SEBI Grade A Success Story: Mr. Anoop Tantia Cracked the Exam in His Second Attempt

Anoop Tantia, a Chartered Accountant by profession had been preparing for regulatory body exams, seeking an opportunity to contribute more to the Indian Economy and make a bigger difference, for almost 5 to 6 years. His hard work paid off when he was selected as a SEBI Grade A Officer in 2022, bringing him immense relief and satisfaction.

His achievement of joining SEBI and fighting through the limited vacancies serves as an inspiration for future aspirants to focus on consistent learning. Let’s explore his preparation journey and learn more about his strategies for the SEBI Grade A exam. 

Personal Details and Aspirations

Hailing from Rajasthan and having worked in Mumbai, Anoop had over five years of work experience. However, despite having a stable career in the private sector, his preparation for regulatory body exams like RBI, NABARD, SEBI, and IRDA was consistent. He previously appeared for the SEBI Grade A exam in 2020, but was unable to reach the interview. When the notification for the next recruitment came in December 2021, he revised his strategy, identifying his weaknesses and working to overcome them this time. 

Anoop’s choice to pursue government exams, specifically regulatory bodies, over practicing as a Chartered Accountant or staying in the private sector was a conscious one. He believed that working in a government organization like SEBI offered exposure and experience that the private sector could not match. 

Preparation Resources and Balancing Work 

Anoop’s preparation for the SEBI exam was self-driven. He did not rely on any specific course from an educational/coaching platform. His strong foundation in Commerce, Accountancy, and Finance, built during his Chartered Accountancy studies, served as a significant advantage. 

Here are a few more points from Anoop’s preparation journey:

• Balancing work and studies was a significant challenge for Anoop.
• He was working in Mumbai with a five-day work week, leaving the weekends for dedicated study.
• He maximized his weekends by reading thoroughly and attempting mock tests to cover as much of the syllabus as possible.
• He incorporated study into his daily routine, reading financial newspapers like the Economic Times on his mobile during office hours and watching lecture videos while commuting.
• His strategy of careful time management, especially during weekends, was crucial in his preparation journey.
• For subjects he was not weak in, such as economics and management, he adopted a different approach.
• He referred to NCERT books of 11th and 12th grade to clear basic concepts in Economics.
• For Management, he sought out graduation-level books that covered the subjects in the SEBI syllabus. He sourced these materials from the internet, friends, and family, ensuring he had a comprehensive understanding of these subjects.

Moving on, let’s explore how Anoop prepared for Phase 1 Paper 1, i.e., Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness. 

Strategy for Phase 1 Paper 1 Preparation for SEBI Grade A

Anoop’s strategy for Phase 1 Paper 1 was tailored to his strengths and the pattern of the SEBI Grade A exam. Here’s how he approached each section:

• English: Anoop was confident in his English skills, consistently scoring 20 to 25 marks out of 30. This was a strong area for him.
• Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning: These sections posed a challenge for Anoop, as they were not areas he had extensively studied during his Chartered Accountancy course. However, he was aware that he only needed to clear the overall cut off in Paper 1. Therefore, he did not focus heavily on these sections, knowing he could make up the marks in other areas.
• General Awareness: Anoop’s preparation involved daily reading of the Economic Times newspaper. He also referred to the material and PDFs shared on the Edutap Telegram group and the Hindu summary available on the Bankers platform. He found these resources helpful and relevant for his preparation.

Anoop’s strategy highlights the importance of understanding the exam pattern and playing to one’s strengths.

SEBI Grade A Paper 2 Strategy

Here’s how Anoop approached each subject:

• Costing + Commerce and Accountancy: Being a Chartered Accountant, Anoop had a strong foundation in these subjects. However, he emphasized the importance of preparing for numericals. He revisited the formulas and solved numericals from his institute syllabus that were relevant to the SEBI syllabus. He believed that practicing numericals was crucial as they were frequently asked in the exam and required to be solved within a limited time.

• Economics: Anoop acknowledged that economics, particularly microeconomics concepts like the Keynesian concept and consumption function, can be challenging for non-economics aspirants. His strategy was to focus on understanding the basic concepts and practicing numericals available on educational platforms and YouTube. He suggested that if economics is not your strong area, it’s better to focus on your strong areas first as there are usually only three to four questions from economics.

• Company Law: Anoop’s strategy for remembering the various provisions, facts, and sections of Company Law was to read the sections in sequence. For example, he would first read Section 135 related to CSR, then move on to the section related to audit, Section 140, and so on. This sequential approach helped him easily recollect the sections during the exam. However, he did not go into detail about penalties, as he felt that he would not be able to answer questions about penalties accurately.

• Detail of Study: Anoop suggested starting with the basic concepts. Once the basics were clear, he recommended solving numerical questions related to the chapters mentioned in the SEBI syllabus. He believed that a clear understanding of the basics would help in recollecting the material during the exam.

• Numericals: Anoop stressed the importance of numericals in the exam. He noticed that the current exam had a lot of numerical questions from each subject, including Economics, Commerce, Costing, and Management. He advised future aspirants not to avoid numericals as they were an important part of the exam.

• Preparation for RBI Grade B exam: Anoop also prepared for the RBI Grade B exam. He noted that the preparation for SEBI and RBI exams required different strategies, even though the subjects were the same. In SEBI, the focus was on MCQs, while in RBI, the exam had a mix of MCQs and descriptive questions. Therefore, for RBI, he had to remember certain things, sections, and definitions to be able to write good descriptive answers.

• Importance of Revision: Anoop emphasized the importance of revision in the preparation process. He suggested revising the study material three to four times to boost confidence and enhance recall during the exam. He advised revising difficult subjects first and leaving easier parts for last-minute revision.

• Short Notes: Anoop prepared short notes for his self-study. These notes, which included keywords, were particularly helpful for last-minute revision and recalling concepts during the exam.

• Mock Tests: Anoop took mock tests on the Edutap app for two to three months before the exam. Despite his rank being more than 100 on these tests, he found them very helpful in identifying his weak points and areas where he was lagging behind. He viewed mock tests as a learning tool rather than a final destination.

Anoop’s strategy underscores the importance of understanding the exam structure and adapting your study approach accordingly. Whether it’s reading sections in sequence for Company Law or preparing for descriptive questions for the RBI exam, a strategic approach can make a significant difference in your preparation.

Difficulty Level of Paper 2

Anoop found the syllabus for Paper 2 to be manageable, especially when compared to other regulatory body exams like NABARD or RBI. He believed that SEBI would not ask questions outside the specific syllabus. He found that focusing on one subject at a time, such as devoting seven to eight days to Costing or five to six days to Economics, allowed him to cover the subjects thoroughly.

Being from a commerce background, Anoop found Commerce and Accountancy to be the easiest and most scoring subjects. He believed that understanding the principles and basics could easily help answer questions related to these subjects.

Anoop’s strategy was to first tackle the subjects he found easy and leave the difficult ones for last. This way, he could remember and recollect the information when the questions were asked in the exam. His approach underscores the importance of strategic planning and time management in exam preparation.

Subject Weightage: Can You Skip a Section?

During the exam, Anoop found that all subjects were equally important, with equal weightage given by SEBI. Every subject mentioned in the syllabus had questions in the exam, making it crucial not to skip any subject.

The competitive nature of the exam means that skipping any subject could make it difficult to make it to the final list or interview. Anoop strongly advises against skipping any subject based on guesswork and thinking that questions will not be asked from it.

Since the weightage is not specifically mentioned, it is advisable to cover the entire syllabus. This approach ensures that candidates are prepared for questions from any part of the syllabus. Anoop’s experience serves as a valuable guide for future aspirants on how to navigate the vast syllabus and manage the difficulty level of the SEBI exam.

Strategy for Descriptive English for SEBI Grade A

Anoop’s strategy for the Descriptive English component was methodical and adaptable. Here’s how he approached it:

• Sequence of Attempt: Anoop started with Reading Comprehension, moved on to Precis, and finally attempted the Essay. He chose this sequence as the Essay required more time for writing, editing, and refining.

• Reading Comprehension: Anoop suggested that candidates could write answers in either paragraphs or bullet points. He emphasized that the content and accuracy of the answer were more important than the format.

• Mock Tests: Anoop did not attempt any mock tests for Descriptive English. He felt confident in his English skills, supported by his work experience of five to six years.

• Exam Interface: Anoop did not find the exam interface to be intimidating. He acknowledged that while there could be improvements, it was important to adapt and focus on the exam rather than the interface. He stressed that everyone was using the same system, so it was not a valid excuse for poor performance.

Anoop’s strategy shows the importance of focusing on the exam itself, adapting to the resources at hand, and not getting distracted by external factors. His approach serves as a valuable guide for future aspirants on how to effectively prepare for the Descriptive English component of the exam.

Interview Preparation and Experience

• Panel Composition: Anoop’s interview panel consisted of four members – three males and one female. The panelists were from different departments of SEBI and possibly RBI. The interview was held at the Ahmedabad center and all panelists were physically present.

• Duration and First Question: The interview lasted approximately 25 to 30 minutes. The first question asked was about Anoop himself – his current life, his background, and his work.

• Questions Asked: The questions covered a range of topics, including:
  • His qualifications, family background, education, current profile, and career history.
  • Recent developments in SEBI, such as the gold exchange, FPI in commodity derivatives, LIC IPO, GST, fiscal deficit, and RBI’s actions for inflation.
  • The questions were a mix of personal, current affairs, and SEBI-related topics.

• Preparation: Anoop prepared for the interview by focusing on current affairs and concepts related to SEBI. He took mock interviews from the Edutap app and gathered information from friends working in SEBI.

• Mock Interviews: Anoop found the mock interviews particularly beneficial. They provided him with insights into potential questions and areas to focus on. He got to know certain things that he may have been ignoring. He suggests everyone who gets through the main exam should go for mock interviews available on any platform.

You can also listen to Anoop’s journey in his own words in the following video.

Message for Future Aspirants for SEBI Grade A

Anoop’s journey to success in the SEBI Grade A exam offers valuable insights and lessons for future aspirants. Here are some key takeaways from his experience:

• Long-term Thinking: Anoop emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking. Don’t get disheartened if you don’t achieve your target in your planned timeline. Success may take time, but with consistent effort, it is achievable.

• Persistence and Hard Work: Anoop’s mantra for success is persistence and hard work. He believes that practice makes perfect. His journey, from completing his Chartered Accountancy in 2015 to working in BSNL and GIC while preparing for regulatory body exams, is a testament to his perseverance.

• Patience: Anoop highlights the need for patience. There may be times when luck is not in your favor or when time seems to be running out. But it’s important to stay patient and keep working towards your goal.

• Never Give Up on Your Dreams: Anoop encourages aspirants not to give up on their dreams just because of certain hiccups in their journey. Everyone has their time, and with consistent hard work, you will reach where you want to be.

Anoop’s message to future aspirants is clear: consistency, patience, and time management are the keys to achieving any milestone. So, dear future aspirant, don’t give up on your dreams and always think long-term.