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I am wondering why students are creating so much ruckus about the accounts paper of final june 09. An analysis of the questions reveal that any one with a moderate degree of preperation should have been able to attempt more than 80% of the question paper. Here goes the analysis:

Q.No 1(a) : Valuation of shares  [10 marks] – our class question

Q.No 1(b): Valuation of goodwill [ 6 marks] – our class question

Q.no 2: Amalgamation [ 16 marks] – from accounts module : Illustration no 5: all adjustments exactly the same – only figures have been changed

Q. No 3(a) – Securitisation [6 marks]- Paduka Pg 6.69

Q. No 3(b): Not for profit accounting [ 5 marks] – From accounts module – pg 7.10 [only figures changed]

Q.No 3(c): Social reporting [5 marks] – is a repeat question of May 2004

Q.No. 4(a): Borrowing cost [10 marks] – solved in the class

Q.No 4(b): AS 7 & Revenue recognition [6 marks]

Q.No 5(a): AS15: Stock options [ 10 marks] – this was a tough question – agreed.

Q. No 5(b): Accounting for forward contracts [ 10 marks] – From accounts module pg 6.68 [ only dates and exchange rate changed]

Q.No 6(a): EVA – [6 marks] – this has been given in MAFA RTP for this exam

Q.No 6(b): Accounting for investments by MF – [4 marks] – this is from Paduka – but involves more of common sense and applicability of AS 13.

Q. No 6(c): Impairment of assest [ 3 marks] requires very basic understanding of AS 28.

Q.No 6(d): Question on AS 29: [ 3 marks] again very basic questions of the standard.

So apart from Q.no 3(a), 5(a) and 6(b) totalling 20 marks, I dont see any reason why any student who has undertaken even a reasonable level of preparation of class notes, module, suggested and RTP cannot attempt these questions. Of course students who have solely depended on their respective classes notes would have performed poorly – but then such students deserve the results – because I have always maintained that classes notes by themselves (and they could be any classes) are not sufficient to get you through CA exams. And in any case, the least amount of preparation that one needs to do is module, suggested and RTP along with the class notes.

There has been a deviation in the pattern of question paper to the extent that the paper does not contain any problem of Holding company which otherwise is a regular feature of accounts paper. But students I guess panicked seeing the lack of holding company problem and as a result failed to answer questions which even a inter student with some common sense could have solved e.g. the problem on annuity gift, calculation of PBT from financial leverage ratio in the EVA problem. These are really common sense problem.

So guys, tighten up your belts – you have to realise that professional exam is serious stuff and one needs to do a lot of reading [which unfortunately students of today are not willing to do - they want short cuts for everything] and solving variety of problems so that you stand a fair chance to crack the paper