Last Minute Tips for IFSCA Grade A Phase 1 Exam 2025

The IFSCA Grade A Phase 1 exam is going to test your preparation tomorrow, on 11th October 2025. That means you now have only a few hours left, out of which every single one must be used smartly. So, let us ask you, ‘’How calm and ready do you feel right now? Have you gone through your notes and important topics? Or are you still rushing to revise everything?’’ At this stage, it’s not preparation but composure that will light your path to success. Many aspirants either over-revise or panic. Both are mistakes. The final hours are not for learning new things, but for staying calm, confident, and ready. A few right steps today and tomorrow can make all the difference. So, let’s go through the last-minute things that truly matter.

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Why the last few hours matter more than you think

At this point, your books can’t help much, but your mindset can. These hours are about managing time, avoiding errors, and keeping your nerves steady. A calm mind will recall what a tired one forgets. So, your goal now is not more study, but better control.

So, by now, you can’t add many new topics. What you can do is:

• cement clarity in the topics you already know,
• boost your speed,
• avoid silly mistakes,
• manage your nerves.

These last hours decide whether you cross the cut-off or not.

What to do today (one day before exam)

First and foremost, today is not for memorizing new topics. It’s for revising smartly, sleeping well, and preparing everything for tomorrow. So, to accomplish it, you must organize your thoughts, check your documents, and rest your mind. A relaxed brain performs better than an overloaded one. Make this day light yet meaningful.

1. Light revision only

Don’t try to read the full new chapters. Instead, you should revisit your handwritten short notes, revise formulae sheets, mistakes that you generally commit, and practice the questions in which you gave a bad performance while taking the last mock test. Flip only through that, and avoid consulting heavy textbooks.

2. Think over negative marking and your internal plan once more

Make sure you have in your mind:

• How many questions per section?
• Time per section (or your internal plan),
• Negative marking (how much is deducted per wrong answer).

This will help you make the right decisions quickly in an exam when you’re under time pressure.

3. Practice the last mock test

It’s best to take the last mock test to keep your mind in rhythm and do it under timed conditions. Then quickly review only your mistakes. And avoid resolving everything.

4. Read last 6 months GA & regulatory updates

Since IFSCA is a regulator, some questions may come from the latest in the financial sector, IFSC/GIFT city, and regulatory changes. So, you should skim through the last few days’ headlines, especially about IFSC, and financial markets.

5. Prepare your exam kit

Gather everything you will carry tomorrow. Don’t leave this for the morning:

• Printed admit card/hall ticket (check every detail)
• Valid original ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, whichever you used in the application)
• Two passport-size photographs (same as uploaded)
• Category/reservation certificate, if applicable
• Clear transparent ballpoint pens, extra pen (if allowed)
• Water bottle (transparent, no label)
• Light snack (energy bar, dry fruits)
• Mask, hand sanitizer (if allowed)
• Wristwatch (if exam rules permit) or simple analog watch (check if electronic watch is allowed or not)

6. Sleep early, rest your mind

Don’t stay up late trying to revise more. A fresh mind tomorrow is better than cramming more now.

7. Mentally visualise exam day

Visualise entering the centre, seating yourself, starting with paper, moving section by section. This mental rehearsal calms nerves.

What to do tomorrow (on exam day, before entry into exam hall)

The morning of the exam can set your tone for the day. You should, therefore, start your morning calmly, and for that you need to wake up early, and have light food. Don’t rush and don’t revise, especially too much. You should just trust your preparation and revision, as the real test will not just be your knowledge, but your composure. 

Here’s what you should do:

1. Wake up early and have a light routine

Don’t oversleep. Have a light, healthy breakfast. Avoid heavy, oily food so that it can exhibit its full potential.

2. Quick glance over important things

Spend a small time on your formula sheet, key GA facts, and tough topics you were unsure about. Do not open new topics.

3. Leave early for centre

Because traffic, delays, and last-minute confusion can kill your exam mood. Aim to reach the exam centre at least 20–25 minutes before the reporting time. Many centres insist you reach earlier.

4. Check things once again on arrival

• Show your admit card and ID as per instructions.
• Check the exam room, slot, and seat number.
• Keep your watch (if allowed) visible.
• Relax, calm your breathing before the exam starts.

5. Strategy inside exam hall

Here are tips many forget, but which can save you marks:

• Don’t linger on one question for too long. If stuck beyond ~1 minute, mark and move on.
• Start with the easiest / your strong sections first. Secure those marks. Then attempt medium, then tough ones.
• Read all options before choosing an answer. Sometimes one option seems right until you see a “more correct” option.
• If two options confuse you, mark for review and move on. Don’t waste time.
• Keep track of your time. After every 10–15 questions, glance at your pace to know if you are ahead or behind.
• Avoid negative marks by not trying to guess blindly, unless you can eliminate at least one option.
• At the end, if time remains, revisit marked questions carefully and check for silly mistakes.

6. Stay calm, do not panic

If you see a hard question, don’t let panic set in. Move to other, easier ones, and remind yourself that you’ve prepared for this day, for this exam, and for these questions. You have the ability, so don’t let doubt freeze you.

Things from the IFSCA 2025 Notification PDF you must know

The IFSCA notification carries small but important instructions that you can’t afford to overlook. A single missed rule can ruin months of your effort. So, go through the official points once again, be it the reporting time, documents, ID proof, and banned items. 

Here IFSCA 2025 recruitment PDF to spot instructions that many may miss.

• The IFSCA Grade A Phase II online exam will be on 15 November 2025, and Phase III (interview) will be later.
• Do not expect any flexibility on exam day. The notification explicitly states that no candidate shall be allowed to enter the exam hall without a valid admit card and ID.
• Admit card is mandatory, and it must be printed and a digital phone screenshot may not be accepted. So, if you haven’t got a printout, get a printout now.
• Posted instructions note that misbehavior or violation of rules can lead to disqualification.
• The notification emphasises reporting time and seating instructions — follow seat number, exam room instructions strictly.
• Negative marking is applied in Phase I — a penalty for wrong answers (0.25 mark typically) — so be selective.
• The notification also states that shortlisting for Phase II depends on sectional and overall cut-offs.

Hence you must:

1. Check your admit card details like name, roll number, exam centre, time, signature, and photograph. If anything is wrong, contact IFSCA immediately, though that may not be fixed in the last hour.
2. Follow the reporting time, seat arrangement. Don’t enter late or wait outside until the last minute.
3. Don’t carry prohibited items — mobile phones, electronic gadgets, study material, calculators (unless expressly allowed) will be confiscated.
4. Keep calm, even if the exam feels difficult
5. Keep negative marking in mind, which can penalize blind guessing.

Last words

Tomorrow is your testing time. You can’t control everything, but you can control your speed, your focus, and your calm. Every minute you spend wisely in the exam gives you an advantage. You’ve done the hard work, and now is the time to execute it smartly.

There’s no need to chase perfection. Instead, chase safe and solid marks. Don’t let your confidence dip just because you skipped a few questions.

Try your best to maintain a steady rhythm, few correct answers, and commit no foolish mistakes. All you need is, be confident, sharp, and composed throughout the exam, and success will be yours.

All the best for IFSCA Grade A Phase 1.

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