Do you need coaching to crack the NEET exam?

Hey future-docs! When it comes to competitive exams, a common question that pops up in everyone’s mind is, “Is coaching necessary for NEET?” Everyone gives different opinions on this topic, but no one provides an objective answer.

So today, I decided to share a bit of my personal experience on this topic and help you guys discover the reality. I’ve also taken into account a lot of experiences from my friends.

In the last 10 years, coaching classes have spread everywhere. Everyone promises success in competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and CET, small classes, big institutes and brands. So, does this mean that you cannot achieve success without going to a coaching class?

Let’s dissect this question in detail. We will the advantages and disadvantages of coaching classes first.

Benefits of Joining Coaching Classes

1. Ready made Time tables:

The biggest problem with self-study is inertia. “What should I study, and when?” MBBS students or NEET aspirants, we have all been through this inertia of not wanting to start studying.

Now, what happens is, Neet exam coaching institutes provide a good organized study plan. They do the deciding part for you and tell you that you have to study this topic today. Thus this study plan or time table covers all topics and also makes sure that you will finish every topic before NEET.

This way, it is easier to start studying. Even if you don’t feel like studying, you end up covering the syllabus.

2. You get Expert Guidance from teachers:

Teachers know which parts of the topics are difficult. They know where to focus more and where less. Which topic is tested more and which is tested less. They have all this information on the tip of their tongues. This makes it easier to study smartly.

Also, you need one-to-one student teacher relationships for a better and rich studying environment. You can get this at coaching institutes.

Read More: Last minute preparation tactics for NEET exam

3. Lots of tests and MCQ solving:

I’m sure every student is irritated by the hundreds of tests that their classes take. But honestly, this regular testing gives you a feel of the actual exam. Obviously, it also helps you understand your performance.

Having exams every week will keep you disciplined and also help you make studying a habit.

4. The competition!

A lot of students perform better when motivated by competition. You see your friend doing better and automatically you want to study more too, to keep up or to surpass him.

When you are studying alone at home, you might lose the sense of competition. This can make you have a fake sense of confidence.

Obviously you can overcome this in self study by trying to join online groups and keeping in touch with other aspirants but yeah, coaching classes give a more organic and ensured exposure to competition.

5. Immediate Doubt Clearing:

Immediate resolution of doubts is a very significant advantage.

In online classes, you ask for a doubt solving session. After they see your request, they will schedule it for you.

This session can now take place on some other day as well, and till then, you lose touch with the doubt or just lose interest. This also messes up with your study schedule.

Coaching classes make sure that your doubts don’t accumulate.

Drawbacks of Joining Coaching Classes

Look, if joining a class was all it took to clear NEET, 20-30 lakh students would clear NEET in a year. But that’s not the case, is it? Joining a class can also have disadvantages.

1. One Size Does Not Fit All:

The teaching pace might be too fast for some and too slow for others. Many coaching classes lack personalized attention, and students can’t match the teacher’s speed.

In such cases, the disadvantages of wasting time might outweigh the benefits.

I have heard it from many aspirants that I’ve talked to ‘I don’t understand anything that sir says, but mumma does not let me miss classes. So I just sit through the lecture and come back and learn the topic from YouTube.”

This makes me realise that classes can be a very big waste of time if it is not working for you. You must know when to decide best for yourself and what to prioritize in that moment- money spent on class or NEET.

2. The Money Factor:

Every parent has a budget. If we spend the entire budget on NEET coaching classes, it might be difficult to afford other resources.

Now, if you have a very very good coaching class, you might not need to buy other resourrces like books and test series.

One thing I would advise not to compromise on is a good study space at home. A good chair, good lights, a nice desk, etc.

But, if your coaching class does not suit you all too well and you have already spent a little too much on it, you might have to lose out on other resources such as online tutors, test series, a good study space, etc too.

3. Overdependence on the classes:

Students might become overly dependent on coaching classes and neglect self-study.

See, however good your class is, self-study is non-negotiable. You have to give time to self-study. Missing out on revision, which is a huge mistake, can happen. See if you are not revising then you’re doomed bro. Please make time for self-study and revision regardless of how many hours your classes go on for.

4. Time commitment:

Travelling to and from the coaching centre can be very time-consuming and tiring. a lot of my friends travelled for hours in local trains. They said that the journey used to be so tiring that they usually fell asleep after getting back home.

I asked if they couldn’t just revise in the train. To this some people said that it is impossible to revise because your crammed in a corner and cannot take out anything from your bag.

Now, if this the case for you too, you will be missing out on important time and energy. This is another reason students might not focus on self-study or revision.

5. So much of Mental Pressure!

Competition is very tricky; it can be beneficial for some students and harmful for others. See, I am the type of person who can absolutely not survive in a competitive setting, I need a peaceful space to study, so it was personally difficult to study in classes.

You might not be similar, you might like competition. But facing so much competition every day in class was harmful to me and can be harmful to many others too.

If Not Coaching, Then What?

Many toppers and successful candidates call self-study the “Secret Of Cracking NEET.” With the right resources, dedication, and a proper study plan, self-study can be just as effective as coaching classes, if not more.

My Personal Journey: Online Classes, Self-Study, and NEET 2021

I want to share some of my personal experience now.

What happened is, during the pandemic, I had my 12th-grade classes. Our classes started taking lectures on zoom.

I did try to adapt to online classes. But I did not think that online classes were as effective for me.

I missed every aspect of an offline class. I missed the classroom environment, the immediate doubt-clearing sessions, the chatter of the students, everything. If just felt very weird.

So, I made a very bold decision: I completely switched to self-study and stopped attending most of my classes. And for a while, I struggled a lot. I did not understand what YouTube channel I must follow, which books or notes to refer to, when to study what, etc.

Slowly slowly, I figured things out, and yeah, I found that I’m most effective through self-study.

Now, I’ve experienced both of the techniques very closely. While I had more preference for self-study, many of my friends loved ]the coaching classes approach. See, there’s no right or wrong here; it all depends on what you like.

I took my NEET in 2021. To give you an idea of the competition, over 16 lakh students attempted NEET in 2021. This number has only increased in the last few years, showing that the competition is going crazy.

So, even if you’re inclined towards self-study like I was, remember to know where you are standing among all the aspirants.

Read More: NEET 2024 Information Bulletin Released, PDF Released

1. Online Resources:

If you’re considering the self-study route, here’s a piece of advice from someone who’s been there: Join a test series. It’s very important.

While self-study gives you the freedom to study at your speed, test series will give you a reality check. They give you an idea of where you stand in the competition (I already said, it is very important to consider this in self study), which areas you need to work on, and how to strategize your preparation better.

2. Study Groups:

Self study will help you explore group study. Usually when you’re studying in classes, it becomes very difficult to study in groups as nobody has time to discuss.

During 11th, I also had no time for group study. But during 12th I spent most of my time studying with my friends.

Remember, whether it’s coaching classes or self-study, the goal is to be well-prepared and confident when you enter the exam hall. Choose the path that you like, but also make sure that you try to get benefits from both these choices. Try to maintain an idea of the confidence if you’re not going for classes but also try to incorporate group study in you class schedule.

3. Summing up the Factors to Consider:

Your Choice: Some students prefer a classroom environment, while others thrive with self-study. Understand what works best for you.

Time!: If you’re good at managing your time and sticking to a study schedule, you might do well without coaching.

Getting all Study Material: Ensure you have access to quality study material, whether through coaching or personal purchase.

Money Factor: If coaching classes strain your finances, look for online resources or group study options. IT IS POSSIBLE TO CRACK NEET WITHOUT COACHING.

Conclusion

While NEET coaching classes offer expert guidance, they are not the only path to success. Many students have cracked competitive exams with dedicated self-study. The key is to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, and then make an informed decision. Remember, whether you choose coaching or self-study, consistency, dedication, and hard work are the real game-changers!