Topper Interviews

CA IPCC Topper Interview Nov 2016 (Rekha Suthar)

Speaking on her success, Ms. Rekha has stated that, following ICAI Study Materials and Practice Manuals have helped here succeed in the CA IPCC Exams. Most important point you should remember while preparing for Taxation is, NEVER READ A BULK OF SYLLABUS IN A SINGLE DAY. Taxation is a tricky subject who should be prepared over a period of time. Don’t finish topics in a single stretch. For that day you may feel like you got that but after a week, everything comes to the starting point. Slow and Steady.

How are you feeling right now?

It is a surprising moment for me and I am extremely happy for it.

How did you hear this news that you are AIR Rank 1 & what was your parent’s reaction?

I am not the first one to know that I am the topper. I actually came to know about it through my professor. Who called me and shared this. He was very proud. My mom started crying and my father was shocked when they heard this from me. I could see how happy they were. They were extremely happy and hugged me out of joy.

Were you really expecting a rank? 

Yes am, because the papers went well and the way I wanted them to be. I was obviously hoping for a rank but really didn’t expect it to be AIR-1. 

So, far who inspired you in this journey so far? 

I have one friend named Karan WadekarI didn’t really do the mock test papers. But, again I would recommend all to go through everything that the institute gives you. Ultimately, they are going to set the paper and check it. So, the students should go through little-bit of all the materials that they can study.

And, what is the most important thing that one should keep in mind during the exams? 

If you know that you have prepared well, then you are calm but if you haven’t prepared well and see that you can’t answer all the questions then you are obviously going to freak out. If you want to keep calm, you have to prepare – that’s all. My mind-set was that if you are solving it for the first time, then you should do it perfectly. There shouldn’t be any doubt. So, I gave extra time for each sum, instead of keeping some time for checking it later because there was no point in making a mistake now and then checking it later. So, avoid the mistakes wherever you can. 

Was there any time when you were stressed out?

Once, I and all my friends were outside the class and we were all depressed like what we are doing. We should be enjoying right now, why studying so much – rather we were there whole day in the class and studying at home. So, we all were depressed that why we are doing this – but we didn’t have a choice because if you have started something, then you have to finish it. 

And during the exams, what importance you gave from fitness – both mental and physical? 

It’s really important. If you are physically fit you will be more productive. You should go for regular exercise. One should basically take as much protein as he can. Limit your carbohydrates to your breakfast. Avoid eating stuffs like cookies and all; and have intake of all the vegetables. Being fit enough increases your productivity and mental strength. If you are not fit then you obviously have problems and you have to go the doctor. So, in such a situation, one has to face all such issues and waste a lot of time there. 

What are your expectations from CA Final? 

I am hoping that I can keep this on and retain the title of AIR-1. How did you achieve this can you share your strategy with us – 

how did you prepare, what was your time table before and during the exams? 

There was not any strategy or schedule involved. I just knew that I had all the modules and practice manuals to read. I have just read them – one / two times. So, just keep reading them till you are sure that you know everything. And then, you read them again. I have focussed on the practice manuals daily. And I didn’t go through the modules too much but I won’t recommend that to anyone, as the modules are extremely important. You should just go through the modules and the practice manuals;

What are your plans for articleship? 

I haven’t decided yet. I am still thinking which firm to join but mostly somewhere in the Big- 4.

You can also watch video of interview of Rekha Suthar

Exclusive interview with Aayush Agarwal – All India Rank 2 CA IPC Nov 16

CA IPC Nov 2016 examination results have released and we are once again glad to bring to you the success stories of this year toppers. It surely motivates, guides and inspire everyone! Meet Aayush Agarwal, All India Rank 2 CA IPC Nov 2016 who hails from Kolkata. Aayush is a confident, diversified and a very balanced student. He likes drawing and sketching, he plays guitar. He gives credit for this success to his teachers, parents and his grandfather specially. Let us find out what her strategy was & how he she achieved this milestone:

How are you feeling right now? 

I am feeling amazed, Sir!!

What was your parent’s reaction on hearing the news that you have secured AIR 2 in CA IPC examination? 

We were all amazed. We were expecting for a rank but this was something unexpected.

How important this is for you? 

For me, it was the most important exam that I had ever appeared for, in my life as of yet. Actually I had dropped, like, my examination was due in May but I had appeared in November because my college exam was starting with IPCC exams in May. I am from St. Xavier’s College so I was having semester exam in the morning and IPC exam in the afternoon. So, in order to perform well in the college exams, I had appeared in Nov for IPC. I had excelled well in my college exams as well with highest score – 88.53% to be very precise. After the college exams were over, I had started working hard for IPC again. So, this period was very crucial to me. Now as you have secured a rank in IPC,

Do you think that there would be the same pressure in CA Final as well?

Obviously Sir (Smiles) now everyone is calling me and saying me; how can you come second you. You would need to come First. So, the pressure is there. 

Do you regret not coming first? 

Obviously, I do feel bad about coming second. But the very fact that I could secure a position is itself a very good thing. Because results are always based on luck, hard work was there but the ultimate call is the God’s call. And the fact that my hard work and effort paid off, is the best thing that I could actually feel. 

Whom would you like to thank for this achievement who have helped you to attain this success?

If I start naming there are many people who helped and supported me I this journey, but to name a few – my parents obviously. They have supported me throughout the entire 15 months and my grandfather specially. He was always there beside me. He used to sit with me for the entire period 15 days. It was like I am studying and he used to be there sit by my side and see weather I am well or not. He was also going through with a lot of pressure as his health was also a major issue. One more person whom I would like to thank is my guide and mentor and an elder brother – Ranjan baiya; he is the one who always motivates me that I can do it. He always used to push me. He also said to inform him once I receive call from the President. I was not that confident but he was very confident that I would secure either 1st or 2nd rank. Special mention to my grandfather also, who was always there besides me in this entire journey. He used to wake me up early in the morning so that I can concentrate on my studies and prepare well for the exam. He also stayed awake along with me until and unless I finished my studies. So, there has been a constant moral support which I had received from my grandfather. My friends have also supported me who had the firm belief that I could score well in IPC as well. 

As you have worked hard for this, so what are your future plans? 

The efforts will be twice as the expectations have increased much more now. Of course, I am planning to join a Big-4 Firm but I need to discuss the entire planning with my parents as expectations have increased now. I will see how I can get best out from my articleship along with managing tuitions. Now, after securing a second rank, my mission will be to score 1st rank in CA Finals. So, I am working on it and planning the entire thing. 

What was the strategy that you followed while studying and what are the important things that one should take in mind while preparing for exams?

First thing is the attitude. There were times when I couldn’t actually study but this is my experience that positive attitude always helps. Like after appearing for my examination, I was like – acha hoga, Jo vi hoga acha hoga. So, positive attitude always boosts you up, encourages and teaches you further. That determination that – Yes I can do and the positive attitude is what that took me to this stage. As far as preparation goes we cannot study haphazardly. I have followed a proper plan for study and the best thing that I would like to suggest the other students is that we need to always follow the institute material and the practice manuals provided by the institute and nothing is more important other than that. It is the best study material that I can ever suggest. After studying from those materials, when I sat for my examinations, it was like – the examinations are very easy. So, I have kept in mind – the importance of the study materials. 

What was your schedule 6 months before the exams and during the exams? 

Actually 6 months before the exams, I used to study as many – one practical subject and two theory subjects. I had Morning College – my classes were from 6 to 10 and after that I was free. So, I used to study 4 subjects a day in a much planned manner. So, this was the schedule which I followed 6 months before the exams and during the exams, the schedule failed out because health issue cropped up. This is also one very important thing that I would like to convey to others that we should take care of our health because if we will not be healthy, we won’t be able to perform well for the exams. Sir, I feel that I wasn’t able to score a 1st rank because my health was not good during the examination. So that is a very important thing. We should always look after our health and sufficient sleep should be there to remember thing that you have studied. That is what I have experienced during my theory paper. In my theory papers, I actually had written long answers but I couldn’t help it because I was feeling sick. So, we actually do need to take care of our health and keep ourselves calm during the exam day. 

How many revisions did you do before the exams for each subject? 

The number of revisions that I did was (approx.) 4 to 5. 

Can you throw some light on how one can prepare for practical papers? 

If you ask me, I have seen some of my friends and other students to mug up the things without knowing the conceptual importance of the practical questions. I have seen some of my friends will just read out the practical problems. You need to actually work on it by yourself to check if you can do it or not. I used to practice everything on pen and paper after my every class.

You can also watch video of interview of Aayush Agarwal

By Vijay Tinker (CA student)