IIT-JEE, Is Coaching Necessary?

NO

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Success in exams like IIT-JEE / AIEEE depends on ones ability to solve problems based on applications of theory taught in Class 11th and 12th.
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Those aspiring for IIT should have clear concepts and ability to visualise. To break up the problem into distinct sub-parts.
Above all, one needs the willingness and desire. The desire to achieve.
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In the last few years, coaching institutes have been offering courses that help students clear IIT-JEE.
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Most students take IIT-JEE in the same year that they appear for their Class 12th Board exams.
The coaching institutes typically have 2 year courses which start as soon as the students join 11th class and all the way till Class 12th.
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Imagine this scenario:
Vikram has cleared his Class 10th exams. At N D T Public School, Vikram is studying in Class 11th with PCM (Short for Physics, Chemistry Mathematics), the subjects necessary for those who want to appear for Engineering Entrance Exams. There are 2 such sections in Class 11th and the no of students in these two sections add up to 84.
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Almost all of these 84 students have joined one coaching institute or the other for preparing for IIT_JEE, AIEEE etc.
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These coaching institutes have classes thrice a week on alternate days; Monday-Wednesday-Friday OR Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday; normally called MWF and TTS respectively. Some have classes on weekends; Saturday and Sunday.
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Vikram's school gets over at 2:30 PM. His classes at the coaching institute begin at 3:30PM. So, Vikram has time just enough to run home, change his clothes, gulp down a few bites from the lunch his mother keeps ready for him and finally manage to reach his coaching classes.  
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After the hectic day at school and the marathon run to the coaching institute, most of the energy and concentration is drained.
Now in the classroom, his mind is wrestling to keep awake.
He barely manages to scribble in his note book, a few points from the lecture.
After a 15 minute break, the next class begins.
This session gets over at 6:45PM. Coming out from the class, he joins his friend for a plate of Chowmein. He is hungry because he couldn't finish his lunch at home.
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Reaching home by 7:45, he wants to watch the ending of the 20-20 between India and Australia.
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Vikram's mother serves dinner at 8:30 PM and by the time everyone gets over with dinner, he remembers that he has to complete his Physics Practicals Note Book.
Vikram meticulously completes his home work. By then, it is 11:30 PM and his father cajoles him to go to bed; after all he has to get up the next morning by 6:30 AM to get ready for school.
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One day is over.
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The week will get over in the same way.
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At weekends, he will have enough homework given by his school teachers to keep him busy.
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This routine will continue and by the time we realise, Vikram would be getting ready for his Annual exams of Class 11th. Since the result of this exam (Class 11th)  is more important, his coaching classes and preparation for IIT-JEE or AIEEE will take a back seat.
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Do you think he has prepared for IIT-JEE in any way?
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Now, picture this:

Vikram comes home from school.
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He has his lunch and finishes his homework.
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Then, Vikram has a short nap of about 30 minutes.
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When he gets up at 5:00PM. He is now ready to start studying for his target in life; IIT-JEE
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Vikram has enrolled for a Distance Learning Pack and they send him modules and practice questions every month. He reads the brief theory and basic concepts, practices the solved problems on his own and then attempts the exercises given for each module. They also conduct regular tests and give a detailed report about his performance. He gets to know his All India Rank based on these tests. So, he knows exactly how far he is from achieving his goal.
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This way he spends about an hour and a half on each of the 3 subjects - Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Almost 5 hours of dedicated study.
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His friend Kamal who lives a few blocks away is also preparing for IIT-JEE. He is also following the same routine.
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If Vikram has a problem with a topic, he discusses it with Kamal. And when Kamal has a problem, he discusses it with Vikram.
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This way, they both complement each other's learning.
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Vikram realises that if he studies well for IIT-JEE and AIEEE, he has also covered his school syllabus.
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Coaching for IIT-JEE has become more of a fashion. But it has a huge following.
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Everyone joins coaching for IIT-JEE, everyone appears for IIT-JEE and everyone hopes he will get a rank in IIT-JEE.
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All this without doing any serious study or hard work.
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Most parents believe that joining a coaching institute is a sure shot way to success in IIT-JEE.
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But it is not their fault too. The coaching institutes make such wonderful presentations that it is hard to disbelieve any of their assertions.
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To cut the long story short, There is no short cut to IIT-JEE.
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If your child is just spending time running from school to the coaching institute and from one subject tutor to another, then he is not going to make it to IIT-JEE. For that matter not even a good college through AIEEE.
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Simplify things for your child. Make him get into the habit of self study.
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And if this discipline cannot come to your child, forget dreaming of IIT-JEE.
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You will only be wasting your money paying fees to the tutors, coaching institutes and the cabwallah.
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