Students who are preparing for tough entrance or competitive exams like IIT-JEE, AIEEE, AIIMS, IAS, Public Service Commission, etc a have lot of pressure of cracking these. The best IIT coaching institutes of India recommend several study methods to their students. Though, having followed a planned roadmap, organized study, and time management will create your own success story.
This is indeed a highly debatable affair – Group Study Vs Self Study. We can find people backing both of these study methods. We’ll analyze in detail pros and cons of both. Whether you opt for group study or studying alone is a matter of personal choice. In one recent online survey as many as 73% of the respondents preferred studying individually, juxtaposed to remaining 27% voted for study with a group.
Studying in a Group: Advantages
Most of the students join best coaching institutes of India for preparation of IIT, AIEEE, AIIMS, etc and post-exam assessments like GD -PI. Studying in a coaching institute is more like studying in a group. Here are some advantages:
Brain Powerhouse: Group study brings together abilities of several people. When you study with a good group, you explore such tidbits you wouldn’t have discovered alone. There are situations when you need someone to correct. Verbal discussions over few concepts give a better understanding. You can see how different people solve different problems.
Cover More Topics: Organized group study would be really helpful if each member prepare one particular topic and then explains it to the group. Hence many topics can be covered in less time. Collective recall is always superior to individual recall.
Great Motivation & Interest Building: Studying alone can be boring, stressful and monotonous while studying in group is interesting and you won’t feel studying a burden. Group doesn’t let you feel sleepy.
Studying in a group: Disadvantages
Distraction: There is always a ‘danger’ of turning group-study into a social affair. There is always a threat to serous studies and concentration in group-study as distraction from the topic is always likely.
Imbalanced Group: Group study is essentially based on like-minded heads. If even one member is not in a study-mood he’ll bring distractions to the motive. If group members are non-dedicated or inconsistent, the purpose of group-study won’t be served.
Individual Studying Habits: Getting group together can be like a pack of dogs. Students who have their peculiar choices of place and time of studying cannot be a proactive member of study-group.
Studying Alone: Advantages:
Concentration: This is the main advantage of self-study. As there are no distractions, you can independently follow your time-table and concentrate on your preparations.
Self-motivation: Only you know where you require more efforts and self-study forces you to read the entire topic where you need extra efforts. You think hard on problems and the best possible solution.
Time & Place Your Chosen: Studying alone allows you to study wherever and whenever you want and not according to others’ conveniences.
Studying Alone: Disadvantages
Tedious: Studying alone can be boring and distressful. Just reading is not learning while listening can be more gainful learning.
Limited Perspective: While studying alone, you are restricted to your own understanding. A group study gives expanded perspectives on a given subject as different people have different ways of looking at and processing it.
The Golden Mean: Use Both Methods
Adhering to two extreme ends is never a solution. The best way to prepare for crucial exams like JEE-mains, JEE advance, board exams, PET, PMT, AIIMS, AIEEE, IAS, PSC, NTSE, Olympiads, other entrances and GD PI is combining both study methods.
- Study alone with concentration for few weeks and then plan a group session
- Create a group of like-minded, equally dedicated buddies
- Distribute topics of preparation
- The group should NOT be of more than six members
- Take a place and time of everyone’s convenience
- Coffee/snacks should not be the distractions but a deserving short break
- First study hard and after success, party harder.
I think that group study and self study both are important to get good results. Group study helps think beyond limits, different people having different mindsets and multiple ideas could be discussed whereas, self study gives better concentration, one can learn the way he understand things better. Both have some pros and cons as discussed in the article and one should only prefer the option which is more comfortable and which can bring good results to him....
ReplyDeleteI think that group study is more informative as you might learn something new from a friend or even get your concepts cleared incase you had a doubt. Self study is good as it has relatively less distractions and you are more motivated to study. Best is to have a combination of both with a good coaching class to help. Thanks catalyseR
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