SEBI Grade A Success Story: Ms. Srinidhi Adhikary Cracked the Exam in her Second Attempt

Srinidhi, an electronics and communication engineer with a full-time job as a Java Full Stack Developer, dreamt of a career with a more significant impact. Inspired by the direct influence regulatory bodies like SEBI have on the economy, she decided to pursue the SEBI Grade A exam in 2022. This blog explores her struggles, strategies, and eventual success, offering valuable insights for aspirants on a similar path.

Let’s delve into her preparation strategy for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the SEBI Grade A exam, along with valuable insights from her interview experience.

Education and Personal Details

Srinidhi completed her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication in 2018 and joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) soon after.

However, Srinidhi felt her contribution in the IT industry was minimal compared to the impact she could have at SEBI. This desire for a more meaningful career fueled her determination throughout the preparation process.

Challenges Faced

Balancing a full-time job with exam preparation posed initial challenges for Srinidhi. The irregular working hours in the IT sector demanded a disciplined approach to study. Additionally, this was her 2nd attempt at the SEBI Grade A exam.

However, she prioritized her weekends for focused preparation and sacrificed leisure activities to stay committed to her goal. Let’s understand how she prepared and cracked SEBI Grade A in detail.

Preparation Strategy for Paper 1 (Phase 1 + 2)

Throughout her preparation, Srinidhi emphasized the importance of daily revision. She dedicated at least an hour daily to revisiting previously covered topics, ensuring concepts remained fresh in her memory.

Let’s look at her preparation journey for Paper 1 of Phase 1 and Phase 2 (including Descriptive English).

Subject	Strategy
Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning Ability	Primarily focused on practicing problems from RS Aggarwal book.
	Utilized online resources for additional practice and understanding of concepts.
	Regularly solved mock tests to assess progress and identify weak areas.
	Reviewed solutions for incorrect answers to understand mistakes and learn from them.
English (Phase 1)	Studied grammar rules and vocabulary from Wren and Martin book.
	Read English newspapers and articles regularly to improve comprehension skills.
	Practiced mock tests and previous year’s papers to enhance reading comprehension and grammar skills.
	Paid attention to grammar and vocabulary sections in mock tests to identify weak areas for improvement.
General Awareness (Current Affairs)	Stayed updated with current affairs through newspapers, news apps, and online portals.
	Maintained a daily routine of reading news articles and summarizing key points for better retention.
	Revised current affairs regularly to ensure retention and understanding of important events.
	Utilized online quizzes and mock tests to test knowledge and improve awareness of current events.
Descriptive English (Phase 2)	Practiced writing essays and precis regularly and sought feedback to improve her writing skills.
	Reviewed sample essays and letters to learn effective writing techniques.
	Utilized online resources to understand the format and structure of essays and letters.
	Paid attention to grammar and punctuation to ensure clarity and coherence in writing.
	Using tools like Grammarly helped identify and rectify grammatical errors in her writing.

Preparation Strategy for Paper 2 (Phase 1+ 2)

Unlike separate preparation for each phase, Srinidhi adopted an integrated approach, understanding that Phase 1 concepts would be further tested in Phase 2. Hence, Srinidhi focused on covering the SEBI Grade A syllabus before Phase 1 exam and targeted revision throughout her Phase 2 preparation.

Following is the subject-wise division of her preparation strategy for Paper 2 for both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Commerce and Accounts

Utilized ICAI materials for comprehensive coverage of topics.
Referred to NCERT books for fundamental understanding.
Practiced numerical problems extensively to build proficiency.
Initially struggled with comprehending balance sheets.
Overcame fear by consistent practice and referring to NCERT for basic concepts.

Management

Primarily relied on Google for MCQs and concepts.
Utilized online resources for in-depth conceptual understanding of management principles.
Struggled with overconfidence initially, leading to overlooking the importance of understanding the question to be able to correctly answer it.
Improved by adopting an approach of paying closer attention to question keywords and concepts.

Finance

Studied RBI circulars and secondary online sources for syllabus-related topics.
Practiced questions from mock tests and PYQs to familiarize herself with the exam pattern.
Revisited concepts from mock tests’ performance to ensure thorough understanding.
Initially overlooked the importance of practicing questions from mock tests.
Recognized the need for understanding strengths and weaknesses in various concepts based on practice via mock tests.

Costing

Utilized ICAI materials for comprehensive coverage of costing topics.
Referred to CA foundation materials for deeper understanding.
Focused on understanding concepts behind numericals rather than rote memorization.
Struggled with initial fear of balance sheet problems.
Practiced balance sheet problems from NCERT to overcome fear of numericals.

Companies Act

Focused on important sections and schedules for better retention.
Revised penalties and key sections regularly to reinforce understanding.
Developed strategies to focus on important sections and schedules for effective revision.

Economics

Studied NCERT books for basic understanding of economic concepts.
Used online resources and EduTap videos for deeper insights into complex topics.
Sought clarification on unfamiliar concepts through online research and videos.
Focused on understanding economic principles rather than rote memorization.

Phase 3: Interview Experience and Preparation

Following are the details of Srinidhi’s preparation strategy for the final phase of interview and her experience with the panel.

Preparation Strategy

Srinidhi prepared for the interview by conducting mock interviews initially to gain insights and receive feedback.
She focused on understanding her own profile, including her background in IT and her current job, anticipating questions related to these areas.
Srinidhi also studied annual reports and circulars related to SEBI to familiarize herself with the organization’s work and recent developments.
Additionally, she prepared for questions related to her personal connections, such as her father’s work at LIC.
Overall, her preparation involved a mix of technical knowledge, personal introspection, and staying informed about current affairs in the finance sector.

Interview Questions and Panelists

Srinidhi described the panelists as friendly and approachable during the interview.
Her interview lasted approximately 35 minutes.
Initially, questions were focused on her background and current job, particularly regarding her transition from an IT background to the finance sector.
Panelists explored her interest in finance and how she could apply her technical knowledge to the field.
Questions explored specific areas related to her profile, such as IT stocks, co-location scam, and algo trading.
Personal connections, such as her father’s work at LIC, were also discussed.
Overall, the interview was tailored to her profile and interests, with a mix of technical and personal questions.
She described her overall experience as friendly and conversational, with the panelists engaging in a discussion rather than a formal interrogation.

Fun Fact
During the interview, there was an interesting situation where Srinidhi was asked a question based on her attire, specifically her choice to wear a saree. The panel remarked that Chitra Ramkrishna, the former CEO of NSE, also wore a saree and proceeded to inquire about Chitra Ramkrishna.

This unexpected question highlighted how the panel incorporated personal elements into the interview, possibly to understand Srinidhi’s awareness and ability to relate different topics.

To listen to Srinidhi share her journey in her own words, watch her interview.

SEBI Grade A Preparation Resources

Following is a list of resources that Srinidhi utilized during her SEBI Grade A preparation journey.

Utilized Chartered Accountant study materials.
Stayed informed through selective newspapers such as The Hindu for General Awareness.
Leveraged Google for Management topic study and resolving queries, such as finding the right terminology.

Leveraged EduTap’s mock courses and mock interviews. Took multiple mock tests with EduTap to identify information gaps and made notes of difficult-to-retain concepts.

Referenced EduTap’s YouTube videos and live sessions for conceptual clarity.

Message to Aspirants

As a conclusion to her interview with EduTap, Srinidhi shared a powerful message for future aspirants, particularly those from non-commerce backgrounds or working professionals. She emphasized the importance of discipline in following a study timetable consistently. Srinidhi acknowledged that while motivation may be down at times, commitment to the timetable is crucial for success. She advised aspirants to isolate themselves from work-related thoughts while studying and highlighted the significance of staying focused on the task at hand.

Srinidhi’s journey shows her dedication and perseverance, reassuring aspirants that with discipline and determination, they can overcome challenges and achieve their goals!