Winning Strategies For Professional Exams

WINNING STRATEGIES

GOPAL KRISHNA RAJU FCA, AICWA, ACS, PGDOR, PGDFM, ISA Visiting Faculty for ICAI and ICSI

Stephen Hawking

Martina Navratilova

Basic Requisites Intelligence – Average Interest – Absolute Involvement - Adequate Dhirubhai Ambani, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein Story of Tanmai Sachin Tendulkar

Strategy Planning – Design Preparation – Perspire Practice - Equip

Long Term Planning Eligibility Groups Examination Classes Books / Materials Overcome weakness Preserve Strengths

Short Term Planning Weekly Planner (not Weakly) Subject Coverage Time Allocation (Quality time not quantity of time) Seek Rejuvenation (But no distractions please)

Preparation

Read the syllabus Make an in depth study by taking notes Perfect your understanding

Study Plan

Concepts Box the principles Key Rules Work, Don’t Audit Theory……………Problem

Practice to perform

Pick a past paper Write under simulated conditions Have it evaluated Discuss

So What ? (We Get) Accuracy Speed Confidence

Exam Eve (Before the exam) Power of Positive Thinking “Wars are won and lost in the mind” “If u think u can, you can, If u think u cant u cant” Stick to your notes (Do not experiment) Sleep Well (12 hours before exam) Temples (The time for them is later) Trek in 20 minutes in advance

At the exam Don’t Panic (do want u know) Don’t get exited (Excitement kills) Don’t Bluff (No tricks please)

Time Management 15 minutes read the question paper 15 minutes read the written answer paper Write the answers in 150 minutes

At the Exam Bunch the answer together – Main answer, Workings, Assumptions, Facts, Analysis, Conclusions Legibility – It counts a lot Visuals – Quality ka mamla hai

1. Read & Identify Questions

2. Spot & Jot relevant info

7. Final Solutions

6. List Assumptions

5. Map out working notes

3. Analyze

7 Steps

4. Figure out principles & key rules

After the Exam Don’t evaluate your scores Could de-moralize you It’s the examiners job Forget the past – You do not have a choice Relax – Prepare for the next bout

They were also fired Boeing – Furniture Business Sony – Rice Cooker (cooked) Reliance - Floods

Perseverance Effort Recap

Intelligence Brains

Practice Fail proof Ambition

Planning Gateway

Involvement Commitment

Interest Desire

Dont’s “There’s too much to study and remember” “I think, I can remember if I cram in the eleventh hour” “Ma, let me study lying on the bed” “I am going to work all through the night for the exam” “This subject is boring” “I shall watch T.V or listen to music as I am studying”

Solution for Dont's Follow a regular time schedule for all subjects Short time intervals for review Self-tests If bored, change the subject Study with friends, compare notes, quiz each other and answer test questions Practice writing notes on the prescribed subject

Tips for Concentration

Start working only when all the necessary materials are ready Motivate yourself to get interested Set a time frame to reach a set goal Sit at a table while studying Do not allow yourself to be distracted Freshen yourself before sitting to study Organize and work systematically

Qualities of an Examinee to Qualify • • • • •

Time Management – 2 Minutes for every Mark approx. For example for 15 marks question you have to spend a maximum of 15/100*180 = 27 minutes. Order of the Question is immaterial but DO NOT break the answers DO NOT forget to use ruler and pencil, it will make your presentation in order DO NOT cut your answers, even if it is wrong

Qualities….Contd. •

• •

Write each sub-question in a separate page, to make sure each page has answers worth only 3 to 5 marks not more than that Give space at the end of each question (at least a quarter page) for consolidation of marks Handwriting – neatness is not mandatory but legibility is

Qualities….Contd. • • •

Compulsory question is compulsory to answer, otherwise penalty 2 marks Additional Question – Answer all questions including additional question if time permits Working Notes should form part of answer usually after the required answer, but not before the answer

Qualities….Contd. • • •

Do not get to conclusions based on behaviour of co-examinees Use full 3 hours,it is your right. If you get QP late convey that to the hall supervisor Never ever use calculator for totaling in examination, use it other than adding numbers – tip for time management

Qualities….Contd. •

• •

Properly number the Q.NO to the answer specifically for left page - left hand corner and for right page – right hand corner Very important - DO NOT discuss the answers after the exams are over Use ergonomically designed PEN for examination

Qualities….Contd. • • • •

Always expect the unexpected in the question paper – get delighted if unexpected question appears in QP. Practice leads to perfection – practice the month before exam – no need to practice every M and N. AVOID giving personal note to examiner. Myth – only completed answer fetches maximum marks.

Qualities……contd. 21. Avoid having discussions with your friends before entering exam hall. 22. Always prefer taking both groups of exam. Behind every successful professional There are many unsuccessful years

Last(ing) Words  What is not important is How much you make money  Rather how well you make that money

Thank you very much for your attention