Balancing Articleship and CA Exams
You have to earn the CA (Chartered Accountancy) degree in the truest sense of the word. The course comprises a unique combination of practical experience and in-depth subject knowledge based on application. If you want to qualify as a Chartered Accountant truly you would have to gain hands-on experience along with possessing a detailed understanding of the subject. So, this brings us to a rather important question — how can you manage your CA exams and articleship? There are various techniques and tips that you can follow in this regard. However, in this blog, we have attempted to highlight some of the most important ones.
Taking the early dive
The first step that you need to take in balancing both these pursuits is to begin your exam preparations as early as possible. The task here is rather simple — you have to be ahead of your competitors. The CA exam syllabus is a rather vast one and you have to make sure that before the exam leave begins you have read the syllabus thrice over. Doing this will ensure that you are in a good position to clear the exam on the first go — keep in mind that you have only a short amount of time for this.
Squeezing out short time blocks
Remember that the office work in this case is rather demanding and so you would not have a lot of time to study and flow through your preparations as in so many other disciplines. This is why it is so important that you utilize any time block you can find to study in this case, no matter how short it is. This will help you be consistent in your pursuit of success. This means that you can study in the early mornings, on weekends, while traveling, and when you are waiting while at work.
Applying your learning
When you are working practically during your articleship you will surely encounter a few problems and issues as part of your office work. One of the worst steps that you can take in these cases is to head straightaway to a colleague or a senior so that you can get your doubts cleared. Grab this chance, open your book, and read up on the statutory provision that is applicable in this particular context. Always try to solve the problem by yourself first before you ask for help from anyone else. Remember, you will never forget a solution you have created yourself.
Learning the applications
The approach mentioned immediately above is just as important in reverse situations. This means that if you learn a new concept try to apply it to a workplace problem. For example, if you have learned about the TDS (taxes deducted at source) provisions in income tax, try to use it while reviewing the accounts books of your clients. Find out if the books are complete, correct, timely, and in compliance with said regulations or not. Not only would this fetch you the praise from your seniors it will also help you learn the subject completely.
Avoiding just-in-time studies and making space for revision blocks
Often it has been seen that CA students head to the final examination leave not having read all the subjects. They keep those away for those last-minute studies which is such a disastrous thing to do in this particular case. Simply put, it is hard to learn new concepts, revise them, and then apply them in the exam at short notice. So, reading them the first time during the final examination leave does not indeed make any sense at all. Also remember that the final examination leave is meant for revision, not first-time studies.
Avoiding social media
Even as phones get smarter and AI (artificial intelligence) learns at greater depth natural intelligence is facing the danger of consistent distraction. So, as a CA student, whenever you study you need to make it deep where you are learning really with all the focus you can muster and with complete vigor. As it is, we are always craving to know what is happening on our social media feeds — it has become an addiction rather than a habit. Such usage is damaging some parts of our cognitive brain functioning permanently.
Working efficiently in the office
Doing so will help you save time that you can use later on for studies. You have to ask yourself if you need to work those extra hours. Instead, pledge to use those working hours more efficiently. The very thought that working late nights at the office is a sign that you are working hard is wrong. A whole lot of studies have proven that if you stay late at the office it is only because you are not good enough to get it done within the stipulated time. You have to manage your office time better so that you can deliver the work on time efficiently.
Dealing with complicated topics first
As a student, it is rather normal that you would fall into the trap of taking up subjects that you feel at ease with during your preparations. In such cases, you may opt to leave the complicated ones for the end. This is a clear sign that you are procrastinating which you must avoid. Dealing with complicated subjects first is always hard and stressful. However, this is something that has to be done, and delaying it is never going to help for sure. So, if you tackle these first, and successfully so, it will feel great!
In the end, the importance of rest, rejuvenation and relaxation cannot be ignored in this particular context. A lot of times, your body and mind are affected by the toll that tight deadlines and harsh office schedules will take on you. This is why it is so important that you take some time off when you just relax, rest, and rejuvenate. There are so many ways you can do this such as taking short trips with near and dear ones, exercising regularly, meditating, indulging in some pleasant hobbies, and reading books outside the subject.
