Reaching the top ranks in CA Intermediate requires consistent preparation, effective revision, and the ability to manage time during examinations. Rehan Wadhwa secured All India Rank (AIR) 26 in the CA Inter September 2026 examination, turning his Foundation-stage disappointment into a major achievement. Although he narrowly missed a rank in Foundation, he worked towards his goal and delivered a strong performance in Intermediate.
Rehan’s preparation involved studying for up to 10–11 hours daily during the examination period, completing two full revisions, and practising questions with time limits. His journey highlights how focused practice, family motivation, and a clear goal can help students move forward in their CA preparation.
Rehan started his CA journey as a first-generation aspirant. His motivation came from his desire to build a better future for his family. Although he narrowly missed a rank in CA Foundation, the experience strengthened his determination to perform better in Intermediate.
Rehan shared,
"Foundation mein sir mera 9- 10 number pe reh gaya tha sir rank"
His family remained a major source of inspiration throughout his preparation.
He explained,
"Mere mother se mere parents se hi mili inspiration like inko like achha future dena hai apni family ke liye achha karna hai… I am first generation."
Rehan carried this motivation into his Intermediate preparation and worked towards the rank he had promised his mentor he would achieve.
Managing time during lengthy examination papers was one of Rehan's main challenges. Taxation and FM-SM tested his ability to balance question-solving speed with accuracy and composure.
In Taxation, he missed the first mandatory 15-mark question, even though he felt it was relatively easy. A tricky GST question also took up more time than expected.
Rehan recalled,
"Taxation mein sir main na like 15 marks ka jo tha na first mandatory question jo like is baar easy aaya tha wahi mera reh gaya tha."
FM-SM presented another challenge. When he received the paper, he felt that its difficulty level was higher than expected. Rather than panicking, he took a short pause to settle himself before beginning.
He explained,
"Jaise hi mere paas paper aaya, mujhe laga ki haan, thoda sa ye tough level ka hai. To pehle maine ek do minute paani piya, thoda apne ko calm kiya, and then main FM se start ho gaya."
He started with Financial Management and left a 15-mark Strategic Management question for the end. His experience highlights the importance of staying composed and making practical decisions when a paper feels difficult.
PW faculty played an important role in Rehan's preparation by helping him understand subjects that could otherwise feel difficult. He appreciated the way his teacher explained concepts and made the subjects easier to approach in PW CA Batches.
Rehan shared his appreciation,
"Aapki wajah se hi possible ho paya ye sab aapne itna easily aapne achhe se itna samjhaya hai koi jaise laga hi nahi ki subject koi itna tough hai ya kuchh hai"
Clear explanations supported his understanding of both practical and theoretical topics. Rehan combined this learning with regular practice and revision, completing two full rounds of revision before the examinations.
His experience underlines the value of understanding concepts rather than relying only on memorisation, particularly in a course that requires students to apply concepts while solving questions.
Rehan followed a routine that became more intensive as the examinations approached. While watching lectures, he studied for around six to seven hours daily. During the examination period, his study time increased to approximately ten to eleven hours a day.
Rehan explained,
"Jaise paperon ke time to roz ke 10 11 ghante ho jaate the. And usse pehle jab lecture dekhta tha tab 6 7 ghante daily ho jaate the."
Instead of attempting full-length mock tests, he practised individual questions and numerical problems while keeping track of the time taken to solve them. This helped him identify where he could improve his speed.
He described his approach,
"Thoda sa time ka like dhyan rakhta tha ki achha, abhi itne baje hain; 10- 12 minute mein ye ho jaana chahiye. To agar isko 14 lag rahe hain to next time kam kar sakun isko."
For example, if he aimed to solve a question in 10–12 minutes but took 14 minutes, he tried to improve his timing the next time. This approach helped him monitor his pace and work towards greater efficiency.
Rehan's preparation culminated in AIR 26 in the CA Intermediate September 2026 examination. His subject-wise marks included 87 in Advanced Accounting, 66 in Corporate and Other Laws, approximately 74 in Taxation, 80 in Costing, 80 in Audit, and 69 in FM-SM.
Receiving the result brought him considerable happiness after months of preparation.
Rehan expressed his feelings,
"First of all, to bahut hi like achha lag raha hai ki bahut hi alag si feeling hai aur bahut khushi ho rahi hai sir"
His performance reflected his work across subjects, his revision routine, and his effort to manage time during the examinations. Securing a rank also fulfilled the goal he had set after narrowly missing one in Foundation.
Rehan's experience offers practical lessons for students preparing for CA Intermediate:
Maintain consistency: Follow a realistic daily routine and increase study time according to your preparation needs.
Practise with a timer: Track how long individual questions take and work on improving your speed.
Manage difficult papers calmly: Avoid letting one challenging question affect your approach to the rest of the paper.
Complete thorough revisions: Revisit the syllabus more than once to strengthen recall and identify gaps.
Learn from mistakes: Review questions that took too long or were left unanswered and adjust your practice accordingly.
Understand concepts clearly: Use explanations and practice to build a foundation for solving both practical and theoretical questions.
Rehan Wadhwa's CA Inter success story shows how focused preparation, faculty support, and a willingness to improve can help students work towards ambitious goals. His journey from narrowly missing a Foundation rank to securing AIR 26 in Intermediate is a reminder to stay consistent, learn from setbacks, and keep working towards the next milestone.
