Sarkari Exam Coaching vs Self Study – What’s Better?

lakhs of students attempt Sarkari Exams like SSC, UPSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, State PSC recruitment exams every year. A single question that is asked by almost every candidate is “Coaching or self-study?” Well, the answer to this question lies in fact that both are good enough for you to clear the exam if used wisely. What kind of study strategy to adopt should completely be on the basis of your learning ability, self-discipline, economic situation and the goal. 

Based on the study pattern of toppers, the trend of coaching institutes and the opinion of exam experts it is visible that there is not only one approach to achieving success. Some of the candidates are successful with strict and focused self-study while some find proper coaching to be really fruitful.

Why Students Choose Coaching

The Coaching institutes are still widely loved because they structure and guide the candidates. Often, new aspirants are confused with what to study in which topic, the available material and strategy of examinations. Coaching takes away that confusion.

Huge Advantages of Coaching

• Organized Study plan and schedule
• Proficient and experienced teachers
• Live Doubt Solving classes
• Regular tests and feedback
• Competitive classroom environment
• Notes tailored to the exams

With difficult exams like UPSC, SSC CGL and Banking PO, coaching institutes save lot of the time for the aspirant, since there is a pre-prepared list of resources, notes and preparation strategy, instead of the hours and hours an aspirant has to spend searching and collecting the study material on internet. Another factor is, of course, discipline. 

Fixed classes and weekly tests would keep the students on track. During long exams, most of the students lose motivation during the long journey of preparation. Coaching institutes manage that too, with their guidance and competition.

Disadvantages of Coaching

Despite the numerous benefits, coaching has its own share of drawbacks.

• Expensive coaching can lead to added financial burden.
• The lengthy classroom hours can turn out to be tedious.
• The large number of students in one batch limits individual attention.
• Fixed timings can prove inconvenient for many.
• Quite a number of institutes end up spending more on marketing than on quality teaching.

 Most of the students, just by seeing the flashy advertisements, jump into the costly coaching centers with the hope of guaranteed selection without even giving a thought to hard work, revision and regular practice.

Why Self Study Is Becoming Popular

Self-study has been very productive as quality resources are now available online. Online lectures, practice questions, PDFs, current affairs websites, previous years’ papers, all these things have changed the exam preparation system.

Advantages of Self Study:

• Ability to make the student learn at any time.
• Low cost of preparation.
• Freedom to learn and study according to one’s will and desire.
• Concentration of students on their weak subjects.
• Comfortable speed of study.
• A boost in the self-discipline power of the student.

The students who study from home can design their own plan in relation to their strong and weak subjects. Similarly, those candidates working or studying in college do self-study as they cannot regularly visit classes.

This makes us understand deeply. When the candidate themselves looks for the facts and data on the subject then the subject stays longer in their minds.

Disadvantages of Self Study

Self-study might be advantageous in certain respects, but it is not easy for all.

• Absence of expert help
• Problem in clarifying doubts instantly
• Risk of choosing incorrect materials to study
• High possibilities of distraction
• Inconsistent study schedule

 Most of the aspirants commence the self-study session with a burst of enthusiasm but lack consistency after some months. If a candidate doesn’t plan properly, a lot of time is lost in gathering materials and not in studying.

Which Option Is Better for Beginners?

To grasp exam patterns, syllabus trends, preparation strategy- beginners definitely need some support. Coaching then, is indeed a good option to start off with. But if a candidate has access to credible sources and is disciplined, they too can prepare smartly on their own. 

Those coming from a village or poor economic background need to be sure that one does not really require pricey coaching to crack government exams as many toppers have achieved that without it by merely utilizing online resources, followed by smart planning.

The Best Strategy: Combine Coaching and Self Study

Many candidates are practicing the same blended strategy today and it’s doing great for them. They use coaching for their direction and self-study for practice and revisions of concepts. The reason is quite clear. Coaching gives you direction and self-study leads to reinforcement and confidence in topics. A blended preparation might involve the following:

• Attend some online or offline coaching classes for those topics that you find difficult to understand.
• Practice mocks regularly at home.
• Make notes on all topics and revise them every day.
• Solve previous year papers at home.
• Catch up with current affairs through online sources/websites.

This blended approach prevents students from getting confused and builds their independent learning skills at the same time.

Important Tips for Sarkari Exam Preparation

• More on consistency, than on how many hours you are studying.
• Don’t end up buying too many books and materials.
• Take mock tests on a weekly basis.
• Do revisions regularly so that you remember what you have studied.
• Have a timetable that is practical for you.
• Stay off social media and non-essential things.

Final Thought

There is no ultimate right and wrong way for coaching versus self-study. While coaching has a framework, mentor and discipline; self-study provides freedom, economy and tailor-made education. However, there is no magic way of cracking Sarkari exams other than dedication, strategy and revision and practice.

The candidates who can dedicate themselves to the cause and continuously practice mock tests and identify the flaws tend to achieve results irrespective of whether it is a coaching class or self-study. Rather than following others, aspirants should reflect upon their weak and strong areas, financial ability and way of learning and take an informed decision.