Coaching Classes and the IIT Joint Entrance Examination

I have heard disparaging remarks on and off about the coaching class industry “preparing students” for the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) entrance exams, but recently I heard some positive remarks. It is fair I report them. They came as a pleasant surprise to me.

The comments were from an IIT Director and an IIT Dean.  They pointed out that good coaching classes usually work with very good students only. I am not quoting them verbatim, but will report what was my take away from our discussion. The following words are my own. Obviously, the coaching classes give the students supplementary education and make them work hard.  Schools do not necessarily expose their students to face the type of questions the Joint Entrance Exam uses. So, we should not be surprised if coaching classes impart some problem solving skills over and above what most schools do. 

The learned professors said that coaching classes often hire IIT graduates to teach and pay them very well. They turn up at the IITs for campus interviews!

In conclusion, the Director mentioned that his son as well as the Dean’s son had gone to coaching classes.

Srinivasan Ramani