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How to plan for CA Inter for Direct Entry Route Students

Written by CA Satish Jalan | Jan 8, 2021 3:24:57 PM

The ICAI allows you to enter directly to its Intermediate Course under the following scenarios -

  • If you are a Commerce Graduate/Post-Graduate (with minimum 55% marks) or Other Graduate/Post-Graduate (with minimum 60% marks); or
  • If you have passed the Intermediate level examination of Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

If you are pursuing the Final Year of Graduation Course, you can also register for the Intermediate Course on provisional basis. Your registration would be regularized on submission of satisfactory proof of passing the Graduation examination with the specified percentage of marks within 6 months from the date of appearance in the final year graduation examination.

Moreover, you are required to undergo 9 months of practical training to become eligible for appearing in the Intermediate examination.

 

It is said that - If you fail to plan well, you are planning to fail”.

So, you need to plan your study timeline well in advance to crack the examination in one shot.

 

 

When will I become eligible for appearing in the Intermediate Examinations?

 

If you opt for the Direct Entry route, you are eligible to appear in the Intermediate examinations upon completion of 9 months of practical training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the examination is held. 

 

For instance, in order to be eligible for appearing in the May/November examinations you should complete 9 months of practical training by April/October respectively.

Hence, you should prepare for the exams along with your practical training.

 

Read More : 

How to plan for CA Inter for just passed CA Foundation

 

Which are the Subjects to be studied at CA Intermediate Level?

 

CA Intermediate level comprise of 8 subjects divided into Group I and Group II, each group having four subjects as mentioned below:

 

CA Inter Group I:

  • Accounting
  • Corporate and Other Laws
  • Cost and Management Accounting
  • Taxation

CA Inter Group II:

  • Advanced Accounting
  • Auditing and Assurance
  • Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management
  • Financial Management and Economics for Finance

 



How to decide whether to appear for both the groups or one group at a time?

 

The ICAI allows you to appear one group or both groups at a time. It is always advisable to prepare for both groups at a time to pass your CA Exam at the earliest. However,  you may decide to appear for a single group due to time or any other constraints.

Appearing for both the groups simultaneously increases the probability of clearing the examination due to set-off benefit.

Say, your score is as follows:

Aggregate of Group I - 210 and 
Aggregate of Group II - 195 
40+ in every subject individually. 
Total aggregate score is 405/800 (more than 50%)  in both the groups.

 

If you appear in both groups, you will pass this exam due to set-off effect. Whereas,  if you have appeared in a single  group at a time, you will pass in Group I (as aggregate score is more than 50%) and you will have to re-appear for Group II (as the aggregate score is less than 50%)

 

 

What should be your Average Study time per day?

 

 

The following table illustrates the detailed preparation time of the Intermediate exams in 3 cases-

- If you appear for Both Groups
- If you appear for Group I only
- If you appear for Group II only

 

It has been prepared by assuming that you will start your classes along with your practical training.

 

 

Both Groups

Only Group I

Only Group II

Preparation Time

8 months

8 months

8 months

Revision Time

1 month

1 month

1 month

Number of classes per subject

On average 70 classes of 2.5 hours each per subject

On average 70 classes of 2.5 hours each per subject

On average 70 classes of 2.5 hours each per subject

Total number of hours to be studies per subject

70 classes x 2.5 hours x 7  subjects*

= 1225 hours

70 classes x 2.5 hours x 4 subjects 

= 700 hours

70 classes x 2.5 hours x 4 subjects 

= 700 hours

Average Study Hours per day

1225/ 8 months / 30 days per month

= 5 hours/day

700 / 8 months / 30 days per month

= 3 hours/day

700 / 8 months / 30 days per month

= 3 hours/day

Number of classes to be done each day

5 hours / 2.5

= 2 classes per day from Monday to Saturday

3 classes on Sundays

3 hours / 2.5

= 1 class per day from Monday to Friday

2 classes on Saturdays

3 classes on Sundays

3 hours / 2.5

= 1 class per day from Monday to Friday

2 classes on Saturdays

3 classes on Sundays

*In order to save some time, you may also choose to study a few subjects without tuition.

With articleship, it is usually advisable to appear one group at a time.

 Note:

  • Preparing for the Intermediate examination along with your practical training is very challenging, considering the time commitment required. Hence, you need to be very disciplined and stick to the schedule to complete the syllabus on time.
  • If you wish to appear for both/single groups in the May/November examination, you should complete all your classes within March/September and devote 1 month time for revision.
  • As per this timeline, you are required to do 1-2 classes everyday and 3 classes on Sundays. Moreover, you should continue the Revision and refer to the ICAI Study Material of the topics that have been covered during the week for every subject as per time availability.
  • If you are not taking classes for any particular subject then you should do an equivalent amount of self study for that subject as per the timeline to keep the preparation for all subjects at par.

What is the suggested Study Plan which I should follow to complete my preparation?

 

Case 1: If you are preparing for Both Groups

 

Days-Time Slots

Morning*

Afternoon*

Evening*

Monday

Cost

-

Sub 1- Accounting

Sub 2 - Advanced Accounting

Tuesday

Taxation

-

Sub 1- Accounting

Sub 2 - Advanced Accounting

Wednesday

Cost

-

Sub 1- Accounting

Sub 2 - Advanced Accounting

Thursday

Taxation

-

FM-Eco

Friday

Law

-

FM-Eco

Saturday

Audit

-

Law

Sunday

Audit

Sub 1- Accounting

Sub 2 - Advanced Accounting

Law

Note:

  • You are advised to study Accounting during the first 4 months and then start Advanced Accounting during the remaining 4 months in the same time slots to avoid stress and maintain a balance.
  • This timetable has been prepared assuming that each subject comprises 70 classes on an average. However, the number of classes may vary (may be more or less) depending on the subjects. So, once you finish the classes of a particular subject (which has less classes) according to this schedule, you must utilise that time slot to complete the additional classes of other subjects (which has more classes). For example, the number of classes in Audit may be upto 50 classes. So, once you complete them in say 6 months, you should utilise the same time slot to complete additional classes of other subjects, say Cost,Taxation FM-Eco etc.
  • Along with your classes, you should continue to revise and practice the chapters covered in the lectures and also refer to the ICAI Study Material of the chapters simultaneously to ensure the complete coverage of the syllabus and boost your confidence level.

Case 2: If you are preparing for Group I only

 

Days-Time Slots

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Monday

Accounting

-

-

Tuesday

Accounting

-

-

Wednesday

Accounting

-

-

Thursday

Taxation

-

-

Friday

Taxation

-

 

Saturday

Cost

-

Law

Sunday

Cost

Taxation

Law

Note:

  • This timetable has been prepared assuming that each subject comprises 70 classes on an average. However, the number of classes may vary (may be more or less) depending on the subjects. So, if you finish any of the classes earlier you may utilise that time slot for completing other classes or for revision purposes.


Case 3: If you are preparing for Group II only

 

Days-Time Slots

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Monday

Advanced Accounting

-

-

Tuesday

Advanced Accounting

-

-

Wednesday

Advanced Accounting

-

-

Thursday

FM-Eco

-

-

Friday

FM-Eco

-

 

Saturday

Audit

-

EIS-SM

Sunday

Audit

FM-Eco

EIS-SM

Note:

  • This timetable has been prepared assuming that each subject comprises 70 classes on an average. However, the number of classes may vary (may be more or less) depending on the subjects. So, if you finish any of the classes earlier you may utilise that time slot for completing other classes or for revision purposes.

At SJC, we have collaborated with the best of teachers in CA Inter to provide you a single window support for your different subjects. You can learn all the subjects under our umbrella.

 

To know about the Courses that we teach - Click here.

 

Click here to watch Study Plan for students who just passed Foundation Exams - Foundation Route Study Plan

 

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