Bhopal-based PalashMaheshwari, who secured all India rank 2 in ICAI's CPT (paperpencil), shares his success mantra.

The Common Proficiency Test (CPT), conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), is often considered one of the toughest exams in the country. But I believed that with the right amount of hard work, I would be able to crack it.
There are four sections in the paper -- accountancy, economics, maths and mercantile law. 

I cracked the test after studying for two months. I would spend six hours a day at the coaching centre, followed by four hours of self-study daily. I made a comprehensive timetable with specific study targets during my study period. 

ICAI's study material proved to be useful. One needs to not only work hard but also study smart. For instance, it does not make sense to waste too much time on `less important' topics. Since the paper carries objective questions, one cannot undervalue time management. Accountancy requires a clear understanding of concepts so that they can be applied to different types of questions. In economics, it is crucial to know important facts about India's economy; macroeconomics, again, is about concepts. In law, legal jargon is key while maths can be aced by practice. 

One of the reasons I have always wanted to be a chartered accountant is because of the interdisciplinary knowledge one gains during the study. I am learning financial management, taxation and legal aspects of finance which make my knowledge base diverse. 

Now that I have cleared stage one, I am working towards stage two — the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC). I hope to come out with flying colours in the IPCC exam, too.

- As told to Sarah Zia