While for board exams replicating what one learns from the text book is sufficient, cracking competitive exams requires understanding concepts and applying them.
Students are sure of where they want to get and they start working towards their career path as early as Class 6. But is it a good idea for a child as young as 10 to start focusing on a particular stream? Ideally, they should understand and explore their skills further before zeroing in on the subjects they wish to pursue. In a talk with DNA, academic head of Career Launcher Srinivas Belvi expresses his views on the subject.
Does the coaching for medical, engineering and law that students start taking up at high-school level help them in Board exams?
The focus of training for Board exams is different from that for competitive exams. While for the Board exams, replicating what one learns from the text book is sufficient, cracking competitive exams requires understanding concepts and applying them. Only 30% features are common among them. The aptitude areas are different for both. While syllabus is important for Board exams, it is not relevant for competitive exams. Often, many students, who are good at rote learning, do not make it through competitive exams because as they are not able to apply the concepts they learned while tackling questions.
How many high school students in Bangalore join coaching classes for competitive exams?
About 500 students take up coaching for competitive exams a year. For instance, there is an IIT foundation course which is open to students from Class 6 to Class 9 after which they are given a break in Class 10. At the Plus 2 level, there is regular coaching.
During the 11th and 12th class, some students take up classroom training, while others choose correspondence course. Many of those who opt for correspondence course take the competitive exam for the first time after their board exams. If they don’t make it, they take a year off, attend regular classroom coaching and take the exams again.
Do you think students need to take up coaching for competitive exams as early as Class 6?
It is far too early to begin these classes at the age of 10. First of all, children must be allowed to explore their area of interest and understand what they really want to do, and what area would suit their skills. Measuring a child’s ability at 10 is an immature step.
It is a far better idea for students to take up coaching for competitive exams after Class 10, and from then on prepare for the entrance exams.
Do students need tutorial classes to take their board exams, since coaching for competitive exams has a different area of focus?
I don’t think they need it. If they are preparing for IIT exam, their aptitude and competitive skills will already be honed. If they attend college regularly, and study enough, that is more than sufficient. But the important aspect is that students have to attend college. Extra-classes may only be required for the weaker students, who may require some hand-holding.
How should students balance college classes and tutorials?
It is definitely a high-stress level period because there is pressure from all directions including peer pressure. However, if one is ambitious, he or she will have to handle pressure, which takes more effort. Otherwise, don’t be ambitious. This is where parents play a major role. They should pitch in to help their children during this period.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}