Whether you should join coaching classes or prepare for the LIC Assistant Administrative Officer (AAO) exam through self-study depends on multiple factors such as your current level of preparation, understanding of concepts, time availability, and self-discipline. Below is a detailed comparative analysis of both approaches to help you make an informed decision.
🔹 Understanding the LIC AAO Exam Pattern & Syllabus
Before deciding on your preparation strategy, you must understand the LIC AAO exam structure.
Exam Pattern
The LIC AAO selection process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
- Main Examination (Mains)
- Interview & Final Selection
Prelims Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---------------|----------|------|-----------|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| English Language (Qualifying) | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 70 | 60 minutes |
👉 The English section is only qualifying in nature and its marks are not counted for merit ranking.
Mains Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---------|----------|------|-----------|
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 90 | 40 minutes |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 30 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 90 | 40 minutes |
| Insurance & Financial Market Awareness | 30 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Descriptive Test (Essay & Letter Writing in English) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 122 | 325 | 2.5 hours |
✅ Key Observations:
- Strong focus on Quant, Reasoning, and Financial Awareness
- Need for General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- Descriptive Test requires good English writing skills
- Time management & speed are crucial
🔹 Self-Study vs Coaching Classes for LIC AAO
📌 Self-Study Approach
Best for: Candidates who are self-disciplined, have basic knowledge of reasoning and quant, and can manage their own schedule effectively.
✅ Advantages of Self-Study:
✔ Cost-effective: You save money that would otherwise be spent on coaching fees.
✔ Flexible schedule: Study at your own pace and convenience.
✔ Focused preparation: No distractions from unnecessary topics that coaching classes might cover.
✔ Access to free online resources: Many free YouTube lectures, PDFs, and practice questions are available.
✔ Personalized study plan: You can focus more on your weak areas.
❌ Disadvantages of Self-Study:
❌ Lack of structured guidance: Without expert help, you may struggle to understand complex topics.
❌ No peer learning: You miss out on group discussions, doubt-solving sessions, and shared learning.
❌ Discipline required: Self-motivation is necessary to consistently follow a study plan.
📌 Coaching Classes Approach
Best for: Candidates who need a structured learning environment, personalized doubt resolution, and expert guidance.
✅ Advantages of Coaching Classes:
✔ Structured learning: Coaching provides a well-defined syllabus plan.
✔ Expert guidance: Teachers explain shortcuts, tricks, and strategies.
✔ Regular practice & tests: Coaching institutes conduct weekly/monthly mock tests.
✔ Peer learning: You can learn from the doubts and discussions of others.
✔ Doubt-solving support: If you struggle with topics, faculty can help clarify your doubts.
❌ Disadvantages of Coaching Classes:
❌ High cost: Coaching fees can be expensive.
❌ Fixed schedule: You have to attend classes at specific times, which may not suit your routine.
❌ Quality varies: Not all coaching institutes are good; choosing the wrong one may waste time and money.
❌ Lack of personalized focus: Coaching follows a general curriculum that may not cater to your weak areas.
🔹 Which Option is Right for You?
✅ Self-Study is Ideal if:
✔ You have a strong foundation in Quant, Reasoning, and English.
✔ You are comfortable learning from YouTube, books, and online resources.
✔ You can stay motivated and disciplined throughout the preparation.
✔ You have previous experience preparing for banking or insurance exams.
✅ Coaching is Ideal if:
✔ You are weak in any section (Quant, Reasoning, GK, Insurance Awareness).
✔ You need guidance, shortcuts, and tricks for solving problems quickly.
✔ You lack self-discipline and need a structured study plan.
✔ You prefer regular tests and feedback to monitor progress.
🔹 Recommended Study Plan for Self-Study Aspirants
📌 1. Understand the Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Download the official LIC AAO syllabus and divide topics into Strong, Moderate, and Weak areas.
📌 2. Use Standard Study Materials
🔹 Quantitative Aptitude:
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. Aggarwal
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Rajesh Verma
- Online PDFs & Mock Tests
🔹 Reasoning Ability:
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Analytical Reasoning – M.K. Pandey
🔹 General Awareness & Current Affairs:
- Daily Current Affairs (The Hindu, PIB, AffairsCloud, Gradeup)
- Monthly magazines (Vision IAS, Lucent’s GK)
🔹 Insurance & Financial Awareness:
- LIC Annual Report
- Basic banking & insurance terms
🔹 Descriptive Writing (Essay & Letter Writing):
- Practice writing one essay & one letter daily
- Read editorial pages of The Hindu & Indian Express
📌 3. Create a Study Schedule
| Time Slot | Subject |
|-----------|---------|
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Current Affairs & Banking Awareness |
| 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Quantitative Aptitude |
| 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Reasoning Ability |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Insurance Awareness |
| 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | English (Reading, Grammar, Descriptive Writing) |
| 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Mock Tests & Analysis |
📌 4. Attempt Mocks & Previous Year Papers
- Solve at least 50+ full-length mock tests before the exam.
- Analyze your mistakes & work on weak areas.
📌 5. Revise & Stay Consistent
- Daily 2-3 hours of revision is essential.
- Avoid last-minute preparation; follow a steady approach.
🔹 Conclusion: Coaching vs Self-Study - Which One to Choose?
🔹 If you are self-motivated, disciplined, and have prior preparation experience, self-study is sufficient.
🔹 If you struggle with concepts, need structured guidance, and prefer regular tests, coaching classes will be a better option.
🔹 However, even if you opt for coaching, self-study is a must for practice & revision. Coaching only helps in learning, but practice makes you perfect.
Final Advice:
✔ If you are confident & disciplined, go for self-study with online mock tests.
✔ If you lack structure, need guidance, and can afford coaching, join a reputed coaching institute.