Accounting is one of the newer subjects of the Commerce stream in 11th and 12th and can be a new subject for many students. It is likely that many students entering 12th wouldn’t have studied these newer subjects such as Accounting and Economics so they may find it especially challenging to adjust with these topics. 

Accounting is a subject that requires a thorough understanding of the basic concepts that serve as the basis of the syllabus for 12th. When it comes to learning something new, there are additional steps you need to take to ensure you gain a thorough understanding of the introductory topics. 

Read on to find out some of the easiest ways to start learning and achieving good grades in new and unfamiliar subjects.

• Make sure you understand the concepts thoroughly 

This might be a no-brainer because of how obvious it is, but it is something that is absolutely necessary and needs to be taken seriously. If not, it can cause backlogs that will make it harder to study for the 11th pre-boards and even the 12th boards. 

If this requires extra hours of studying or staying back after class to clarify doubts with a teacher, don’t be afraid or lazy to do so. This can be crucial to beginning to gain a more holistic understanding of the concept. 

Once you understand the concept on the surface, you can move on to studying and understanding the topics on your terms. What this means is that you study the topic in a way that works for you. If you need to make notes, don’t neglect it. If you understand better by watching video explanations, then that is another way to learn the topic. Whatever you do, your main aim is to be completely thorough with these topics. 

• Keep your notes neat and orderly 

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep your notes organised. Especially at this stage, as these notes will be something you keep coming back to refer to better understand future topics. 

Making neat and organised notes at this stage will also aid with your understanding of the topic. It will also make studying and revision much easier when the notes are in order, and save you time later on, as everything important is in one place and you don’t need to scramble at the last minute to get things in order. 

Another way this helps is that, when you make notes, you do so in a way that you understand, i.e. in your own words. This is essential because when it is in your own words, that is when understanding something becomes so much easier. It is only natural for you to forget some topics that you may have done at the beginning of the year, so simple and well-explained notes will help you comprehend and re-learn these topics without much difficulty. 

• Make sure your efforts are consistent 

One of the biggest things about learning something new is being consistent. Without consistency, it is impossible to become good at a new thing. This can be done in one of the following ways:

• Revising after every accounting class will help you clear any doubts about the topic taught that day immediately, and also help you remember it better 
• Allot a certain amount of time every weekend to recap everything done that week, and revise on the topics you have learnt. This is an essential way of starting early and not procrastinating with studying – something that is known to be the downfall of many students who don’t take these newer subjects seriously. 

Make sure you do this regularly, so there are no backlogs that might hamper your preparations in the future. 

• Ask for notes from seniors 

This may seem unnecessary, but if you are genuine about understanding the subject, then you need to be prepared. This is also an especially helpful thing to do if you are struggling with this subject. 

Getting notes from seniors is not only another resource that is accurate, and specific to your syllabus, but you can also refer to notes for upcoming topics in advance. This will not only make it easier for you to follow what is happening in class when these topics are taught, but it will make it much easier to learn, study and remember as well. 

Also having notes from another trusted source can serve as guidelines while you make your notes, and help you organise information in a most efficient manner so that it’s easier for you to study. 

• Pay attention to textbook exercises 

Textbooks, for any subject, are some of the best resources available to understand that subject better. The same applies to Accounting. Apart from just the theoretical knowledge and explanations that are provided, the textbook also contains many exercises, revision points, practice questions etc. that is incredibly crucial to your holistic comprehension of a concept. It is very important not to ignore these, especially if you want to be able to ace this subject. There is no such thing as enough practice, especially with a new subject, so make sure you prioritise solving these questions as well. 

Another thing to aid with this part of learning a new subject is correcting your answers while referring to the answer guide. This is important not only because you learn from your mistakes, but also to gain a better understanding of the expectations of different questions. If the answers are provided in your textbook, you can always look them up as they are usually available on the internet. You can even find these chapter wise, such as with a simple google search of “DK Goel Accountancy Class 11 Chapter 11 Solutions”. 

In conclusion, when it comes to learning something new, extra effort is an important prerequisite. There is no shortcut to learning something unfamiliar. It needs hard work, consistency and the right amount of effort, and you may just learn to enjoy and passionately follow the subject, guaranteeing a good result on the Accounting exams.