Interviewer: Good day, Diksha! It’s a pleasure to have you with us. We extend our heartfelt congratulations for securing AIR-1 in the CA Intermediate Nov 22 exams. How are you feeling, Diksha?
Diksha: Thank you so much! I’m feeling absolutely delighted. It was a surreal moment when the ICAI President called to share the news of my AIR-1 in the Nov 22 CA Intermediate Exams.
Interviewer: That sounds like an incredible achievement. Could you take us through your preparation for the CA Intermediate Exams?
Diksha: Certainly. After my CA Foundation exams in December 2021, I didn’t wait for the results. I began preparing for the Intermediate straight from January. By June, I had covered the entire syllabus comprising 8 subjects. From July onwards, I dedicated myself to revisions in preparation for the CA Intermediate Nov 22 exams.
Interviewer: Impressive! How did you structure your daily routine during this intensive preparation period?
Diksha: My schedule was quite rigorous. Until June, I attended 9 hours of classes, which included three lectures. After that, I invested another 4 to 5 hours in self-revision. This summed up to about 13-14 hours of studying in a single day.
Interviewer: Did you rely on ICAI study materials for your preparations?
Diksha: For the majority of the subjects, I indeed used ICAI materials. However, for specific subjects like Taxation, I found it more beneficial to refer to my faculty’s books.
Interviewer: Balancing articleship alongside your studies must have been challenging. How did you manage this?
Diksha: No, my articleship tenure began in February, so I focused on it separately from my academic preparations.
Interviewer: You successfully transitioned from CA Foundation to IPCC. How did your approach to CA Foundation differ from your preparation for Intermediate?
Diksha: For CA Foundation, I adopted a self-study approach. I completed the entire syllabus within two and a half months and then dedicated two months to revision. That was my revision strategy for CA Foundation.
Interviewer: Were there any subjects within CA Intermediate that posed particular difficulties for you, and what advice would you give to future students facing similar challenges?
Diksha: I found the practical subjects more manageable compared to the theoretical ones. To overcome my weaknesses, I focused on the theoretical subjects, revising them a minimum of 7 to 8 times.
Interviewer: When aiming for AIR-1, did you expect to achieve this rank?
Diksha: I was targeting AIR-1 right from the beginning, so I strived to make it a reality.
Interviewer: Could you share the key strategies you used to secure AIR-1, such as solving question papers and RTPs?
Diksha: Certainly. I strongly believe that multiple revisions and mock test papers are key to success. In fact, I dedicated the entire month of August to solving mock test papers, attempting nearly 10 to 20 of them.
Interviewer: How did your parents react when they learned of your AIR-1 achievement?
Diksha: They were overjoyed, and I must say, the feeling is still sinking in!
Interviewer: Whom would you like to dedicate this remarkable success to?
Diksha: I dedicate this success to my parents and teachers, particularly my mother, who has been my role model and the pillar of my support.
Interviewer: You’re also pursuing a B.Com (Hons) degree alongside your CA Intermediate studies. How do you manage both?
Diksha: I began preparing for my graduation studies closer to the examination period and allocated slightly less time to it during my Intermediate preparation.
Interviewer: Have you started preparing for the CA Final, and if so, what’s your plan?
Diksha: No, I haven’t started preparations for the CA Final yet, as there is a three-year gap before that stage.
Interviewer: What advice would you offer to students preparing for the May 2023 exams?
Diksha: I would advise them to prioritize theoretical subjects, maintain focus, practice numerous mock test papers, refer to ICAI study materials, and emphasize thorough revision.
Interviewer: Finally, what are your thoughts on the New CA syllabus?
Diksha: I find the new CA syllabus quite favourable. The reduction of articleship duration from three years to two years is convenient, especially for those not pursuing practice or a job. For practice candidates, the articleship duration remains three years. Those going for jobs will find it more convenient as the period has been reduced from 5 years to 4 years. Overall, it has become more user-friendly and accessible.
Interviewer: Thank you so much, Diksha, for this insightful conversation. We appreciate your time and wish you the very best in your future endeavours.
Diksha: Thanks a lot!
