How Nistha Bothra Cracked the CA Exam Twice—And What You Can Learn From Her
Let’s be real—the CA exams are brutal. The pass rates make you wonder if ICAI enjoys watching students suffer. But then there’s Nistha Bothra. Not only did she clear it, she topped the damn thing. Twice. And here’s the kicker—she’s not some genius born with a calculator in her hand. Just a regular girl who figured out how to outsmart the system.
The Girl Next Door Who Beat the Odds
Nistha grew up in a typical middle-class Indian family where “finance” meant balancing the monthly budget. No fancy connections, no legacy of chartered accountants. Just a kid who was weirdly good at math. You know how some people see numbers and panic? Nistha saw them and thought, “Huh, this is kinda fun.”
But here’s the thing—her journey wasn’t some fairy tale. She bombed mock tests early on, pulled all-nighters before realizing they were useless, and definitely had moments of “Why am I doing this to myself?” Sound familiar?
First Win: How She Did It
Her first attempt wasn’t about studying harder—it was about studying smarter. Forget those Instagram posts showing 18-hour study marathons. Nistha capped it at 6-8 hours, but here’s the twist: every minute was intentional.
- ICAI materials were her bible: She’d laugh at kids buying every fancy reference book. “Master what’s in front of you first,” she’d say.
- Past papers? Obsessed: Solved them until she could predict question patterns. Like knowing exactly where the examiner would try to trip students up.
- Breaks weren’t optional: “Your brain’s like a phone battery,” she told me. “Drain it completely, and good luck recharging during the exam.”
Why She Took the Exam Again (Yes, After Topping)
This is where most people called her crazy. “You already won! Why suffer again?” But Nistha? She wanted to prove the first time wasn’t luck. So she upped her game:
– Mock tests went from 30 to 50+. Not just solving—timing herself like she was in the actual exam hall.
– Meditation became non-negotiable. “Ever notice how panicked minds blank out?” she says. “I wasn’t letting that happen.”
– Weak areas got attacked first. That tricky Financial Reporting topic everyone hates? She practiced it daily until it became her strength.
The Real Secret No One Talks About
Here’s what they don’t tell you in coaching classes: CAs aren’t made from endless studying. They’re made from strategic studying. Nistha’s mantra? “Be stubborn about goals, flexible about methods.” Some days she’d study less but retain more. Other days she’d scrap her schedule entirely—because forcing it when your brain’s fried is pointless.
And the mindset stuff? Crucial. She treated stress like weather—you can’t stop rain, but you can carry an umbrella. For her, that meant calling her mom when overwhelmed or taking 20-minute walks to reset.
3 Takeaways for Aspiring CAs
- Mock tests don’t lie. Your score 48 hours before the exam? That’s probably your real mark. Nistha knew this and adjusted last-minute.
- Burnout sneaks up on you. She caught hers early by tracking energy levels, not just study hours.
- Shortcuts are longcuts. That “important questions” PDF everyone forwards? Nistha ignored it. Deep understanding > last-minute memorizing.
At the end of the day, her story isn’t about being the smartest. It’s about being the most adaptable. The CA exam doesn’t care how much you suffer—it cares if you can think. And that’s exactly what she mastered.
So—think you could pull a Nistha? Or better yet, make your own version of her strategy? Drop a comment below. (And if you’re studying for CA finals right now, go take a walk. Seriously.)
Source: News18 Hindi – Nation