The world can be divided into two groups of people: those who like to study alone and those who like to study with friends. I fall into the latter category, because having someone in the same boat as you to motivate you and answer your questions is a blessing. It’s also fun, because you have someone to discuss doubts with during break time.
What if this study partner lived in the same house – your brother? It is usually rare unless you are fraternal twins, but these siblings from Morena, Madhya Pradesh are a shining example of the heights that can be achieved together.
Sachin (24) and Nandini (22) Aggarwal studied in the same class from class 2, though they were two years apart. Nandini skipped two classes and joined her brother’s class.
Their paths intersected when they decided on a single goal: to add two letters to their name – CA (Chartered Accountant). The two worked together to achieve this goal, choosing the same coaching class and the same city for their articleship.
Their efforts paid off, and how! They both made it to the CA finals in 2021. The icing on the cake was that Nandini held the Guinness World Record for becoming the world’s youngest female Chartered Accountant from AIR1.
Here’s how they achieved this monumental feat, along with tips for aspiring CAs.
Single focus from class 7 onwards
Sachin recalls that his sister was “extraordinary from the start”. Their mother taught him at home, covering everything Sachin was taught in school. “He already knew what was being taught in Class 1, so my mother asked the school to admit him in the next class,” says Sachin. Uttam India.
Till class 12, the brothers studied alone and in their hometown without any additional coaching. They topped their district in class 12th. Apparently for CA, they have passed the CPT (Common Proficiency Test) first level of the course after class 12.
“For CA Intermediate (next exam), we first went to Delhi to attend coaching classes. However, after self-study for so long, it seemed impossible to sit in a class of 1000 students. We decided to opt for online coaching, which will help us study at our own pace,” says Sachin.
This was in 2017, long before online lectures were common. Using online lectures, the pair prepared for the entrance exam from Morena and passed the exam in the first attempt in May 2018. “We divided the eight subjects into two groups in Inter, and some people advised us to give one group test. Once, we decided to take both,” adds Sachin.
After that, all CA students had to undergo a three-year articleship, practical training at a CA firm. For this, the brothers moved to Delhi.
While Sachin was 18 then, Nandini was just 16. The dream place of articleship for many CA students is the Big Four accounting firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG). .
Nandini had her eye on these firms, but was rejected due to age even though she appeared for the interview. Eventually, she got a position at PwC after a few months of delay, where she pursued her writing.
“Some people were afraid that they would not be able to focus on their studies after moving to a big city. My goal was clear: I wanted to become a CA and create a better life for myself,” says Nandini, adding that she was determined to create her own identity and achieve financial independence.
For CA finals too, the siblings opted for online coaching, which helped them listen to lectures before and after office hours.
“Most of our time is spent working from 10 am to 6-7 pm everyday. With online lectures, we had flexibility. We used to start at 6 am every day and complete the lectures after work,” adds Sachin.
They started with practical subjects like Financial Reporting (FR), Strategic Financial Management (SFM), and Advanced Management Accounting, as they take more time and require more conceptual understanding.
Weekends for these teenagers include ‘no fun’. They were devoted to watching lectures and self-study. In fact, Nandini describes her CA trip as the most beautiful part of her life.
For the CA final attempt in May 2021, the siblings began intensive preparations in December, when their study vacation began.
‘We inspired each other’
Their study plan was goal-based, not time-based. They decided what to accomplish each day. After the commencement of their study leave they completed all the pending lectures. The first topic they took up in December was taxes. Their plan was divided into 15-day segments, each covering one practical and one theory topic.
Since there were eight subjects in the exam at that time, he completed the revision for the first time in two months. They referred The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) modules and past papers and took some notes.
The second revision involved trying to solve past papers, which gave them an idea of which areas needed more focus. “We set a target of 10 days for two subjects in this revision,” says Sachin.
After this they took some mock exam papers in the first week of March. The results were amazing, says Sachin. ‘We failed in some papers. In other matters too, we have not got the desired results. We were amazed at the results after all our hard work. It will not be enough to secure a rank, which was our aim,” he adds.
Sachin and Nandini did not take it lightly. They redoubled their efforts and talked to professors about what was lacking. Professors helped them with language, formats, templates, and paper presentations.
Their association also helped. Nandini says it keeps distractions at bay and makes studying a fun experience.
“You never get bored when you study together. We have been study buddies since class 2. We helped each other because we had complementary skills. We used to teach each other the subjects we were strong in. Sachin also served as a benchmark for me,” says Nandini.
After working on the response, they were well prepared. The exam is usually held in May every year, but in 2021, it was moved to July due to Covid-19. Those two extra months served as a huge boon.
The pair didn’t let their guard down even with extra time – they had their eyes on the prize. They next revised and solved past papers, revised test papers, and mock test papers. Subjects they found difficult, such as SFM, they spent extra time on, which proved useful as they scored very well on it!
“We focused and studied hard right from the start so that we didn’t get too stressed before the exams. Spend more time at the beginning of your study holiday. It also boosts your confidence,’ says Nandini.
Preparation Tips from CA Rankers:
- Start full preparation 6 to 7 months before the exam.
- Finish your lecture as soon as possible to focus on self-study.
- Study from ICAI modules, past papers, and revised test papers.
- Make a proper plan and stick to it.
- Be consistent and focused.
Edited by Khushi Arora, Image courtesy Nandini Agrawal