Ms. Suvarna's First Attempt Success Story: SEBI Grade A Officer at Age of Just 23

This blog covers the inspiring success story of Suvarna, who cracked the SEBI Grade A exam in her first attempt at the young age of 23. This blog delves into Suvarna’s preparation strategy, from researching exam details during her undergraduate days to navigating the complexities of Phase 1 and 2, and also the Interview.

Read on to learn how she leveraged resources like EduTap and YouTube to strengthen her knowledge base and excel in the interview process.

Personal and Professional Details

Suvarna is a graduate, B.Com (Hon), and has also cracked the exam of Chartered Accountancy. These qualifications not only showcase her academic achievements but are also crucial factors in how she fulfilled her future aspirations.

During her undergraduate degree, Suvarna appeared for her CA finals and simultaneously researched SEBI Grade A exam details. The need to clear her CA to appear for SEBI Grade A was a pressing concern during preparation. Without a backup option or job to fall back on, the stakes of cracking the exam on her 1st attempt were extremely high. Additionally, the irregularity of the recruitment notification from SEBI added to her worries, as she feared missing her chance.

SEBI Grade A: Preparation Strategy

Suvarna’s interest in financial investigation deepened after reading about Harshad Mehta’s scam and watching the Netflix series “Scam 1992”. This prompted her to delve into SEBI’s crucial role in strengthening the stock market and overall financial management of the country.

Her curiosity led her to extensively research on Google, where she discovered lecture videos by Anchit sir (from EduTap), further intensifying her interest.

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Strategy

Coming from a commerce background, Suvarna’s main focus was on Paper 1 due to her familiarity with Paper 2 subjects. She had a comfort level in the English language.

However, she required practice in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning due to the habit of constantly using a calculator during her preparation for CA.

For General Awareness, she began daily GA preparation in October (almost a year before the exam), following relevant magazines and YouTube sessions.

SEBI Grade A Paper 2 Strategy

For Paper 2, the Companies Act subject was her main focus. Suvarna focused on retention, utilizing YouTube videos for comprehensive and quick syllabus coverage, and simultaneously making notes of important facts.

For Accountancy, Costing, and Finance, she shifted her preparation focus to numerical problems during mains, leveraging Edutap’s revision videos for continuous engagement.

Preparation with EduTap Resources for SEBI Grade A

Suvarna utilised YouTube videos as an additional learning source to expand her study materials. She engaged in Edutap’s live sessions for a comprehensive approach to preparation, focusing on practicing questions to enhance speed and accuracy.

She actively participated in EduTap’s telegram channel, engaging in daily 15-minute quizzes to reinforce her knowledge.

She adopted a strategic approach to analyzing her strengths and weaknesses, i.e., reading through a topic, taking a mock test, identifying information gaps, and further researching additional resources to fill those gaps.

She sought personalized guidance from her EduTap mentor for Economics, engaging in discussions right before the exam and benefiting from EduTap’s continuous support from Phase 1 to the interview, including personalized attention during preparation.

She studied PYQs while preparing for management, economics, and finance to get familiar with the types of questions asked.
She engaged in mock interviews and utilized Edutap’s interview guidance program. A SEBI officer on the panel provided feedback, stating, “Suvarna, you are going there as a CA, so they expect polished answers from you.” The candid feedback helped Suvarna refine her answer approach.

Interview Experience of SEBI Grade A

Suvarana shared with EduTap that she faced a seasoned panel that posed challenging counter-questions for every presented point. Her interview comprised HR questions like introducing herself, explaining why she wanted to join SEBI, etc.

For technical questions, the panel indirectly questioned her about the Franklin Templeton crisis, connecting it with a follow-up question regarding RBI’s role in a mutual fund crisis.
She also encountered problem-solving questions such as the T + 1 settlement cycle.
When questioned about investor protection and measures taken by SEBI, it led to cross-questions on every example and point that Suvarna presented.

You can also listen to Suvarana share her journey herself in the following video.

Message for Aspirants Preparing for SEBI Grade A

Suvarna believes that passion is often underestimated but serves as the driving force for success. She advises future SEBI Grade A aspirants to tailor their strategy to maximize strengths while addressing weaknesses effectively.

She also warns aspirants to expect counter-questions for every point they present during the interview and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing correct and confident responses. Suvarna’s journey is a great example of her dedication and strategic preparation, serving as an inspiration for all SEBI Grade A aspirants!