Read the Study Material Thoroughly
The study material would help you to develop a strong conceptual base. They give you the parameters within which you have to study. Make it a habit of going through them thoroughly as these will enable to understand the basic concepts of the subjects and develop your ability in understanding different concepts and applications.
Practice, Practice and Practice
Practice makes a man perfect. Students must practice as much as possible. Many students start practicing from various books without first understanding the subject and the concepts involved. This approach is absolutely wrong. You need to make your base first and then start practicing. The following publications brought out by the Institute will be of great help:
Practice Manual for all the subjects
Suggested Answers/Compilations
Revision Test Papers.
Develop Your Learning Style
Everyone learns in different ways. If you know your own learning style, then you have the capability to observe others. Discuss alternatives with friends or with fellow students you might be surprised at what you find out. Armed with these insights, challenge yourself to try some new tricks. Once you understand the style in which you most effectively learn, you will experience the most enjoyable and welcome feeling that of being in control.
Stay Focussed
It should be clear from the above that CA examinations are qualitatively different and more demanding than the Graduate and Undergraduate examinations conducted by the Universities. The attitudes and approaches of CA students to their educational training should accordingly be distinctly professional.
After committing oneself to an early start, students should take a good look at the syllabus for each subject and understand the major aim, theme, level of knowledge expected and the contents. They may jot down what they understand of the syllabus in the relevant file. A careful survey of the syllabus and study material contents will enable the student to size up, on a rough basis, the total magnitude of study task to be completed within the allocated time for each subject with a compulsory provision for adequate revision, two or three times, before the examination.
Revise and Review
It is very important to study the reading materials at least 3 to 4 times. This would include:
First Reading – This will be more like a novel reading to gain overview;
Second Reading – This will be in-depth study where concepts emerge; and
Third Reading – This will be very intensive reading to fully understand the concept and to underline important points to be revised on examination day.