Disha Gokhru, who secured All India Rank 1 in the CA Intermediate examination with an impressive 513 out of 600 marks (85.5%), recently shared the highs and lows of her preparation in a podcast with CA and content creator Kushal Lodha. Her story stands out not just for her academic success, but for the resilience and structured approach that shaped her journey.
Audit Day Break Down and Historic Result
One of the most pivotal moments in Disha's journey came during an audit lecture. When she couldn’t respond to a basic question in class, the experience left her shaken. That evening, she broke down and cried. But instead of letting it weaken her resolve, she made a firm decision to turn things around. That subject, which once brought tears, eventually became her strongest — she scored 94 in Audit, one of the highest individual marks among all subjects.
Leading up to the results on July 6, Disha battled anxiety, uncertainty about her performance, and even a fever. The night was restless, filled with repeated dreams of logging in to see a blank screen. Though the official result time was 10:30 AM, they were declared early at 8:30 AM — and just ten minutes before she could check, the ICAI President personally called to inform her that she had secured Rank 1. Initially in disbelief, she finally celebrated the moment by switching off her phone and spending time with her loved ones.
Academic Background and Early Start for CA Inter
Disha studied under the IGCSE board in Ghatkopar and initially intended to pursue medicine. However, she transitioned to commerce and took up the CA course, drawn by its discipline and difficulty. She began her CA Foundation preparation during her 12th standard and scored 358 out of 400 in the June 2024 attempt, a top-tier score, though no ranks were officially announced.
Without waiting for the Foundation results, Disha enrolled in the “Early Bird Batch” at a well-known coaching institute. Her schedule was rigorous — attending lectures from 1 PM to 9 PM, followed by late-night self-study sessions until 3 AM. She emphasized the importance of consistent self-study after class hours to prevent backlogs.
Study Leave Strategy: Balanced and Structured
During the study leave period from February to May 2025, she cleared earlier backlogs, mainly in Law and Audit. Her revision plan included working on two subjects a day — generally one theory and one practical — while incorporating 10-minute power naps to reset between sessions. She also adopted keyword mapping and quick revision techniques to boost retention.
Subject-Wise Preparation Insights
Disha attempted mock tests from ICAI and her coaching institute. Consistently scoring over 300 in mock exams built her confidence for the actual papers.
Exam-Day Approach: Smart and Efficient
During the 15-minute reading time, she quickly marked questions she was sure of and began with the easiest 40-mark segment. She reserved MCQs for the mid-section of the paper to avoid early fatigue. Her aim was a 100% attempt rate across all six papers. For the Tax paper specifically, she began with theory questions, leveraging her command over provisions.
Final Scores:
In the post-exam phase, Disha initially took a break but soon shifted focus to skill-building. She completed a SEBI certification (NISM), engaged in audit simulations via Forage, resumed workouts, and returned to a disciplined diet.
Disha took all subjects at her coaching center and even received a 50% discount based on her Foundation performance. She found value in not splitting subjects across multiple coaching centers to maintain focus and energy.
Mental Health and Words of Advice
Struggles with self-doubt, especially in theory-heavy subjects, were common. Disha tackled this through visual revision techniques and motivational videos. Her sister, based in Canada, played a critical emotional role through regular calls. She also followed motivational speakers like Raj Shamani to stay inspired and practiced mindfulness through yoga.
Disha believes there is no substitute for consistent effort. She stressed that even studying two hours daily is more effective than cramming over weekends. According to her, building a support system, choosing the right resources, and keeping things simple were the keys to her success. Most importantly, she emphasized that staying consistent and not losing momentum can make all the difference.
Audit Day Break Down and Historic Result
One of the most pivotal moments in Disha's journey came during an audit lecture. When she couldn’t respond to a basic question in class, the experience left her shaken. That evening, she broke down and cried. But instead of letting it weaken her resolve, she made a firm decision to turn things around. That subject, which once brought tears, eventually became her strongest — she scored 94 in Audit, one of the highest individual marks among all subjects.
Leading up to the results on July 6, Disha battled anxiety, uncertainty about her performance, and even a fever. The night was restless, filled with repeated dreams of logging in to see a blank screen. Though the official result time was 10:30 AM, they were declared early at 8:30 AM — and just ten minutes before she could check, the ICAI President personally called to inform her that she had secured Rank 1. Initially in disbelief, she finally celebrated the moment by switching off her phone and spending time with her loved ones.
Academic Background and Early Start for CA Inter
Disha studied under the IGCSE board in Ghatkopar and initially intended to pursue medicine. However, she transitioned to commerce and took up the CA course, drawn by its discipline and difficulty. She began her CA Foundation preparation during her 12th standard and scored 358 out of 400 in the June 2024 attempt, a top-tier score, though no ranks were officially announced.
Without waiting for the Foundation results, Disha enrolled in the “Early Bird Batch” at a well-known coaching institute. Her schedule was rigorous — attending lectures from 1 PM to 9 PM, followed by late-night self-study sessions until 3 AM. She emphasized the importance of consistent self-study after class hours to prevent backlogs.
Study Leave Strategy: Balanced and Structured
During the study leave period from February to May 2025, she cleared earlier backlogs, mainly in Law and Audit. Her revision plan included working on two subjects a day — generally one theory and one practical — while incorporating 10-minute power naps to reset between sessions. She also adopted keyword mapping and quick revision techniques to boost retention.
Subject-Wise Preparation Insights
- Law & Audit: Focused on ICAI material and coaching notes, ensuring concept clarity and using keywords for better recall.
- Strategic Management: Relied on ICAI’s YouTube resources and case studies.
- Accounts, Costing, FM: Prioritized practice from ICAI modules, avoided rewriting during revisions, and used formula sheets.
- Tax (Direct & Indirect): Found this the toughest subject. She consolidated notes from ICAI and class material, stressing on remembering every provision’s practical application.
Disha attempted mock tests from ICAI and her coaching institute. Consistently scoring over 300 in mock exams built her confidence for the actual papers.
Exam-Day Approach: Smart and Efficient
During the 15-minute reading time, she quickly marked questions she was sure of and began with the easiest 40-mark segment. She reserved MCQs for the mid-section of the paper to avoid early fatigue. Her aim was a 100% attempt rate across all six papers. For the Tax paper specifically, she began with theory questions, leveraging her command over provisions.
Final Scores:
- Accounts – 89
- Law – 79
- Tax – 78
- Costing – 93
- Audit – 94
- FM & SM – 80
In the post-exam phase, Disha initially took a break but soon shifted focus to skill-building. She completed a SEBI certification (NISM), engaged in audit simulations via Forage, resumed workouts, and returned to a disciplined diet.
Disha took all subjects at her coaching center and even received a 50% discount based on her Foundation performance. She found value in not splitting subjects across multiple coaching centers to maintain focus and energy.
Mental Health and Words of Advice
Struggles with self-doubt, especially in theory-heavy subjects, were common. Disha tackled this through visual revision techniques and motivational videos. Her sister, based in Canada, played a critical emotional role through regular calls. She also followed motivational speakers like Raj Shamani to stay inspired and practiced mindfulness through yoga.
Disha believes there is no substitute for consistent effort. She stressed that even studying two hours daily is more effective than cramming over weekends. According to her, building a support system, choosing the right resources, and keeping things simple were the keys to her success. Most importantly, she emphasized that staying consistent and not losing momentum can make all the difference.
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