In the 15 minutes before your CA exam, your focus should be on mental readiness, calming nerves, and setting your approach for the paper. Here’s a practical strategy:

✅ 15-Minute Exam Strategy (Just Before You Enter the Hall)

🕒 Minutes 1–3: Center Yourself

• Breathe deeply – Slow inhales and exhales to calm your nerves.
• Positive self-talk – Remind yourself: “I’ve prepared well. I’ll stay calm and give my best.”
• Avoid discussions – Don’t talk about technical topics with friends. It can confuse or stress you out.

🕒 Minutes 4–7: Set the Right Mindset

• Recall your attempt strategy:
  • How you’ll divide the 3 hours.
  • Whether you’ll start with MCQs (if applicable), theory, or practical.
  • Targeted time per question (especially for long-form papers like FR, DT, etc.).

🕒 Minutes 8–12: Quick Flash

• Mentally revise super-key points:
  • In theory papers (like Audit/SM), recall keywords or mnemonics.
  • In practical papers (like FR/AFM), recall formats, formulas, and adjustment points.
  • For DT/IDT: Recall must-write sections, recent amendments, or tricky treatments.

🕒 Minutes 13–15: Compose Yourself

• Stop flipping pages (if you’re holding notes).
• Close your eyes for a moment and visualize writing with confidence.
• Mentally commit: “I’ll write calmly, manage time smartly, and not panic if something seems tough.”

Bonus Tips:

• Don’t expect to know everything – Aim for confident attempts, not perfection.
• Speed and neatness > perfection – Especially in theory-heavy papers.