How to Clear CS Professional Exam in First Attempt?

CS Professional is the last stage examination of Company Secretary (CS) Course and the most important box to tick in becoming a CS. CS Professional Exams are held twice in a year, in the months of June and December and the curriculum is divided into three modules comprising three subjects each. All the papers involve descriptive-type questions; and further, Paper 8 and 9 are open book examinations; with Paper 9 being an Elective Paper.

While covering such a vast syllabus, students are required to ensure that they follow the correct preparation strategy to ensure success in examination in their very first attempt.

Below are some of the tips that can help one sail through the exam in an effective manner.

Tip #1 Selecting Proper Books

To prepare for the exam, one will need to gather all the necessary study materials ahead of time. Some students are at ease with the ICSI study materials, while others are not. There are various well-known author books that can help; however, a student must not ignore the Institute study material completely.

Tip #2 Choosing between Classes/Self-study

It is one of the most critical decisions in CS journey. In order to be decisive, one must have a look at the syllabus and gather an idea about its vastness. Ideally, coaching classes provide a lot of guidance that proves to be beneficial for the students in understanding the concepts rather than cramming topics.

Tip #3 Mark and Focus on Things which are Important

Emphasize the most important topics and concentrate on the concepts that have been questioned regularly in past exams. Further, some important keywords should be underlined and highlighted while studying so that they can be replicated in the exams.

Taking enough time to prepare notes so as to cover all the main aspects in a concised manner in addition to attending online or offline classroom coaching saves a significant amount of time when it comes to revision. Accordingly, such notes can be made in points or flowcharts simplifying the difficult concepts.

Tip #4 Practice, Practice & Practice

It is natural for people to prioritise the easy chores and put off the more challenging ones for a later period. In this case, doing the exact opposite helps. Determining which subjects one excel at and which ones may require more work can help in analyzing the time and effort required for the Course completion, together with maximising performance in strong areas while avoiding poor performance in weak areas. Solving question papers builds confidence and also teaches how to manage time.

Tip #5 Prepare a schedule and plan for studies

Before beginning studies, students should create their own study plan and schedule, which outlines all the topics that must be covered as well as the amount of time that must be spent studying each day. Never make plans that will take a long time to complete. Short-term plans should ideally be set for a week or less, so that one can focus on the present and avoid procrastination.

Tip #6 Overall Management

Self-management is undervalued, but it is critical. Reading a decent newspaper to stay up to date on the latest and most relevant examples enables a student to use them in his/her answers. This improves the quality of responses and can help get better grades. Always remember to schedule time for physical activity and mental refreshment as part of preparation, as this is vital for preserving health. One must never get too much pressurised to pass the exam. Of course, the goal is to pass the examinations, but the journey should be enjoyable. Never put too much emphasis on the end outcome; instead, concentrate on progress toward the goal.

Tip #7 Attempt Paper Smartly

Trying to attempt the whole paper and covering all the questions can be of great advantage for a student. One must be prepared with his/her own strategy that was built while giving mock tests and stick to it. 2-3 hours of panic during exam can destroy months of hard work. Further, as the examiner searches for keywords in each of the answers which evaluating, highlighting them is of significance. 

Thus, by following the correct preparation strategy alongside perseverance and hard work, with preparation tips and the available resources, can come to aid for a student to pass CS Professional Examinations with flying colours.