Thursday, May 11, 2017

CA exams: Memory whiz gives lowdown on things to remember

As students across the country gear up to appear for their chartered accountancy examinations, which begin on May 3, a few dollops of inspiration might just help them sail smoothly. Memory whiz Nischal Narayanam, from Hyderabad, made national news when he cracked the chartered accountancy examinations in 2015. The now 21-year-old was already a ‘Double Guinness World Record holder' in the category of memory, when he accomplished the feat of being the youngest chartered accountant (CA) in the country.

According to Nischal, “Many students don't do internships because they think it's a waste, and prefer to sit at home and study. What one studies from the books is just 10 per cent of the deal, the rest comes from hands-on experience. My CA articleship at Deloitte International audit firm played an important role in understanding the system and how things work, as mugging is not everything.” He further adds, “Spending time on project work like presentations and writing skills is not a waste and one must learn to manage time purposefully. An evaluator is witty enough to figure if a student is confused or focused, so there is a need to impress them with presentations.” Preparing for an examination that can probably define our future is often overhwhelming. The key is to keep calm. “My mother was the one who created a positive atmosphere around me and recognised my potential. The exam has an irregular structure, but honest effort and sacrifice makes it worth it till the end,” says Nischal. Talking about his schedule, he shares, “My schedule entailed revising at least six times before the examination to keep myself updated. Self-studying is very important, and the fact that one has to sit and study the same thing over and over again, but continues to do so, is important. One must sleep for at least eight hours, and eat healthy. The first attempt is the best attempt, as the concentration level can't be replicated in other attempts. I was confident about passing the exam. You can somehow know if you will clear it or not.” Not one to be flattered by the adulation, Nischal continues to stay grounded and ensures his plans include the lesser-privileged sections of society. “I will be getting myself enrolled at Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). But I have an educational site which I want to work on, it's called ‘Nischals - Joy of Knowing'. It deals with innovative educational products and works on Maths and Science for schools students. I want to make it much bigger than it is now and help poor but talented students. The Maths problems we design are significantly appreciated all over India. The Maharashtra State Board along with other boards has taken our circular into consideration.” His advice for CA aspirants is simple. “Hard work is enough to attain success. Students should not get restless, but instead be patient and plan properly. Towards the final few months, a student must have enough time for revision and solve mock papers. Time management is very important, utilise the initial 15 minutes (the most crucial time) for reading your question paper thoroughly before you begin to write. Attempt the questions you are confident about first, and then go on with the rest, keeping presentation in mind. All these points are simple but important,” he says.

Source: DNA-3rd May,2017