“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.”
– William Faulkner
Prepping for exams requires a lot of patience, organization, and hard work, but there isn’t a right or wrong way to do so. Choosing the study method that works for you is a critical step in achieving academic success and can make a significant difference in your performance.
Whether you’re studying towards your MCAT, SAT, or any other certificate of higher education, finding what works for you is key to acing your exams.
In this article, we explore the pros and cons of both self-led and guided exam preparation to help you decide which may suit you best.
Self-led
Self-led exam prep involves independently studying and revising for exams without structured guidance from a tutor. This can be great for those who are confident in their ability and revision style, but it does rely on personal discipline, self-motivation and the ability to organize and manage your time effectively. For students who work best alone and enjoy having everything just as they like it, self-led exam prep can be a great choice.
Pros
Flexibility: Being self-led allows you to study at your own pace, adjust your routine as needed and focus on areas where you need to improve without having to spend time revising information you’re already confident with.
Cost-effective: Working independently means you aren’t paying extra for study groups or a personal tutor.
Customizable: As you have complete control over which topics you’re studying on any given day, you can tailor your exam prep to your personal interests and learning style.
Cons
Lack of structure: Without guidance, some students find it difficult to stick to a study schedule. There’s also the risk of missing vital information and not providing yourself with the opportunity to study all exam topics fully.
Less feedback: Being self-led may result in you missing out on crucial feedback from experienced teachers, which could improve your knowledge and understanding. It can be challenging to assess yourself for progress when working on a self-led preparation schedule.
Motivation: Staying motivated and being disciplined with your time is arguably the most difficult part of self-led exam preparation. Especially if you’re juggling other responsibilities or lack a strong support system, you’ll need to be careful not to let study time slip from your list of daily priorities.
Guided
Guided prep involves preparing for your exams with the help of a tutor, mentor, or specific coaching programme. These groups and services offer a tried and tested, systematic approach to revision which can help students feel more confident with their progress. With access to professional guidance and resources, as well as the support of other learners, many students enjoy guided exam preparation.
Pros
Structure: Offering a well-organized curriculum that covers all of the necessary topics, the structure of guided exam prep helps students ensure they don’t miss any critical content.
Guidance: Working alongside other students or with an experienced instructor provides frequent, valuable feedback and insight into your progress. This personalized feedback can help you adjust your focus areas as needed and may contribute to better results in your final exams.
Accountability: When you have someone to hold you accountable, it becomes harder to skip out on your study sessions. Having regular exam-prep sessions to attend and deadlines to meet can help maintain your motivation, making it easier for you to stay on track.
Cons
Cost: Paying for private tutors, additional classes or exam prep courses can add to the overall cost of your learning experience. Be sure to account for your travel expenses if you’re considering regularly attending study sessions outside of your home.
Set schedule: Whilst some instructors may be open to creating a more personalized schedule, often they stick to their standard and fixed curriculum – if you’re joining other learners in group sessions, this is even more likely. This can limit your ability to study at your own pace and focus on your individual learning needs.
Generalization: Everyone learns differently, and you may need to try a few different tutors or groups before you find one that suits your learning style.
