As students come to std. 12 in the Indian education system, they start weighing their career options.
Which course would be the best for them? Which college should they join? How do they get admission to the college and course of their choice? These are questions which need to be urgently answered.
Once students identify the course that they wish to join, the million-dollar question is “Do I need coaching for this?”
It has become fashionable to look down upon coaching institutes as money making centers, filled with shady characters making shadier claims. While this may be true for certain institutes, there is an important role being played by the coaching institutes as well.
Let’s take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) as an example. Law aspirants in India opt for the CLAT after appearing for their 12th board exams. The CLAT is a 2 hour 200 MCQs paper with sections on English, Maths, Reasoning, General Knowledge and Legal Aptitude.
This is one of the relatively easier exams that students can appear for, after std. 12.
Is coaching necessary to be able to crack the CLAT? No.
Is there any benefit in taking coaching for CLAT? Yes
Here are 5 reasons why coaching can help you in cracking an exam like the CLAT
1. CLAT has sections which are not part of the regular school syllabus
While the sections of English and Maths can be cracked by students who have learned these subject properly at school, the CLAT also has sections of Reasoning, GK and most importantly – Legal Aptitude.
Reasoning is not tough. However, it does require students to understand certain concepts which can help them easily crack this section. Most school subjects do not cover many topics which are frequently asked in this section. An intelligent student may figure out the methods to crack such questions on her own. But, for most students, a teacher is the best way to understand and master these topics.
The section of Legal Aptitude requires students to grasp certain concepts which they may find difficult to do on their own. This is where a good teacher comes in handy.
2. School education does not help strategize for entrance exams like the CLAT
School exams are subjective. The main objective of school exams is to clear a basic pass percentage and then acquire as many marks as possible. The concept of negative marking for wrong answers may not be there in such exams. However, Entrance exams are an altogether different ballgame. The aim is to score more than everyone else. The number of questions to be attempted vis a vis the amount of time available is often large. Negative marking may play a huge role in the results. The strategy that students may use to prepare for and maximize their score in a school exam is often very different from the kind of strategies required to crack entrance exams. A good teacher at a coaching institute is well versed in these strategies.
3. Self-Discipline is lacking among students
Is it possible to just pick up study material for entrance exams and prepare for them? Yes.
However, it requires a lot of self-discipline in the student to set up a regular schedule for full-fledged preparation for the exam in tandem with their school studies. Harsh as it may sound, young students often lack the drive to do this. Coaching institutions, much like schools, give a structured study plan to the students which help them crack entrance exams.
4. Coaching centers help you look beyond the CLAT
Coaching institutions are in the business of entrance exams. They know their industry. A law aspirant may not be aware of the options available beyond the CLAT. Coaching institutions keep tabs on various entrance exams in their chosen field and pass on this information to their students in a timely fashion. They update students on various application procedures and deadlines.
5. With rising competition, every bit of help is important
It goes without saying that there is no harm in getting every bit of help that one can in achieving one’s dreams. A young boy can practice the sport of cricket on his own. However, a good coach is always sought after for achieving the pinnacle of success in the sport. Coaching institutions provide resources and guidance for students to achieve to the best of their potential.
So, all in all, while coaching institutions may not be a necessary thing for everyone, they exist for those who can utilize their services and get the best out of it.
Full Disclosure – the author is the founder of a coaching institute, iQue ideas.
All the Best!
