Exam Overview
This guide covers a practical syllabus and hands-on tasks that typically appear in Tally certification assessments. Focus on real workflows—company setup, GST-ready invoicing, inventory, banking, payroll, and reporting—plus safety (backup & restore).
Tip: Build one sample company and maintain 2–3 months of entries. Most questions become easy when you already “did it once”.
Suggested Syllabus Coverage
Core Accounting Core
- Company creation, FY & period, base currency
- Groups & ledgers (Sales, Purchase, Cash/Bank, Duties & Taxes)
- Vouchers: Sales, Purchase, Receipt, Payment, Contra, Journal
- Debit/Credit Notes, Cost Centres & Classes (basics)
- Financials: Trial Balance, P&L, Balance Sheet
GST & Compliance GST
- Enable GST; company GSTIN & state
- Tax ledgers (CGST/SGST/IGST/cess), HSN/SAC mapping
- GST-ready invoices, e-invoice/e-way bill exports (if configured)
- GSTR-1 & 3B figures, ITC checks
Inventory Inventory
- Stock items, units, godowns
- Stock Journal, Manufacturing basics / BOM (overview)
- Item-wise sales/purchase, valuation & reorder
Banking & Reconciliation Bank
- Receipt/Payment vouchers with allocations
- Bank advice export; cheque printing (if enabled)
- Bank Reco (BRM) & mismatch fixes
Payroll (Essentials) Payroll
- Enable Payroll; employee groups & employees
- Pay heads (earnings/deductions), salary structure
- Attendance, salary processing, payslips
- Statutory basics: PF/ESI/PT ledgers
Security & Data Management Safety
- Users & passwords, period lock
- Data path awareness
- Backup & Restore (Alt + Y → Data)
Hands-on Tasks You Should Be Able to Do
| Area | Task | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Create a company; set FY; enable GST | Company ready; GST details visible on invoice |
| Ledgers | Create Sales, Purchase, Bank, Duties & Taxes | Correct groups; GST posting heads available |
| Sales | Post GST invoice with HSN/SAC | Tax computed; outstanding updated |
| Purchase | Enter purchase with input tax credit | ITC reflected in GST figures |
| Banking | Record receipt & payment; do BRM | Bank balance matches statement |
| Inventory | Add items, units; pass stock journal | Stock position & valuation visible |
| Payroll | Create employees & pay heads; generate payslip | Net pay & liabilities computed |
| Reports | Export TB/P&L/BS & GST summaries to Excel | Neat MIS pack for submission |
| Data Safety | Take backup & restore to temp path | Company opens with intact balances |
6-Week Study Plan
| Week | Focus | Daily Practice (45–60 mins) | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Setup & Core Accounting | Company, ledgers, 20 vouchers/day | Day Book & TB without errors |
| 2 | Sales/Purchase + GST | GST invoices; HSN/SAC mapping | GSTR-1/3B figures tally |
| 3 | Banking & Reco | 5 receipts, 5 payments, 1 BRM | Bank matches statement |
| 4 | Inventory | Items, units, stock journal | Stock summary & valuation |
| 5 | Payroll (Essentials) | Employees, pay heads, payslips | 1 cycle processed |
| 6 | Revision + Mock Tests | 2 mocks + error log fixes | MIS pack & backup/restore demo |
Speed Shortcuts You Must Know
- Alt + C Create ledger/item on the fly
- Alt + A Add voucher / Accept
- Ctrl + A Save (accept) screen
- Alt + Y Data (Backup/Restore)
- Alt + G Go To (jump to any report)
Practice with keyboard first—mouse slows you down in timed sections.
Mock Tests Strategy
- Simulate exam: 45–60 mins, no interruptions
- Maintain an error log (what, why, fix)
- Repeat the same mock after 48 hours for retention
- Export reports at the end—check balances and taxes
Exam-Day Checklist
Before You Start
- Confirm FY & period are correct
- Check tax ledgers & rates once
- Keep a neat naming style for items/ledgers
During the Exam
- Read the scenario carefully—don’t assume
- Post vouchers in order; verify totals
- Use Alt + G to jump to reports fast
- Reserve last 5 mins to export TB/P&L/BS & review
FAQs
Are questions theory or practical?
Mostly practical, based on real data entry, configuration, and report validation. Expect some short theory or terminology checks.
How many mocks should I take?
At least 4–6 full-length mocks. Re-attempt the same mock to measure improvement.
What gets the most marks?
Accuracy in GST invoices, correct ledger grouping, clean reconciliations, and error-free final reports.