Your complete guide to CA intermediate preparation.
Chartered Accountants are experts in practically every aspect of finance, including taxation, auditing, and business economics. The function of a chartered accountant has become more intensive and complex in the current context, with the impact of GST, demonetisation, and a slew of other regulatory actions affecting the average man.
If you are keen on appearing for the CA Intermediate Exam, you will have to clear the foundation course first and only then can you proceed to the CA Intermediate level. However, if you have already graduated and are planning to appear for CA Exams, you will get a direct entry to the CA Intermediate level. You can choose any of the two options, but if you go with the first one, you will easily be able to complete your CA course along with your graduation degree.
If you are taking the Foundation Exam route to reach the CA Intermediate level, you will have to fulfil the eligibility criteria listed below:
You will only be able to register for the CA Intermediate Exam if you have passed the ICAI CA Foundation level. Without giving the exam, you cannot reach the CA Intermediate level if you take the Foundation Exam route.
You must get at least 40% marks in all subjects and an aggregate of 50% marks.
If you want to take up the direct entry route, you will have to meet the following eligibility criteria:
If you are applying through the direct entry route, you must have at least 55% marks in your graduation and post-graduation in the Commerce stream. If you are from any other stream, you will have to meet a different eligibility criterion to enrol for the CA Intermediate course.
Suppose you have completed the ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) or ICWAI (Institute of Cost Accountant of India) foundation and intermediate levels. In that case, you will become eligible to apply for this particular programme.
Suppose you plan to sit for the CA Intermediate Exams and have not done your graduation or post-graduation with Commerce stream. In that case, you will have to obtain a cumulative score of 60% in your most recent assessment if you want to appear for the CA Intermediate Exams.
For students in their final year of studies, provisional registration is offered. However, you can begin your practical training only after submitting adequate confirmation to the ICAI that you have completed your graduation with the required percentage.
You must know the syllabus of the CA Intermediate Exam before you start with your CA Intermediate preparations. The syllabus of the CA Intermediate Exam is quite elaborate, and therefore, you need to know every aspect of the exam. The CA Intermediate Exam is divided into Group 1 and Group 2. The subjects included in Group 1 are as follows:
Accounting
Corporate and Other Laws
Cost and Management Accounting
Taxation
The subjects that are a part of Group 2 are as follows:
Advanced Accounting
Auditing and Assurance
Enterprise Information System and Strategic Management
Financial Management and Economics for Finance
All the subjects listed above are mandatory papers, and you will have to pass these subjects if you want to pass the CA Intermediate Exams. Let’s have a look at the duration and the weightage of the papers:
Sr. No. |
Subject |
Duration |
Marks |
1 |
Accounting |
3 hours |
100 |
2 |
Corporate and Other Laws |
3 hours |
100 |
3 |
Cost and Management Accounting |
3 hours |
100 |
4 |
Taxation |
3 hours |
100 |
5 |
Advanced Accounting |
3 hours |
100 |
6 |
Auditing and Assurance |
3 hours |
100 |
7 |
Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management |
3 hours |
100 |
Some papers are divided into two sections. For example, The Corporate and Other laws paper is divided into Corporate Laws and Other Laws. The weightage of Corporate Laws is about 60 marks, and the weightage allotted to other laws is 40 marks. Therefore, you should have a preparation strategy keeping the weights in mind. You should take references from the material available on Unacademy and then start preparing for your CA Intermediate Exams.
Looking for relevant material for your CA Intermediate preparation can be quite a hassle. You might come across many videos and material on the internet, but you might not understand where to start from. The internet is flooded with the material, but there is no sync between the material available on different platforms and how you should begin with your CA Intermediate preparation. Unacademy can reduce the chaos and strategize your CA Intermediate preparation.
You can access all kinds of material that will help you ace the CA Intermediate Exam. You can use the notes on the Unacademy platform to get an overview of the topic; then start exploring the topic and go into depth with the detailed resources on Unacademy.
Unacademy also offers you a bunch of expert-level preparation material free of cost. There are several videos by some of the best CA experts of the country on the platform that you can access for free. If you like the content, you can even upgrade your account to get unlimited access to some of the best-paid content for the CA Intermediate Exam. There are multiple resources on Unacademy that will guide you and help you put your knowledge to the test so that you know where you stand in terms of your CA Intermediate preparation.
There are several ways in which you can kickstart your CA Intermediate preparation. Some of the best ways to start with your CA Intermediate preparation are listed below:
Get notified of the exam dates
Before you start with your CA Intermediate preparation, you must know the dates of the CA Intermediate Exams. Without a date, you might not be able to come up with the best strategy for your CA Intermediate preparation. Therefore, make yourself aware of the exam dates and keep an eye on any notification released by the official body that manages the CA Intermediate Exams. Unacademy provides you with the option to subscribe to their notifications. Using these notifications, you will be instantly notified of any updates or news on CA Intermediate Exams.
Prepare for the Foundation Exam
Before moving to the CA Intermediate level, you will have to clear the foundation level. Scoring 40% and above in all subjects and an aggregate of 50% is mandatory if you move forward to the CA Intermediate level. Therefore, you should thoroughly prepare for the Foundation Exam to clear it successfully. You can start with going through the syllabus of the Foundation Exam and then find a starting point for your preparation.
Prepare for the Intermediate level
Once you have cleared the CA Foundation Exam, you can move to the CA Intermediate level. The difference between the difficulty level of both of these exams is massive. Therefore, you will have to develop a new strategy for your CA Intermediate preparation. You will have to check out the CA Intermediate syllabus before beginning your preparations. Once you are thorough with what will be asked in the examination, you can ace it with no trouble.
Personal interview preparation
There is no personal interview round for CA Exams. However, once you clear the CA Intermediate level, you will have to do a 3-year articleship programme where it is mandatory to work with any CA firm or an organisation. You will have to clear multiple rounds of interviews with these companies; therefore, you should be ready for some personal interviews. Unacademy has many resources that can aid you with personal interview preparation.
FAQs
Yes, you can appear for the CA Intermediate Exam without appearing for the CA Foundation Exam if you have completed your graduation or post-graduation in any stream.
Yes, a Learner coming from a non-Commerce background can appear for the CA Intermediate Exam if the Learner has secured over 80% marks in the latest graduation or post-graduation exam that the student has been a part of.
Yes, you must do a 3-year articleship in any company or a firm once you pass the CA Intermediate Exam.
Unacademy is the best source for CA preparation material. You will have access to many free resources that will help you with your CA Intermediate Exam. There are video classes from several experts. They will help you out with some of the best tips and tricks that will help you clear the CA Intermediate Exam.
The registration for the CA Intermediate Exam closes around the first week of November every year. Therefore, you will have to be vigilant regarding the CA Intermediate dates. However, if you miss the deadline for the exam in May, you can fill out the form for the exam in November. The forms for the exam in November are generally available till the first week of April.