MY JOURNEY
“My parents wanted me to be an IAS officer, so I was clear to pursue the same.” However, my brother insisted that I pursue Chartered Accountancy (CA) along with my graduation and later start with my IAS preparation.
He knew IAS exams are difficult to crack, so he wanted me to pursue CA to have a strong career background. “So that’s how I started my CA journey,” says CA Sakshi Singla from Panipat, Haryana.
CPT JOURNEY
“The CPT (1st level CA exam) was super easy; I cleared it in one go with 174/200 (100 marks being the minimum).
I had decided that if I failed the CPT, I would quit CA, but luckily I passed.
My IPCC Journey
The IPCC (2nd level CA exam consisting of two groups, Group 1 and Group 2) followed.
I worked very hard, and this was my routine:
- I started my coaching for the IPCC exams just after passing my CPT.
- I joined different coaching classes for different subjects.
- My day started at 6 a.m., and I would be home by 9 p.m.
- After having my dinner, I would go back to my room and study further. I revised on a daily basis and did all my homework; all of this really helped.
- I used to sleep at 2 a.m. almost every day because I wanted to give my all to both groups at the same time. The worst that could happen is that I fail, but at least I tried my hardest. Also, I believed that failing exams was preferable to skipping them for a year.
- I passed the IPCC for both groups on the first try in May 2013, along with my college exams.
- I did my articleship at two chartered accounting firms.
- The first year was with a Panipat-based chartered accounting firm, and for the remainder of my tenure, with a Delhi-based chartered accounting firm.
CA FINAL TRIP
- Next was CA Final (the last level of the CA exam, consisting of two groups, Group 1 and Group 2).
- I had planned to clear CA-Final both groups on the first try, but that did not happen.
- 1st attempt at CA Final: I cleared CA Final Group 1 in my 1st attempt (May 2016), but failed Group 2 only because of Direct Taxation (DT).
- 2nd Attempt: CA Final (Nov’16): Failed
- CA Final, 3rd Attempt (May 2017): Failed
- Now I keep failing because of direct taxation (DT).
- I did not know what I was doing wrong, as my concepts were clear and I knew all the sections. I used to guide all my friends and help them out, but I was still getting stuck.
- That’s when I learned about Durgesh sir’s capsule batch (a one-month batch) and decided to join.
- At first, several thoughts crossed my mind about whether I should join a class or not.
- However, he had a seminar before the batch, which I attended, and I was sure that I had to join the batch, and it did pay off.
After failing CA Final Group 2 almost three times, I cleared it with 70 marks in direct taxation.
When I analysed my mistakes, I realized:
- As mentioned earlier, my concepts were good, but after joining his class, my study pattern improved.
- His approach to interlinking helped me greatly.
- It may sound very small, but those small chains connecting one concept to another helped me greatly.
- It made me understand the practical side of various sections, clauses, etc.
I also did the following:
- Daily revisions
- Attended the test series
- Revision based on charts
- Watching Durgesh Sir’s updated Youtube videos, etc.
- My hard work and persistence, along with the right coaching, helped me clear the CA Final.
- Post-qualifying as a Chartered Accountant It took me really long to get a job opportunity.
- Not in a chartered accounting firm, but in a bank or something similar.
- Finally, after a few months, I got an opportunity at ICICI Bank in Delhi.
- “I also passed the actuary entrance exam, ACET, in 2015, which I am considering,” she concluded.
