Self -Study Vs Group Study. What to choose?

So, we always wonder which one is the more effective method for studying in IBDP? 

Being a student of IBDP is not easy-breezy. You need to find yourself around books and study materials every day to pull off. But if you follow the correct trails, you might not have to break a butterfly on a wheel. 

Any study process that combines retention, concentration, and comprehension can be deemed ace. For some students, studying in groups is proven to be effective, while in the cases of some others, studying alone in silence brings great results. If you get baffled discovering the best study process between group study and self-study as an IBDP student, this comparison-based write-up will definitely be a great deal for you.

Let’s march ahead. 

Group Study

In order to make students successful learners, some educationists advocate group study as a highly effective approach. The scopes that are involved in group studies cannot be found while you study alone. But there are some disadvantages of studying in groups that may bring tough luck to some students. 

Let’s list down some of the advantages her:

• Let’s you connect to different minds.
• Brings you the opportunity to share your ideas among group members.
• Saves time as you get to discuss your difficulties and ask your friends for help. 
• Improves your negotiation skills. 
• Group studies are more enjoyable than self-studying. 
• You get instantaneous feedback as you get the opportunity to share your understanding and ideas with other group members. 

Well, its not always as efficient as you think because:

• Group studies can be super distracting, and it’s likely to lose concentration often while being in a group. 
• You cannot study at your own pace in a group. 

Self-Study

A complex curriculum like IBDP requires a clear understanding of subjects and topics. Studying on your own may have some amazing advantages but on the opposite side, there are cons that may make your learning dull. 

Hmm.. let’s see how motivating can a self-study session could be:

• You can study at your own pace. 
• Provides you more scope to focus on your study and almost have no distractions. 
• As you can concentrate more, you develop critical thinking faster and improve your problem-solving ability. 
• You can develop your own routine and study process. 
• Studying alone lets you grasp your syllabus faster, thus making you more competitive to stand out. 

But, we should always look at the other side of the coin as well: 

• The big disadvantage of self-study is that it’s easy to get distracted as you are free to do other stuff. You might check your mobile phone while studying or listening to music or keep switching your concentration towards other activities. So, it’s crucial to build a regular routine in order to get the best out of your self-studies.  
• High chances of getting bored from time to time.  
• You can’t get instant feedback. 
• Might take more time to finish your syllabus. 

Few last words

Best suggestion for an IBDP student while choosing the better study method is to develop a combining process of Group and Self study. Group studies will become more effective if you study the subject alone before, and there you may mark your confusion points and later discuss them with the group members. That’s how you can bring the best out of your study and make your learning process more productive.