CS Prof. New Syllabus-Module 1 How to prepare & present -Suggestions from passed out students

Recently we had an interactive session with students who has passed CS professional in New syllabus. The points suggested by them is shared here for the benefit of students preparing CS Professional new syllabus.

Sreelakshmi

One of the problems I faced during the exams was that we don’t get gaps between our exams especially if we are writing all the Modules. So it would be advisable to plan beforehand how you intent to use that very crucial half-day. You can prepare short notes or mark important parts that you wish to revise.

During the exams I tried to add a heading to each of my answers for e.g., if the question is about CSR I would start by writing SECTION 135: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and underline it.

I also tried to underline the key words in the answer with a pencil but only after attending the whole paper and provided I have time.

Some of the tips I used when preparing for individual subject are:

a)       Governance: One of the advantages of governance is that you know the marks allocated to each section. Risk management is 20 marks for a single chapter and Compliance is 2 chapters for 20 marks. If you prepare very well for this part, it will definitely work as a boost in the exam

b)      Tax: for tax, I concentrated more on GST and Customs and even in the exam I started with the Indirect tax part (but that is only because I was not that good in DT, so it totally depends on you). AlsoI felt the questions are more theory based and procedural.

c)       Drafting: for drafting I personally felt that if you are thorough with the ICSI Module you will be able to score well as most of the questions are direct and there are very less case study questions. Also concentrate on the drafts as they carry good weightage in exams.

Abhinaya

a) Governance: One of the advantages of this subject is, it's a first paper. One can do good quality revision. Always aim for exemption in this subject in Group 1.

Also marks allocation in this subject is icing over the cake like 20 marks for risk management (1 chapter), 20 marks for compliance management (2 chapters). 

b) Tax: I focused more on GST and Customs. Because I believe DT is mostly very unpredictable like sometimes more of theory, sometimes more of sums, this time it was more of executive level based questions.

c) Drafting: I used to write and practice each and every draft, whether small or big or important or not. Then I prepared a list of pointers for recital, body which I used while doing revision a day before. It was really very helpful and time saving.

Vignesh

For clearing each and every module I believe consistency is the key. So please read daily it will help you in remembering the answers and provisions a lot in the exams.

For module 1:

GRMCE - risk management chapter is for 20 marks so after completing it we can move to part A. Make sure that you attend all the questions in the exam. 

Advance tax laws - I read GST and customs part. Practice sums daily and most importantly write notes for each sum. For example if you're attending calculation of ITC Problem and you're not adding items pertaining to blocked credit please state them under the notes stating the reason why you are not taken the figure.

Drafting - Drafting is really an interesting paper where we can score more. So please practice each and every draft atleast once.

Surabhi

Drafting is the scoring subject. You need not mug up anything for drafting. Just know the formats for resolutions, deeds, agreements. I would suggest you to read the whole material atleast thrice. There are just few topics which require more attention like in chapter one and two. All deeds have a basic skeleton. You need to learn the skeleton. Deeds have one. Affidavits have a different skeleton. You need to highlight the skeleton when you're learning it and then you'll realise that it's actually easy.

And some type of agreement need some extra clauses. If your concepts are clear, this will become easier.

Also.. practice drafting.. take half an hour everyday and go through a different type of agreement/document and close your book and try to draft it on your own and then check your own answer.. you will realise the points you are missing and you agreement in the exam will be perfect.. and also u will be able to complete the paper in time. Time management should be worked out.

Advance tax law can be said to be divided into 3 parts actually.. 1. GST 2. Customs 3. Direct tax.. I followed Tharunraj Sir's material and classes for 1&2 at icsi chennai institute for gst and customs. For customs and Direct Tax, you may refer the ICSI study material.. GST will be asked for 60 marks, 10 marks for customs and 30 for DT. I suggest you to also refer the past question papers... This will give you a fair idea on how the questions are framed... Give equal importance to all the 3 parts... GST will help you score more whereas in customs, until 2020 attempt, I noticed similar practical question had been asked.. and for Direct Tax, give equal importance on theory and sums... 

Plan your preparation and revision... Have good practice in practical sums which will help you in time management at exams..

Rupali

Drafting is a scoring subject. Theory and drafts both are important.  Under drafts as I already said in the above para try to concentrate on the structure of the draft and 8 points under each draft.

And theory part is the bonus part of the paper try to read the max theory u can. You will get direct questions under a topic.

Out of the three subjects Concentrate more on Tax since it's vast  And second on CGRMCE 

And while reading these two side by side try covering drafting 

Note: Though drafting is an easy subject try to cover everything bcoz it will help u in the aggregate.

Aarthi

1- My first piece of practice is revision. I will start revision prior one month before exam date. Four days per subject. In that first three days revision and 4th day full book go through.

Actually we would all have studied more but when we take last minute revision it will be like as if we have not studied at all. So best practice is to have at least 2 revision per subject.

2 - Attend all the questions in exam, but timings is important first attend the well know questions and finally attend the doubt one.

3 - Write according to marks eg if it's 5 mark question I will write just one side.  If it's 8 mark one and half side.

4 - Underline all side headings and draw line after each answer. It gives us good presentation and neatness.

5 - Start writing as fast from beginning of exam.

In Drafting - Format is the most important. If your format is correct u can score good marks. And if u r drafting for appointment of KMP or MD or EE ( they all r interlinked) so u can remember them according. Same for sale deed. Just connect the common and read.

Kiran

I followed Bangars book for tax for all GST customs and direct tax. Focus on gst and customs that's where you can score more

Kousalya

Believe me, Module 1 is bit tough, but it isn't impossible to crack..

All you need is consistency in your preparation... Please dont skip any chapter in any paper..

Even if you prepare for all chapters, there will certainly be one or more topic in every chapter which is hard, so eventually we will not be able to give our 100%

So its better to study all chapters...from exam point of view, it will be better to write one or two points, rather than totally skipping and losing marks...point here is you should at least know one or two points about every topic in your paper.

In GRMCE, segregation of marks is already there, so focusing on risk and compliance will help you score well, we don't need to mug ethics part, it is general in terms....1st half of the governance portion will be easy to study and it will be more practical....

In tax, please balance both theory and sums, dont beleive in either one alone..

GST portion would be vast, but try to learn everything

Customs is only for 10marks, it is totally unair to study all the chapters in customs for just 10marks.But believe me, work out atleast sums in customs and check thru past qns papers. 

Direct tax was the toughest part for me...I expected more sums, but in my attempt, it was totally reverse..

Books to suggest would definitely be Bangar, I know bangar books are vast, but if you have time, please start with every chapter slowly and it will boost your confidence day by day, chapter by chapter

In drafting, only one or two questions would be drafting. All other would be probably direct questions

Drafting would be the scoring paper in first module.  Even in this paper, please go through all chapters.

Practicing drafting is not compulsory, you will definitely do well even without practicing. If you have time alone, please practice. But don't waste time in that itself My Books suggestion for both GRMCE and Drafting is CS Ankush Bansal sir books. His books are worth every penny spent

And please attend for all 100marks in exams....balance in such a way to complete all questions.

I kept 30mins for each qn and balanced equally..

In this way, you can write fast your very well known ans...and u will get time to think for the qns which are hard for you. But please attend all questions.

Lakshmi Krishna

I had cleared module 1 in December 2020. Out of my experience I’d say that thorough understanding of concepts in the 3 subjects is the first most important step. 

Write down key words and important points in 3-4 words next to the paragraph you’re learning so that when you open books to revise next, those catch your attention first. Try to learn every topic even though it might seem vast. 

I have relied only on the institute material or all 3 subjects and nothing else. Nowadays the exam pattern has become more vague and they’re expecting interpretation of the concepts, so it’s important that we grasp the question and what they’re asking before we get to the answering part. 

Exam based I would like to say that it’s very very important to complete all the questions and write for 100 marks no matter what. You have to manage time and not spend more than 1/2 an hour for each main question so that you can complete all 6 in 3 hours. That’s literally the key to scoring high.

I had referred to Suchitha scanner for module 1 and felt it was a good revision after learning from the material. To see how to write answers for exams, it’s best to have a look at the guidelines answers provided by ICSI

Once you’re done revising for the exam , spare at least 15 minutes to glance through 2 -3 previous year question papers so that you see the mix up pattern from various chapters and you get used to that. Will help a lot

For drafting subject, the main key words which are unique and important to an agreement should be kept as it is. Also language used in the drafts should be formal , so we need to keep in mind not to use simple communicative language and to try and put to use formal language as much as possible.

Main thing in tax is not to get scared looking at the amount of portions and pages. That itself will be a mind block for most of it. Look at it as small parts and then cover it one at a time. That way you’ll be able to gain confidence on the subject than look at the massive book and feel like it’s a lot.

How to study / revise before exam: 

Lakshmi Krishna

I split my time in such a way that I spent the majority of my time revising concept wise and notes (if any) that you may have from which you’ve already revised before to learn GST. And then the remaining time for customs and direct tax looking at marks weightage. Just glance through concepts and remind yourself of the provisions. Don’t expect to read a lot before the exam, it can stress you out.

Rupali

Be confident..if we are under fear we tend to forget things...so try to be confident

And trust me confident doesn't comes from studying it comes only from revising 

When u revise and u feel u remember the ans then your confidence goes up.

When you revise try to tell the ans in short in your own words either in English or mother tongue .

Aarthi

Have good sleep, just glance book onces in morning, go to the centre well before, dodnt do any last minute reading. It will make u to forget wt u read prior.

Mamtha

Day before exam make sure to go through all what u hv studied, prefer starting with topic having more weightage

Is there any min no of pages to be written for getting the max marks?

Lakshmi Krishna

I have always stuck to one side for a 5 marks question and wrote 2 sides if it’s 5+

Please write to the point and make sure all the important points are captured. You don’t have to write too much. To the point and content matters more

Kousalya

Stick to max of one page for every 5marks qn..More than 5marks qns ,write max of 2pages

Rupali

A page for 5 mark is sufficient.

One of my teachers told this rule

Marks+2 = no of points 

So if it's 5 marks+2 = 7 points

And plz follow these rules

1)Use a single colour pen

2)Do not put bullets only use number or alphabets for topics and sub topics.

3) not to write stories 

4) write the question number properly 

5 ) leave one or two line after completing an answer

Related Posts:

Prof -New syllabus Module 2: How to prepare/present- Suggestions by passed out students

Prof New Syllabus Module 3: How to prepare/ present: Suggestions by successful students