A few of you must have heard that the SEBI Grade A notification is expected to be released in December 2025. This news, rumor, or talk brings excitement followed by panic to every aspirant who was looking forward to this finance and banking exam.
The panic shows a lack of knowledge in preparation, which is again an avoidable mistake that we make when planning the SEBI Grade A exam strategy. And because of such mistakes, we end up losing our precious time and marks.
What makes things even tougher is the falling number of vacancies over the years. In 2018, there were 120 vacancies; in 2020, it rose slightly to 147, but since then, the numbers have only gone down: 120 in 2022, 97 in 2024, and around 80+ expected in 2025. That is why you need to avoid making common mistakes at any cost, or it may cost you an attempt.
Let’s dive into the mistakes you need to avoid for the SEBI Grade A exam.
Table of Contents
Mistake 1: Waiting for the notification to start preparation
A lot of aspirants make this mistake as they keep postponing their preparation, thinking, “I’ll start once the SEBI Grade A notification is out.” But by then, the time left is too short to cover the vast syllabus of SEBI Grade A properly. So, what you need to do is start preparing months in advance, whether the notification has arrived or not. Start your basics early, and then gradually build concepts. If you are already preparing for some other competitive exam, then I can bet that you already know most of the syllabus, and only you can afford to delay your prep for SEBI Grade A.
Mistake 2: Not understanding the SEBI Grade A syllabus and pattern
One of the 1st things students do after the notification is they start preparing right away, without properly understanding the pattern or syllabus. I’ve seen people spending weeks on topics that are not even asked in the exam. This creates unnecessary stress and eats up precious time.
Always start with a proper understanding of the syllabus and pattern. Stick to what is relevant. Distribute your time based on the pattern.
Mistake 3: Following too many sources
Many aspirants collect multiple books, follow several YouTube channels, and subscribe to endless PDFs. In the end, they don’t revise any one source properly. Pick one reliable source for each subject and stick to it. Quality matters much more than quantity. It’s better to revise one book three times than to read five books once.
Mistake 4: Not starting with a mock test
Most aspirants delay giving mocks because they feel “I’ll write a test only after I finish my syllabus.” But that’s a mistake. How will you know your strengths and weaknesses if you never test yourself? Mock test at the beginning of your preparation is the secret sauce to the recipe of SEBI Grade A exam clearance.
Mistake 5: Over-focusing on one subject
In SEBI Grade A, every subject matters. Neglecting even one can pull down your overall score. You need to balance your timetable. Even if you’re weak in a subject, don’t avoid it. Give at least one dedicated slot each day to your weaker areas. Slowly, you’ll see improvement and reduce the risk of imbalance in your preparation.
Mistake 6: Not practicing mock tests seriously
Many aspirants treat mock tests like a formality. They attempt 1 test, get a score, and then move on without proper analysis. Without practicing them seriously, you’ll struggle with speed, accuracy, and time management on exam day. Take at least 2 mocks/week initially and increase the frequency closer to the exam. But more importantly, spend double the time analyzing your mistakes.
Mistake 7: Ignoring current affairs and descriptive preparation
Many students think they can prepare for current affairs at the last minute. The same goes for descriptive writing; there are many students who feel it can be managed with basic grammar. But the exam pattern has consistently shown that current events and writing skills play a crucial role in selection. You need to read daily updates, revise weekly, and keep a monthly compilation. For descriptive English, practice writing essays and précis under time limits.
Mistake 8: Underestimating revision
I can’t stress this enough, and you need to engrave this in your brain that revision is not optional, that it’s everything. Reading something once doesn’t mean you’ll remember it in the exam. You need to include revision and practice in your timetable from day 1. Keep one day in a week for revising old topics. Before the exam, focus only on what you’ve already studied instead of running after new content.
Final thoughts
The SEBI Grade A exam is competitive, but success can still be yours if you are cautious of these mistakes. Start early, stick to the syllabus, limit your sources, give mocks, revise regularly, and keep your mind calm. If you do this, you’ll enter the exam hall more confident, and that confidence can make all the difference.
