The world might be divided into two units of individuals: those that like to review alone and those that desire a research buddy. I fall into the latter class, as having somebody in the identical boat as you to inspire you and reply your queries is a boon. It’s additionally enjoyable, as you will have somebody to debate doubts with throughout break instances.
What if this research buddy lived in the identical home—your sibling? That is often a rarity until the sibling is a twin, however these siblings from Morena, Madhya Pradesh are a shining instance of the heights that may be achieved collectively.
Sachin (24) and Nandini (22) Agrawal, though two years aside, had been in the identical class since Class 2. Nandini skipped two courses and joined her brother in his class.
Their paths intertwined as they selected a singular aim: so as to add two letters earlier than their identify — CA (Chartered Accountant). The duo labored collectively in direction of attaining this aim, selecting the identical teaching class and the identical metropolis for his or her articleships.
Their efforts paid off, and the way! Each of them achieved ranks within the CA Remaining in 2021. The icing on the cake was that Nandini set a Guinness World File by changing into the world’s youngest feminine chartered accountant with AIR 1.
Right here’s how they achieved this large feat, together with suggestions for aspiring CAs.
A singular focus since Class 7
Sachin recollects that his sister was “extraordinary from the start”. Their mom would train her at house, overlaying no matter Sachin was being taught at college. “Since she already knew what was being taught in Class 1, my mom requested the college to enrol her within the subsequent class,” Sachin tells The Higher India.
Till Class 12, the siblings studied of their hometown and by themselves, with no additional teaching. They topped their district in Class 12. Crystal clear about pursuing CA, they cleared the CPT (Widespread Proficiency Take a look at), the primary stage of the course, after Class 12.
“For CA Intermediate (the following examination), we first went to Delhi to search for teaching courses. Nevertheless, after doing self-study for thus lengthy, sitting in a category of 1,000 college students appeared unattainable. We determined to go for on-line teaching, which might assist us research at our tempo,” says Sachin.
This was in 2017, a lot earlier than on-line lectures had been the norm. Utilizing on-line lectures, the duo ready for the inter exams from Morena, and cleared the examination on the primary try in Could 2018. “We had eight topics break up into two teams in Inter, and whereas some folks suggested us to take one group’s exams at a time, we determined to take each,” provides Sachin.
Subsequent, all CA college students needed to go in for a three-year articleship, a sensible coaching at a CA agency. For this, the siblings moved to Delhi.
Whereas Sachin was 18 on the time, Nandini was simply 16. A dream place for articleship for a lot of CA college students are the Massive 4 accounting companies — Deloitte, Ernst & Younger (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG).
Nandini had her eyes set on these companies, however regardless of getting by means of interviews, she was rejected resulting from her age. Lastly, she secured a place at PwC, after a couple of months of delay, the place she pursued her articleship.
“Some folks feared that we would not be capable to concentrate on our research after shifting to a giant metropolis. My aim was clear: I needed to grow to be a CA and create a greater life for myself,” says Nandini, including that she was decided to create her personal identification and obtain monetary independence.
Even for the CA Remaining, the siblings selected on-line teaching, which helped them take heed to lectures earlier than and after workplace hours.
“Work would eat most of our time, from 10 am to 6-7 pm each day. With on-line lectures, we had flexibility. We’d full a lecture day by day by beginning our mornings at 6 am and ending it publish work,” provides Sachin.
They began with sensible topics like Monetary Reporting (FR), Strategic Monetary Administration (SFM), and Superior Administration Accounting, as they take probably the most period of time and wish plenty of conceptual understanding.
Weekends for these youngsters concerned ‘no enjoyable’. They had been dedicated to watching lectures and self-study. Actually, Nandini calls her CA journey probably the most stunning a part of her life.
For his or her CA Remaining try in Could 2021, the siblings began intense preparations in December, when their research go away started.
‘We motivated one another’
Their research plan was target-based, not time-based. They’d determine what they needed to full every day. They first accomplished all pending lectures when their research go away began. The primary topic they picked up in December was taxation. Their plan was divided into 15-day chunks, every overlaying one sensible and one idea topic.
Because the examination had eight topics at the moment, they accomplished their first revision in two months. They referred to The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) modules and previous papers, and took some notes.
The second revision included attempting to resolve previous papers, which gave them an thought about which areas wanted extra focus. “We focused 10 days for 2 topics on this revision,” says Sachin.
After this, they tried some mock check papers within the first week of March. The outcomes had been stunning, says Sachin. “We failed in a couple of papers. Even in different topics, we didn’t get the end result we needed. We had been shattered to see the end result in spite of everything our exhausting work. This wouldn’t be sufficient to safe a rank, which was our intention,” he provides.
Sachin and Nandini didn’t take it calmly. They doubled their efforts and spoke to professors about what was missing. The professors helped them with language, format, templates, and paper shows.
What additionally helped was their companionship. Nandini says it stored distractions at bay and made learning an pleasant expertise.
“You don’t really feel bored if you research collectively. We’ve been research buddies since Class 2. We helped one another as we had complementary ability units. We’d train one another the topics we had been sturdy in. Sachin additionally served as a benchmark for me,” says Nandini.
After engaged on the suggestions, they had been higher ready. Whereas the exams are often held in Could annually, in 2021, owing to COVID-19, they had been postponed to July. These two additional months served as a significant boon.
The duo didn’t let their guard down even with the additional time—they’d their eyes on the prize. They did one other revision and solved previous papers, revision check papers, and mock check papers. For topics they discovered tough, like SFM, they spent additional time, which proved helpful as they scored very properly in it!
“We targeted and studied exhausting proper from the beginning to make sure that we didn’t need to stress an excessive amount of earlier than the examination. Spend extra time at first of your research holidays. This may enhance your confidence too,” says Nandini.
Preparation suggestions from the CA rankers:
- Begin full-blown preparation six to seven months earlier than the examination.
- End your lectures as quickly as attainable to concentrate on self-study.
- Examine from the ICAI modules, previous query papers, and revision check papers.
- Make a correct plan and stick with it.
- Be constant and targeted.
Edited by Khushi Arora, Photographs Courtesy Nandini Agrawal
