is always better to convey all the piece of information that you have than nothing at all. This also applies when you are looking into allied laws you can definitely guess the Act the question is asked from. Be it the Negotiable Instruments Act, Partnership Act, SOGA, Banking/Insurance Acts, Interpretation of Statutes etc. Quoting the Act with the years 1981, 1932 etc. is necessary.
• If you are unsure about a section, clause, auditing standard etc. Then please do not quote it. It is better to not write it than state something wrong and create an impression that you do not know your subject well. This could affect the way the examiner marks the rest of the paper.

Tips for CA practical papers

• You are a professional now so the way you convey your answers should also reflect that. When writing rupees, use the new rupee symbol. Do not write the “Rs.” symbol on the examination papers. 
• Draw a margin on both sides of the paper, this will make sure that the paper looks tidy and the final answer will be easily legible to the examiner.
• Ensure you write the unit for your final answer, whatever it may be Dollars, Millions, Rupees, Kgs, Cma, Per unit etc. Don’t expect the checker to assume what the units are just because the unit was mentioned in the question paper. Make sure you write them and underline the final answer so that it is well understood.
• Write the formula when you start working on an answer. It will clearly convey your thought process and that you are very well aware of the type of question asked and its sub-questions. It is also a good idea to place the formula in a box.
• In case you are not able to solve an answer for any reason then write the chapter or the formula/concept note.
• Similarly, when it comes to questions you have no idea about, attempt the question. Do not leave it blank. You may just get half or one mark for it, and as many of you know that makes the difference between a pass or fail. Write concept notes or any data you may have as there are marks for such steps too.

Many of the tips mentioned here may seem like things even students in school should know. But you would be surprised to know that it is such small things that make a huge difference in a student clearing their exams. Your exam paper should look outstanding. Make sure you earn each and every mark and a good presentation is a right way to ensure you get that. Points such as underlining an answer etc may not seem important to you when attempting the paper. The examiner/checker will be checking multiple papers in a day, you have to ensure that they are able to grasp every bit of information that is thrown their way. 

These are just some ways by which even an average student can do extraordinarily well in their CA exams. If you have more queries or need more support please feel free to reach out to us.