CA Foundation Paper 3 study plan
CA Foundation Paper 3 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Business Mathematics
Compute simple and compound interest, including effective annual rate, for at least 20 mixed problems without a formula sheet
Derive and apply present value and annuity formulas to loan and sinking-fund style questions
Build a one-page formula card covering ratio, proportion, indices and logarithm rules, then solve 15 problems using only that card
Your checkpoint
A timed 30-question set on interest, annuities and ratio-proportion scored at 75% or above, with every wrong answer reworked in a corrections log
Business Mathematics
Solve permutation and combination problems by classifying each as arrangement or selection before calculating
Apply counting rules to seating, selection-committee and password-style word problems
Distinguish arithmetic and geometric progressions and compute nth term, sum and means for each
Your checkpoint
A written cheat sheet of 12 counting and progression question types, each with one fully worked original example and the trap it hides
Business Mathematics & Statistics
Set up and solve linear equations in two variables from word problems and check answers by substitution
Compute and interpret arithmetic mean, median, mode, geometric mean and harmonic mean for raw and grouped data
Explain in writing when each average is appropriate and where it misleads
Your checkpoint
A 25-question mixed set on equations and central tendency, with a half-page note comparing the five averages on skewed versus symmetric data
Statistics
Calculate range, quartile deviation, mean deviation and standard deviation for raw and grouped series
Compute and interpret the coefficient of variation to compare two data sets
Apply the empirical relationship between mean, median and mode in skewed distributions
Read and construct cumulative frequency tables to locate median and quartiles
Your checkpoint
A dispersion workbook of 20 solved problems showing full working, plus a 150-word summary of which measure to report for which business scenario
Statistics & Logical Reasoning
Compute and interpret Karl Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients, including tied ranks
Fit a line of best fit by least squares and interpret slope and intercept in context
Identify the number series and coding-decoding patterns used in reasoning sets and solve 30 items under time
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-minute mock section of 25 statistics and reasoning questions scored at 70% or above, with error categories labelled
Logical Reasoning
Solve syllogism questions using Venn diagrams and state the valid conclusion before checking options
Complete seating arrangement and blood relation puzzles by drawing a fixed layout first
Apply direction sense and ranking-order logic to multi-step puzzles
Recognise and avoid answer options that are only possibly true rather than definitely true
Your checkpoint
A puzzle portfolio of 15 fully drawn solutions covering syllogism, seating, blood relations and direction sense, each finished in under four minutes
Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and Statistics
Solve integrated sets that combine a statistics calculation with a reasoning conclusion in one question
Work mixed questions where a maths result must be interpreted before selecting a reasoning option
Practise switching between domains quickly by doing alternating question blocks without losing accuracy
Your checkpoint
Two full-length 60-question mixed papers done under exam timing, with a domain-wise accuracy table showing improvement between attempt one and attempt two
Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and Statistics & Business Mathematics & Logical Reasoning & Statistics
Revise the formula card and cheat sheets, rewriting any formula recalled incorrectly from memory
Redo every item in the corrections log and confirm each is now solved correctly without notes
Take two full timed mock papers and analyse time spent per question type
Finalise a personal exam strategy covering question order, skip rules and time checkpoints
Your checkpoint
A one-page final revision sheet plus a mock score report showing at least 60% overall with no domain below 50%
Milestones
Week 2: Complete a closed-book 25-question business mathematics test in 45 minutes and score at least 70%, with no repeated formula errors from week 1
Week 4: Produce correct mean, median, mode, standard deviation and coefficient of variation for two grouped data sets without reference material, and explain the choice of measure in writing
Week 6: Solve five unseen reasoning puzzles of mixed types within 20 minutes total, with at least four fully correct
Week 8: Score 60% or above on two full timed mocks, show a lower error count in the second attempt, and have zero unresolved entries in the corrections log