Dear Friends,
I would like to continue with the following article and would focus on the tips for the first two subjects in group II. I have already submitted the same for being published under articles but since its under moderation for a couple of days now I thought it would be better to share here.
5. Costing Marks scored: 40
Undoubtedly the toughest paper in the entire syllabus not because of the complexity involved in the concepts but because of the manner in which the questions are asked in the exam. The problem that is reported by most students including me is that they experience a blank period in the exam hall where time seems to move at fast forward basis and the 3 hrs seem like less than an hour. This results in either of the two problems both of them being deadly
a) Attending for only 60 marks properly
b) Attending for 100 marks though most of the questions are incomplete
Even though I have scored only 40 marks I would say it was not due to lack of knowledge of the subject but because I was not able to manage my time properly. Many people who have appeared for Nov 2009 costing exams old syllabus would opine that the paper was very lenghthy but I would not use that as an excuse since i thought I must have practised beforhand for being time efficient. Hence I would like to say that forefront so that none of my friends repeat the same mistake. '' It is not wrong to make mistakes because we learn from them but repeating some known mistake is criminal amd the cost would be 6 months.''
After this disastrous introduction let me get into the subject. The paper is divided into costing for around 70 marks and operations research for 30 marks. Marginal costing comes for around 20 marks in the paper and is most difficult to solve considering the exam stress and uniqueness of the problem. The same problem might be solved at home environment in less than 10 minutes. In the words of Saravana Prasad ‘It does not take a snake to threaten you during the exam even a rope is sufficient’ and nothing summarizes this better than marginal costing. The only respite is to be strong in concept.
Standard costing would come for 10 marks and must be studied properly for safe score. Transfer pricing and ABC costing are other often tested chapters and must be thoroughly read.
Next in OR part, network analysis and linear programming are tested frequently and are quite easy. You must treat your best mate if questions from simulation and assignment are asked for 10 marks. And not getting full marks in the two chapters amounts to criminal offence of the highest order.
TRAPS: Theory questions come for around 20 marks and are mostly not read by students which serves as a fatal mistake. It is not required that students read the theory questions to the core but a casual reading atleast is essential. It is also recommended to do the marginal costing problems at the end of the exam to prevent wastage of time unless the student is extremely confident.
6. MICS Marks Scored: 58
Without doubt the easiest paper in the second group purely because of the limited portion involved. There are about 20 odd chapters of which the first 5 are pretty easy and would take less than a day to read. The next group is chapters 6-10 which is the Software design, development, implementation and maintenance which is most important and would come for atleast 20 marks. Then there is chapter on EDP controls which is quite easy and then on disaster management. Computer fraud also accounts for 10 marks. Basically there is nothing much to comment on this subject dye to its dry nature involved. The subject would require 3 days for initial reading and another 2 days for revision. And it is best to read it in the last month toward the exam as grasping power would be high and we would not waste much time then. It is better to follow compilation along with Saravana Prasad material as back up reading. Since there are no choices reading the compilation alone is a big risk.
TRAPS: This is a scoring subject in group 2 and usually follows the disaster called costing. Hence keeping the cool is essential. Reading the compilation alone is also not recommended as the risk quotient is high. Writing irrelevant answers must be avoided.
Your comments are solicited.
CAclubindia
