How to Avoid Getting Trapped by the Wrong Coaching Centres?

Choosing Right Coaching Institutes

  • Focus on Individual Students: What methods does an IAS coaching centre adopt to assist students on a personal level? One learner may have different abilities and capabilities than another. Will they regard this problem as the key issue? The institute is required to provide the candidates with specialised support based on their academic needs. This component won't be provided by all UPSC coaching centres. Find out if they will give pupils access to additional information if it is not grasped in the normal classes. Having a dedicated student teacher session will provide you the chance to express your difficulties and get required help.
  • Know your Strengths: Many candidates are slow learners or who take time to grasp topics. For such aspirants, small coaching institutes with dedicated one-on-one interactive session with the faculty is recommended.

Don’t go only for name or fame of an institution; judge a coaching institution as per your strengths.

  • Check for Feedback from Students: Student/present batch students’ feedback is one of the important criteria in choosing coaching centre. Note both positive and negative aspects of the coaching, analyse them based on your strengths and weaknesses and then decide.
  • Become Knowledgeable About Batch Timings: You can anticipate the level of discipline upheld by knowing how the IAS coaching tracks the attendance system. Ensure that missing any classes won't have an impact on your IAS exam preparation. Find out when their batches start and how to make up for missing sessions. Will you or the institution decide on the new time for the class? If you're seeking a conventional college degree, be mindful of scheduling conflicts.
  • Demand Demo: The majority of IAS coaching institutes make the commitment to offer a few demo classes so that a student can assess the quality of the instruction. Request a demo class and choose the most appropriate time to begin. A demo class illustrates the learning experience you intend to get after admissions into the coaching institute.
  • Coaching Duration: It is crucial to find out the length of a programme from the coaching institute. Why? It is necessary to develop a methodical schedule and qualitative study strategy. Be aware or else all of your study efforts will be in vain without a proper plan.
  • Learn more about the Coaching Process: You can choose the coaching centre more effectively if you interact with the instructors. Educating yourself about the teaching pattern will foster your decision-making process.
  • Examine the Faculty Members' Track Record: Be aware that each coaching will have a different group of instructors. How can one tell whether institution has a trained faculty with experience? It depends on how one approaches the challenge of gathering the appropriate information.
  • Observe the Infrastructure Provided: Learn about the physical infrastructure of the coaching centre. If there are numerous branches, it demonstrates their skill in training.
  • Fees: It is an important parameter as economic viability will determine whether you join an institute. To better gauge whether a coaching institute is charging standard fee, compare between institutes. Compare the fess with their performance and student feedback. Judge accordingly and take admission.
  • Examine their Dedication: Do not blindly believe the false promises made by the institutes. Everybody can say that they will help you achieve the goal.

Make sure that you do not fall into the trap of money-oriented coaching centres.

Are Correspondence Courses Helpful?

Yes

  • Most of the aspirant who wish to prepare for civil services can’t picture themselves coming to a metro city and prepare.
  • For such students, correspondence courses could be helpful in the following ways –
  • Flexibility: A candidate can plan his schedule according to his routine. Mostly those who are working or people enrolled in higher studies opt for correspondence course; these individuals can plan their schedule as per their priorities.
  • Slow but Steady: The first step in achieving your dreams is to take a first step. Starting your preparation would give you confidence, which in-turn would help you in taking important decisions taking your preparation forward.

No

  • Correspondence courses do not offer the advantages that one has if one prepares in a major city.
  • This would include faculty interactions, competitive environment etc.
  • Substandard/ inadequate study material is another major issue with many correspondence courses. One must exercise due caution while choosing such a course.