Sometimes a setback leads to a better opportunity, and that’s exactly what happened with Bhanu Batra. After he didn’t clear CA Intermediate, he started looking at other options in finance, rather than feeling like his career goals were over and done. While doing his research, he came across the CFA qualification and realized it truly aligned with his interest in global financial markets, plus that long term dream of working in private markets.
He kick-started his journey using our CFA Level 1 revisionary lectures and managed to score a solid 1745 out of 1900. After that, he felt more confident and joined edZeb for Level II. With steady practice, disciplined preparation, and the right mentorship, he was able to clear one of the toughest levels in the programme.
In this success story, he talks about how changing his direction, trusting the right mentor, and keeping his consistency intact helped him get even closer to his career goal.
A CA Inter Dropout to CFA, Matched His Goals
Bhanu Batra finished his schooling at Delhi Public School, Ahmedabad and in Classes 11 and 12, he picked the commerce stream. Like most commerce students, he assumed Chartered Accountancy was the strongest route to a finance career. He did B.Com along with CA, but after he didn’t clear CA Intermediate, he paused and basically took some time to reconsider what he really wanted.
Instead of dropping it all, Bhanu started looking into different finance qualifications on his own. Somewhere in that search, he stumbled upon the qualification, and then it just clicked, because it matched his interests, and the CFA salary pays off really well. He had, even earlier, been drawn to financial markets, macroeconomics, and how economies work across borders. Also, his long-term plan was to enter private markets, and the credential offers both the practical learning and the worldwide credibility that could help him reach that goal.
When Bhanu was hunting for CFA resources, he came across Vikas Vohra Sir’s YouTube lectures. He prepared for his Level I through those sessions and managed to score 1745 out of 1900, honestly, a very strong result. The way the topics were taught gave him steady confidence, so when Level II preparation time arrived, choosing edZeb for online CFA coaching in Ahmedabad felt like the obvious next move to him, even if the syllabus was tougher.
A Preparation Strategy Built on Consistency
Bhanu began preparing for CFA Level II in August, 2025. Somehow, though, because of health issues in his family, he had to just pause his studies for a while, and later resumed in November. At first, he tried to finish the lectures, like completely wrapping them up, then after that, he spent the following months almost fully on revision and practice. In general, he was looking at nearly 10 hours a day, and he kept a disciplined routine, even when things felt off. So, the CFA duration can stretch or be reduced depending on your circumstances.
One habit that really made a difference was note-taking. Along with whatever notes he made during live classes, he also put together his own short revision notes after practising questions. Those notes ended up being his main go-to thing in the final weeks, right before the exam. Besides that, he solved the Institute Portal Questions 4 to 5 times, practised the Premium Practice Questions, and he attempted mock exams too, so his understanding didn’t stay surface level.
For Bhanu, consistency feels more important than studying long hours here and there. He thinks repeated practice, steady revision, and honestly following his mentor’s strategy helped him feel more confident as the exam approached.
Facing Exam Pressure with a Calm Mindset
As the exam approached, Bhanu felt the same sort of pressure that a lot of CFA candidates seem to carry around with them. In the final few days before the exam, he was honestly overwhelmed, and it hit him that pushing himself to study harder was only raising his anxiety. So instead of forcing it, he stepped back and decided to trust what he had already built during the previous months. With some support from his brother and one last round of revision, he walked into the exam hall with a calmer, steadier mindset.
The first session of the CFA Level II exam was mildly challenging, and it left him a little uncertain about how things were going. But during the break, he regained his confidence. Then, for the second session, he went back in with a fresh head. Bhanu says the questions weren’t entirely unfamiliar, yet the way they were framed meant he had to think more analytically. That, in his view, is exactly what makes Level II different from Level I. You can’t just depend on memorisation. Candidates need to understand the concepts well enough to use them in situations that look a bit different.
When Bhanu looks back now, he feels that staying composed under pressure mattered just as much as studying hard. His prep gave him the knowledge, but keeping his nerves under control is what helped him actually perform on exam day.
The Right Guidance Makes All the Difference
Looking back, Bhanu’s score of 2750 is credited to his disciplined preparation, repeated practice, and the guidance he got throughout his CFA journey. He really appreciates Vikas Vohra Sir’s teaching style, which focuses on simplifying complex concepts through real-life examples and case studies, so it felt less intimidating. According to Bhanu, the lectures were precise and engaging, and also easy to follow, as even tougher topics such as Derivatives became easier to understand. The last-minute revision sessions also helped him sharpen the weak areas right before the exam, because he could revisit what needed more clarity.
His Message to Future Finance Aspirants
For future CFA aspirants, Bhanu has one simple message: trust the process and stick with your mentor’s strategy. Make your own short notes, revise them regularly, and solve the Institute Portal Questions multiple times. And most importantly, don’t panic in the final days before the exam. If you have prepared consistently, believe in your hard work, not in rumours or doubts. Sometimes, a weird, unexpected setback can steer you toward the career that really matches your ambitions, just like it happened to him.
