Is it better to take ONLINE CLASSES for competitive exam ?
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INTRODUCTION
Arvind is a high school student, aspiring for the next year’s IIT JEE entrance. He is a meritorious student. Few days ago we suddenly met near a cafe. There we sat and was discussing about IIT JEE exam and its preparation through online classes.
Indeed online classes are turning up into a great option for various competitive exam preparations including IIT JEE. Arvind was a little shaky and skeptical about online classes. Very natural, afterall we all have enough offline classroom experiences and thus grew a dependency on it.
Online class are a very new and trending system or method in education. But though new, it is quite effective and also can turn out to be very beneficial for students like Arvind, who are aspiring for various competitive exams. To make all of you aware and informed about this, I am here giving some portion of my conversation with Arvind for the above mentioned purpose.
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Let’s discuss with a story
Me – Hello Arvind, how are you? Why are you looking so pale and tense?
Arvind – Hi, I am ok. How are you?
Me – Me fine too. So how is IIT preparations going on?
Arvind – Yeah…well….can you help me about something?
Me – Oh yes….why not….if I can. Tell me what is it?
Arvind – I need some advice or guidance about something…
Me – Yeah….tell me….what is it?
Arvind – Do you think online tutorial classes are OK for IIT preparations?
Me – Oh I see…..well ….tell me why do you need the online one? You were already taking classes with some tutors I suppose?
Arvind – Yes I was taking classes at a tutorial. It is OK but there are some problems regarding time adjustment. And the distance is also becoming a burning factor…
Me – Why? Is it too far?
Arvind – Yes….it takes at least an hour to reach there….so I lose 2 hours every day just on the roads….and it is 8 hours per week for 4 days per week. And over that now they are
arranging for practice tests and evaluations….for that even more hour per week I waste just to go to and fro…
And I get tired also…
Me – Well ok, so this is the reason due to which you are looking worried?
Arvind – Not finished yet….now they are scheduling classes and mock test sessions the way it is most of the time interfering or colliding with my school classes and family business. You know I also need to help my father in business.
So tell me what can I do now?
Me – So what are your plans? Have you worked up anything?
Arvind – Yes, a few of my friends have enrolled in some online tutorial classes. I was also considering this as a good option for me. But I am not sure…
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This was Arvind’s problem….and this can be anyone’s problem. Traditional offline tutorials for various competitive exams are time-proven and very effective….we all know. But these kinds of problems are also not impossible. Many students have work and responsibilities at home, his school or college classes and assignments to complete, and tutorial class timings are usually less customizable by any individual student and that is logical.
Distance from the tutorial to home becomes an agonizing problem over this. So on one hand stress and tension of the exams and on the other hand tensions of preparations. So naturally, a student like Arvind can become a sandwich between situations. And exactly that happened to Arvind as I realized from his problems. So let’s see from the case of Arvind, how we can reach a workable solution…
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Me – Ok, tell me what you are not sure about? What is that making you worried?
Arvind – I don’t have enough money to continue my current tutorial and also enroll to some online class simultaneously. I have to choose one…
Me – So you are afraid to leave your present tutorial?
Arvind – Afraid and doubtful. I cannot keep both. But what if an online class does not fit good with me? Then I lose both and probably this year as well.
Me – Matters would not get that worse I suppose?
Arvind – It may….who knows? I am not sure…
Me – So what exactly you want me to do for you?
Arvind – Help me decide. For now this much. Later on I may need more help regarding online classes….tips and tricks….
Me – Well friend, decision is yours….I can guide you with some points and cases at my knowledge and experience so that you can decide well. Is that OK and good for you?
Arvind – Yes please guide me, tell me what can be the right choice now…
Me – Its true that traditional offline tutorials are time proven and beyond any doubt… but with changing socio-economic conditions and with availability of advanced technology like smartphones and fast internet things have recently started to change.
And like you there are many students who got bound to take a decision to shift from offline class to online class. And in most cases, as I have seen or surveyed, they did quite well and there are not any significant difference or loss in their choice if we suppose that the student is sincere and eager to get to IIT.
Arvind – Ok…s that so? I am already quite sincere and hardworking…..don’t you know that?
Me – Yes…ok…I was just mentioning the pre-condition in general. So for you I don’t feel that there will be too much of difference or trouble if you choose to join online tutorial classes instead of offline classes.
Arvind – So I can join one?
Me – Tell me one thing….how do you study? I mean how do you use your tutorial classes? Or how you get benefitted from it?
Arvind – Well it’s mainly problem-solving and tests or evaluations. Actually I like to study on my own and do not need too much of help in that. I like to study books, view Youtube videos and so on. Only when a problem happens to come to me which I am unable to solve even after trying a lot then that is the real trouble.
So, there I feel the need of my tutors. Or maybe some concepts are quite tough for me to understand then I take help of my tutors. And of course the tests and evaluations are really invaluable. Afterall for competitive exam preparation, I have to always be aware of my performance….and alone that is not possible….and my current tutorial is one of the best for this…I enjoy the question sets and the way they prepare me for the final day.
Me – Okk, that sounds very good and confident Arvind. I am also confident that one of the IIT of our country is waiting for you…..(smile)
Arvind – (smile) Thanks a lot ….
Me – So as you said you already like to watch Youtube videos and you don’t have much problems in understanding things usually. So that’s exactly what is important for taking online classes. You have to see their videos meticulously and take notes…just the way you do in regular class.
You have to read their study materials. You said you already love reading. So where is the problem? You are already ready to take online class. And in case you get stuck with a problem or a concept, you will find some most generous online tutors waiting to solve those for you….it’s only a matter of an email or maybe an online chat….
What more you know, their video and text study materials are usually awesome as they are aware that they have to compete with many renowned traditional offline tutorial classes and also many other online class competitors.
Arvind – And what about tests?
Me – Oh yes….I forgot to mention….online class providers are usually masters when it is about tests and evaluations. They usually have huge database of varied problems, they try to automate their tests and evaluations….and most important is you can usually give the tests as many times as you want and just on your convenient and comfortable time. Can you imagine this freedom on tests in normal offline tutorials?
Arvind – Wow, great….is that so? Then nothing can be better than that. This one point of exam and evaluation is enough for me to take the decision of joining the online classes for IIT-JEE preparations. Because for competitive exam preparation, exams and evaluations are perhaps the most important issue for searching a tutorial.
Me – Yes, that’s a wise decision…I appreciate. But do check the services, faculties and test policies of the online tutorial class you are about to join. Faculties and test database are two most important things that can ease all the problems you are about to face on the way to your entrance into IITs.
Arvind – Thanks a lot for your wise guidance. I would call you in case I would need some more. If you don’t mind please…
Me – Yeah…ok….you are always welcome. So bye for now and see you soon. Tell me about your experiences with your new online classes
Arvind – Oh, sure Sir, I will let you know all about my online classes….
And bye for now….thanks again and see you soon.
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