“Can you provide step-by-step guidance on how to score an exemption in CA Final Paper 4 Law?”

Detailed guidance on how to prepare law from scratch to score exemption

You can score exemption in theory papers too! Sounds like a daunting task, isn’t it? But trust us, read ahead (till the end, ok?) and you won’t be feeling the same!

We have divided the whole process from the beginning to end in 5 phases which will not only make it easier for you to read but also to understand better!

Fasten your seatbelt amigo! This is gonna be a wild ride!

Phase 1: Classes: The infamous question, should you take classes for CA final Law?

We are going to help you break down this evergreen question that has troubled all CA students at some point or the other so that you can decide for yourself whether you are in need of classes or are you really self-reliant!

But before that, you must keep the following 2 points in mind.

1. Recognizing your strength and evaluating your confidence is the key to this decision!
   • The decision to take the classes or not is completely based on your strength and confidence. A lot of students struggle with the concepts of theory subjects and find it hard to retain. If you are enrolled with a good faculty that not only provides you with lectures for conceptual clarity but also provides post lecture support, mock tests, timely revisions and a continuous evaluation of your performance, then it is definitely worth it.
   • Your confidence comes from your past experiences with theory subjects. If you have scored well in past without the help of any class, then you already have what it takes to crack this subject without any external help.
   • Also, for a subject like law, one needs to be affluent in reading and understanding bare act language. In fact, the whole essence of law resides in the bare act. But for better understanding, we need to convert it in our own language. This can happen only when the student has a grip on bare act language.
2. Need of Conceptual understanding. Law can’t be taken lightly at the final level!
   • As we are all aware that CA Final Law has some very tricky and conceptual chapters that require proper understanding, you, therefore, need an in-depth understanding of the section for rising up to the level where you can attempt the Multiple Choice Questions (“MCQs”) correctly that ICAI is now asking.
   • Recent attempts have proved that ICAI is giving out the exams in such a way that a student who had relied on a mere superficial understanding of the chapters, will be at a disadvantage. Therefore, one needs thorough and in-depth knowledge of the subject in order to score decent marks.

So, what’s the answer? Should you take classes?

• Well, let me now explain the benefits of taking classes:
  • Discipline to finish the course timely
  • Sequence of how to go about chapters
  • Highlight the areas which require more focus as compared to others
  • Relevant questions that can be solved after each concept
  • Helps you understand how to retain keywords and present the language of law

Figuring out the above-mentioned things on your own will prove to be a very draining task, both in terms of energy and time. Nevertheless, you can still do it if you start your law prep well in advance (say a year before your exams)

PRO TIPS TO YOUR RESCUE!

• If you find yourself short on time and still want to take classes – go for a fast track batch if not a regular batch, as fast track batches’ main aim is to provide the students with overall conceptual clarity and makes it then very easy for you to finish the course.
• Try to finish as much as you can along with the classes. For every 3 hours spent on class, spend 1.5 hours for self study of the same topic.

• Decide wisely which faculty to go for. Talk to your trusted seniors, ask on telegram CA support groups and watch a few demo lectures of the faculty on Youtube and then decide for yourself. By the by, also go through the testimonials on this page   

Phase 2: First time Self Study after classes

Now, how to move ahead once the classes are over? Netflix and chill? No bruh, such things don’t suit a CA student  :P

The best strategy to follow after you are done with your classes is to start self – study. This is an underrated but super important task for a student.

What self-study requires? A lot of patience and discipline.

What self-study gives you in return? Sets the tone for the future revisions and make your subject ‘smooth like butter’!

Unpopular opinion!

CA Final Law is actually one of the most interesting subjects yet rated as a boring one because most of the students fail to see past its bare act language and understand it’s practical application.

Fresh and hot! Preparation techniques from the Ranker’s way by Shubham Singhal!

• Sequence – Start your journey with the most important chapters (For e.g. Directors) and follow the sequence of the sections. For the sequence of revision, you can refer my ABC analysis or sequence provided at the start of The Ultimate Solution Summary Notes (also available on free resource section of our website).

• Question Bank – Make sure you are crystal clear on your concepts. Go through the Question Bank for each chapter simultaneously and keep marking important questions for future revisions.

• Handwritten Notes – Try to make your own summary notes for directors. Own hand written summary notes will help you  revise the directors syllabus very comfortably in those 1.5 days after your audit paper. (This is definitely a to-do along with your classes).

• Stay tuned! – If you have not taken any recent classes, then catch up with the recent amendments. Lately, Institute seems to be keeping up with the trend aka the amendments. It has been asking MCQs and descriptive questions from the recent amendments, especially in papers like Law and Direct Tax.

Pro tips coming to your rescue once again!

• Try to write 1 answer each day. After writing, evaluate your own handiwork and note down the mistake that you did, or the areas of improvement in a separate piece of paper.

• What most students find difficult is to finish the huge syllabus on time. Keep a check on your time and ensure that daily targets are achieved.

Phase 3: 1^st Revision (5-6 days)

After all the hurdles of taking classes, warming up with self-study and whatnot, the time has finally come for our very first revision! Obviously, first revision is no child’s play, and what you study here will go a long way!

Therefore, here are some things to be kept in mind while starting the First Revision:

1. Eat less but eat healthy! No no, I am not talking about food. I mean, focus on quality over quantity:
   • The focus should be on learning and memorizing the provisions.
   • Focus on quality of study rather than number of hours of study. This is the only time when you can invest in thoroughly going through the syllabus
2. Because naturally we remember the movie more than the book! Note taking and picturization!
   • During the first Revision, take notes of the points that seem a little tricky and mark them separately so that you can work on those areas in your second revision
   • During this revision, try to picturize a flow of the chapter in your mind, linking the concepts that were taught in the class, this adds context to the whole topic, making it easier to remember.
   • Make sure you also write/ scribble key points of difficult sections. This will prepare you for writing answers in the exam and help you avoid exam anxiety
3. We are always dreaming of future, so why not here? Plan for the future!
   • Keep a note of the time you have spent on each chapter which will help you plan your 2^nd and subsequent revisions.
   • Try to recall as many sections as you can and revise them weekly/ daily.
   • Try to cover up any topic that you skipped in the first read. The more topics you study, the more are your chances of getting an exemption
   • Not absolutely mandatory but you can attempt a mock test paper after completing the 1^st Revision. Don’t expect to recollect everything in this paper. Just appear for the mock to realise your weakness.
   • The Institute also expects you to have a fair understanding on how to write and present answers. Especially for theory papers they also consider the language, the key words and the section numbers written by students.

Phase 4: 2^nd Revision (3 – 4 days)

Now that you have come this far, it won’t look good to just leave things here, right? Buckle up folks, it’s time for the 2^nd revision, the upgraded brother of the 1^st revision.

Upgraded how? We’ll tell you don’t worry!

Firstly, the things to be kept in mind while starting the Second Revision:

1. Confidence is the name of this game!
   • Be confident about the subject.
   • After the first mock test, if you feel there is a lack of understanding in any concept then you must focus on those concepts while you are on your 2^nd revision.
2. Don’t be a ghajini, try active recalling!
   • Try to actively recall provisions rather than just going through your summary notes. This gives you a fair idea about how well you are able to retain the sections and the provisions and gives you an insight in areas which you need to improve.

Won’t let you leave without our much loved pro tips and tricks!

• Get into a group of 3-4 students to help each other with doubts and also to motivate each other to adhere to the revision timeline.
• Refer to the Ultimate Solution summary notes, and any markings that you might have done in the Module along with the marked questions of my Question bank.
• Write down, all those “very important points” that you already marked or those points that seem tricky to you on a separate sheet of paper so that you can refer all such points at a glance a day before exam and avoid the frenzy.
• Attempt the latest mock test for the upcoming attempt under timed conditions, this will help you rehearse for the actual exam.

Phase 5: Last Day Revision – 1.5 days

Ye nhi kiya to kya kiya?

This is not only the final revision but also the most important one!

You must have heard – “Anything that you are not able to revise on the day before exam, you will not be able to write it in the exam”. Nahin suna kya? Oops! It’s high time for you to start watching my YT Videos. Search for Shubham Singhal.

Coming back – People who revise the entire syllabus in 1.5 days are able to score better than the ones who do selective studying.

Pro tips coming to your rescue yet again!

• An hour by hour study schedule should be prepared at least a month before the start of the exams (Can also be done along with the 2^nd revision).
• All resources for the revision must be ready –  The Ultimate Solution Combo
• Target to finish at least first 2 chapters of directors after coming back from the Audit paper. You can either do this on your own or watch my revision video. Wherever possible, it is highly advisable to revise yourself because self-revision is the best revision. But then, revision videos are better than not doing anything. So chose for yourself.
• Focus on revising the concepts from Summary Notes first and if time permits, go through LDR Questions
• Don’t skip the miscellaneous , small chapters or any category B or C chapter. They are equally important from MCQ perspective. Institute has increased the focus on these chapters.
• Get a good night’s sleep on both days. You will recall better with a fresh mind than an exhausted mind.
• If time permits, revise IBC and directors again at least 2-3 hours before going for the exam.

Resources (you can find all the links here at https://yourcabuddy.com/):

• ICAI Material (only for your first study along with class)
• The Ultimate Solution Combo – Summary Notes, Question bank and MCQ booklet
• Your attempt RTP/MTP (released around 2 months before the exam)
• Youtube Revision Videos
• Telegram MCQs and Revision Audios

Key Takeaways!

• Practice makes a man perfect. The more you practice, the more confident you will feel.
• Take mock tests and get them evaluated by an experienced source.
• Make sure you revise the entire syllabus in 1.5 days. Anything that you don’t revise in those 1.5 days, you won’t remember in the exam.
• Say optimistic affirmations every day before and after studying and practice gratitude. It helps us to stay focused and away from the “Exam Anxiety”
• Keep yourself hydrated and eat light meals till the paper. Health should be taken very seriously throughout your preparation leave.
• Do regular stretching/ warm-up or meditation or yoga can help avoid fatigue.

Thank you, Sumedha Bhat and Aishwarya Garg for helping me present this blog in such formal way.

We hope this blog was helpful. Do let us know your feedback below so that we stay motivated to bring many more such blogs your way!

Let’s ace it The Ranker’s Way!