Small mistakes before exams can cost big marks—are you making these common CA Foundation mistakes without even knowing it? To perform better in the CA Foundation exam, it is necessary to understand where CA Foundation students often go wrong and how these mistakes affect preparation and confidence in the CA Foundation exam. 

By identifying these common CA Foundation mistakes before exams, you can plan better, revise effectively, and practice strategically while preparing for the CA Foundation exam.

Let’s take a look.

Most Common Mistakes Students Make Before CA Foundation Exams and How to Overcome Them

1 Not Getting Proper guidance from experts:

The mistake: Foundation students are new to professional courses and have no idea which chapter to prioritize, which study material to use, or how to make a CA Foundation revision plan. Without expert guidance, they waste time or follow the wrong preparation pattern

How to avoid it?

Always seek guidance from expert mentors, senior, or trusted platforms that provide structured plans, mock test series, and CA Foundation exam strategies. 

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2 Ignoring Previous Year Question Papers 

The mistake: Beginners often think, “Why Look at Past Papers? I should first complete the syllabus.” Because they have no idea that ICAI repeats patterns and ignoring previous year question papers means missing high-scoring areas.

How to avoid it?

. Include at least the last 3-4 year papers in your study plan.

. Make a list of the most repeated questions.

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3 Keeping a big portion of the syllabus pending

One of the biggest mistakes CA Foundation students make before exams is leaving a major part of the CA Foundation syllabus incomplete or untouched, thinking: “I will finish it before the Exam”. But the truth is, the closer the exam gets, the more pressure builds. Time feels shorter, stress gets higher, and pending chapters pile up.

Why does it happens?

Overconfidence, poor planning, or procrastination.

How to avoid it?

. Make a study plan accordingly so that you can finish the syllabus at least one month before exams.

. Use last month only for mock tests and revision

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4 Ignore Revision until the last week

The Mistake:

CA Foundation Students often believe that first I will complete CA Foundation syllabus and then revise everything in the last week. Unfortunately, the last week is too short for a first revision. As a result, they forget old topics and end up with no deep understanding.

Why does it happen?

Students underestimate how much time proper revision requires.

How to avoid it?

Revise side by side while preparing for each chapter

Follow the 3-revision CA Foundation rule:

. 1^st revision: Immediately after finishing the syllabus

. 2^nd revision: 15-20 days before exams

. 3^rd revision: 2-3 days before each paper

Use revision notes and short notes

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5 Thinking Accounts, Quantitative Aptitude, & Economics are just like Class 12

The Mistake:

Many students believe foundation-level Accounts, Quantitative Aptitude, and Economics are the same as what they studied in school. Because of this overconfidence, they keep these subjects for the last, thinking “I already know this.” On exam day, they realize the depth, tricky pattern, and application are far beyond class 12^th.

How to avoid it?

. Approach every topic with a fresh mind-set instead of relying on old knowledge.

. Practice ICAI problems and past papers to match exam standards.

Boost your CA Foundation preparation by checking out the most scoring topics as per ICAI syllabus.

6 Writing Business Law in Basic Language instead of Legal Language

The Mistake:

For CA Foundation students, Business Law is a completely new subject. Since they are unfamiliar with legal terms and section numbers and often explain answers in simple basic language instead of legal terminology. 

How to avoid it?

. Practice answers writing using professional legal terminology regularly.

. Follow a structured format: provision explanation conclusion

. Review ICAI suggested answer for presentation

Get expert writing tips and strategies and mock test papers to score high in Business Law

7 Ignoring Practice in Quantitative Aptitude & Economics (MCQs)

The Mistake:

Many students revise formulas or theory but skip actual practice. Since both papers are MCQ based and ignoring practice leads to struggle with speed and accuracy which leads to more mistakes and negative marking.

How to avoid it?

. Practice MCQs daily under timed conditions.

. Attempt mock test papers daily to improve speed, accuracy, and exam temperament.

8 Using too many study material before CA Foundation Exam

The mistake:

CA Foundation students often collect multiple resources like coaching notes, YouTube classes, and reference books – thinking more material ensures better presentation. Just before exams, this causes confusion, information overload and lack of clarity.

How to avoid it?

. Stick on one ICAI CA Foundation study material

. Make your own CA Foundation short notes for quick revision

. Practice consistently to ensure clarity and better retention

Official ICAI study material PDFs for quick and effective revision

9 Avoid Negative Marking

Many CA Foundation students overlook negative marking in objective papers and practice by attempting all questions by doing guess work, thinking it boosts their score.

How to avoid it?

. First attempt those questions in which you are confident about

. Use elimination to make smarter guesses when unsure.

. Leave highly uncertain questions instead of risking marks.

10 Ignoring CA Foundation Mock Test Paper Before exam

The Mistake:

Many CA Foundation students focus solely on revising chapters and skip full length mock tests assuming that knowing the full syllabus is enough. This often leads to panic, poor time management, and inability to handle exam pressure on the exam day.

How to avoid it?

. Attempt mock test paper under timed condition

. Attempt chapterwise mock test paper after preparing each chapter 

. Identify weak areas after attempting each mock test paper

Click here to attempt full length mock test paper and identify your weak areas

Wrapping Up

Mistakes are a part of every CA student’s journey, but avoiding them before the CA Foundation exam can improve your chances of success. That’s where our Bhagya Achievers Pass Guarantee Batch comes in which helps you avoid them with expert guidance, structured study plans, and proven strategies for a guaranteed success in CA Foundation.

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FAQs

What are the two common mistakes that lead to poor marks in CA Foundation exams?

Incomplete syllabus and skipping mock test papers are the most common mistakes that lead to poor marks in CA Foundation exams.

Can I crack CA Foundation in my first attempt?

Yes, by avoiding above common mistakes, practice with mock test papers and with consistent practice you can crack the CA Foundation exam in the first attempt.

Is Practicing MCQs really necessary for Quantitative Aptitude and Economics?

Yes, Practicing MCQs improve speed, accuracy, and reduce negative marking risk. It is advisable to practice questions under timed conditions for better results.

How can I avoid negative marking in MCQs during the CA Foundation exam?

Attempt only those questions in which you are confident about, use elimination methods and avoid random guess work to save marks.

How many revisions are necessary before the CA Foundation exam?

It is advisable to follow the 3 revision rule: First immediately after finishing the syllabus, second around 15-20 days before exams, and the third 2-3 days prior to each paper.

Can I use free notes before the CA Foundation exam for better preparation?

Yes, using free notes while preparing for the CA foundation exam helps in deep understanding of concepts and boost confidence.

Also check:

How to Build Conceptual Clarity in Accounts at Foundation Level – A Step-by-Step Guide

CA Foundation 30-Days Study Plan 

Find out how to balance hard work with smart study methods to excel in your CA Foundation exams

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