Barun Gurani SEBI Grade A Success Story: How a Working CA Cleared the Exam in 4 Months

These are not just words, my friend. This is the simple belief that helped Barun Gurani, a Chartered Accountant just like many of you, clear the tough SEBI Grade A exam. And he did it in his very first attempt, all while managing a full-time job. 

But his story isn’t about magic. It’s about simple, honest steps that you can also take. Let’s walk through Barun’s journey together, and I promise you will feel a little stronger by the end.

Now, let’s start from the very beginning, because every big journey starts with a small step.

Who is Barun? A Simple Start, Just Like Yours

Let me introduce you to Barun. He is a Chartered Accountant who was working in a PSU. Just like many of us, he was living a normal life.

The idea for the SEBI exam didn’t come from a big coaching class or a fancy seminar. It started with simple talks among friends. He and his friends would often discuss different job opportunities, and that’s when SEBI Grade A caught his eye. He did a little research and felt, “Yes, this is a great opportunity!”

But deciding is easy. The real challenge began when he had to study with his job.

Time Management Strategy for Working Professionals

He had a demanding job, and his home was far from his workplace. The travel itself was tiring. So, how did he manage? He didn’t find extra hours in the day; he just used the hours he had, very smartly.

Here’s his simple secret:

• Used His Travel Time: The long metro ride wasn’t wasted time. It became his revision time. Whatever he studied at night, he would revise in the metro the next morning.
• Focused Night Study: When he got home, he was tired, but he still gave 3 to 4 dedicated hours to his studies. He didn’t count the hours to show off; he made sure those hours counted.
• Weekends Were His Superpower: He knew weekends were his golden chance. He would wake up early and study in small blocks of 2-3 hours. This is where he covered the most ground.

Now here’s where Barun really showed what smart preparation looks like.

SEBI Grade A Preparation While Working Full-Time

He was a CA, so subjects like Accountancy, Costing, and Finance were already his friends. This was his biggest strength! Because his basics were strong, he could prepare for the exam in just four months. He didn’t have to learn everything from scratch.

He also gives some honest advice for students from non-commerce backgrounds. 

This is not to scare you, but to guide you. If your basics are not clear, give yourself more time. Don’t compare your Chapter 1 with someone else’s Chapter 10.

But even with a strong background, the exam has its own challenges. Let’s see how he handled Phase 1.

SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Cut-Off Clearing Strategy

Paper 1 of Phase 1 can be scary, with subjects like Quant, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness (GA). Barun knew he had to clear the 30% cut-off. But instead of trying to be a master of everything, he focused on his strengths.

He knew he was good at Quant and Reasoning because he liked Maths since school. So, he made a simple plan: he would score enough in these two subjects to clear the cut-off. He didn’t lose sleep over General Awareness, which was his weak area. He studied it a little but didn’t let it stress him out.

Focus on your strengths to clear the cut-off, instead of trying to be perfect in everything. It’s a very practical way to handle exam pressure.

After clearing Phase 1, the next big step was Paper 2, with its huge syllabus.

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Paper 2 Preparation Strategy

Now, this is where the real depth of preparation is tested. Let’s break down how he handled it step-by-step.

His Simple Study Sources

He had a golden rule: stick to the syllabus! He said you should have a printout of the syllabus stuck to your wall. For him, the syllabus was the ‘bible’.

Here’s what he used:

• For Commerce & Accountancy: He trusted his old friend—the ICAI material from his CA days. He didn’t run after new material for things he already knew well.
• For Economics & Management: These subjects were a bit new to him. So what did he do? He turned to YouTube. He would search for each topic from the syllabus, understand the concept, and make short notes. Simple and effective!

The Fear of Numericals: Were They Really Hard?

Barun says the secret is not in solving 100s of questions, but in one thing: deep conceptual understanding. He believes that the numericals in these exams are not lengthy. They are designed to check if you really understand the topic.

For example, if you know what ‘prime cost’ is and what goes into it, you can easily solve the question, no matter how it’s framed. He found the numericals easy because his concepts were crystal clear. So, before you practice, make sure you truly understand the ‘why’ behind every formula.

That Tricky English Paper!

Barun shares something very real: the exam interface was not good. It required a lot of scrolling, and the backspace key didn’t work properly. He wants you to be mentally prepared for this. It can waste your time if you are not ready.

His strategy was to practice and plan his time. He decided which question to attempt first (he started with Precis) and how much time to give each one. Even though he couldn’t finish his essay completely, he still scored a good 45 marks because his approach was planned.

With the written exams cleared, it was time for the final hurdle.

His SEBI Grade A Interview Experience

Barun’s interview was with a friendly panel of four members and it lasted for about 15 minutes. They didn’t ask him anything out of the blue. The questions were mostly about him:

• His current job and past work experience.
• Some technical questions on topics like ‘margin’ and P/E ratio.
• Simple questions about his own investment habits.

But here’s a golden tip from his experience. He took a free mock interview before the real one. The feedback he got was very helpful. The panel told him he needed to brush up on his current affairs. He worked on it, and this helped him feel much more confident in the real interview.

This shows how important practice is, even for the interview. A good mock interview can show you your blind spots.

So, after this entire journey, what is Barun’s final message for a friend like you?

Barun’s Message Straight to Your Heart

His biggest message is to believe in yourself and be ready to put in the hard work. Your journey is your own, so don’t get disheartened by others. If you have the will, you will find a way.

Here are his most important tips, just for you:

• Study for Mains from Day 1: Don’t prepare for Phase 1 and Phase 2 technical subjects separately. Prepare them together, comprehensively. The concepts are the same, only the question level gets a bit harder.
• Your Syllabus is Everything: Don’t get lost in the sea of online material. Stick to the syllabus released by SEBI. It is your best guide.
• Clarity is Key: More than anything else, focus on having deep conceptual clarity. If you understand a topic well, you can handle any question thrown at you.

Barun’s story is a beautiful example of how smart work and self-belief can help you achieve your goals, even with a busy life.

What Can You Do Right Now?

His journey teaches us that you don’t need to be a superhero to clear these exams. You just need to be honest with yourself, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and make a simple, practical plan.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Just take one small step today. Maybe it’s downloading the syllabus and sticking it on your wall, just like Barun did. Or maybe it’s deciding to use your travel time for revision.

Your dream is possible. Your story is waiting to be written. Start today, one small step at a time. We at EduTap are here to walk with you on this journey.