Which is Better: CLAT Coaching Notes or Self-Made Notes?
- himanshilawprep
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Preparing for the CLAT exam requires clarity, consistency, and the right set of resources. One common question among students is whether it is better to rely on coaching institute notes or prepare self-made notes. This decision can shape the way your preparation progresses and how well you retain what you study.
Both methods have their advantages. Coaching notes offer structure and experience, while self-made notes provide personal understanding and focus. This blog will help you evaluate both options based on different factors so that you can choose what works best for your preparation journey.
Why Notes Matter in CLAT Preparation
Notes are not just a revision tool. They help in understanding concepts better, keeping important information organised, and saving time during last-minute study. In a paper like CLAT, which tests your reading, reasoning, and awareness skills, proper notes can make your preparation more effective and help you revise the syllabus quickly.
Whether it’s for English, Legal Reasoning, GK, or Logical Reasoning, having good notes ensures that you can refer back to key ideas without going through full-length books or lectures again. Staying updated on all important areas related to the CLAT exam becomes much easier when your notes are structured and focused.
What Are CLAT Coaching Notes?
CLAT coaching notes are prepared by teaching faculties at coaching centres. These notes usually follow the syllabus closely and include summaries of topics, practice questions, important concepts, and sometimes expected questions based on recent trends.
Benefits of Coaching Notes
Time-Saving: Coaching notes are already prepared, so students do not need to spend extra hours creating them. This is especially helpful for those who are balancing school studies along with CLAT preparation.
Structured Content: These notes are made to match the CLAT syllabus and exam pattern. They usually follow a proper sequence, making it easier for students to cover the syllabus step by step.
Based on Experience: Coaching institutes use previous years' question trends and their faculty's experience to highlight the most important parts of the syllabus. This helps students focus on what matters more.
Quick for Revision: As coaching notes are concise and to the point, they can be revised quickly in the final weeks before the exam.
Limitations of Coaching Notes
Lack of Personalisation: Since these notes are designed for a wide group of students, they may not suit everyone’s way of understanding. Some students may need further simplification or examples.
Overload of Content: Sometimes, coaching notes include more information than necessary, which can confuse students or make revision harder.
Passive Learning: Reading coaching notes without interacting with the content actively can reduce retention. Without solving questions or summarising the content, the material may not stay in memory for long.
What Are Self-Made Notes?
Self-made notes are written by the students themselves, usually while studying from books, online lectures, or coaching classes. These notes reflect what a student has understood from the study material in their own words.
Benefits of Self-Made Notes
Better Understanding: Writing notes in your own words helps you understand the concept more deeply. It also forces you to think about what is important and how to explain it in a simple manner.
Stronger Memory: The act of writing something down helps in storing it better in memory. When you revise your own notes, you are more likely to recall the information in the exam.
Customised for You: You can skip topics you already know well and focus more on topics that need extra practice. You can also add examples, tricks, or explanations that work best for you.
Efficient Revision: Since self-made notes are prepared in your own words and handwriting, they are easier to revise in the days leading to the exam.
Limitations of Self-Made Notes
Takes Time to Prepare: Making notes while studying takes time. Students who start their preparation late or have less time may find it difficult to create full sets of notes.
May Miss Important Points: In the beginning, students may not know which points are important or what topics are likely to be asked in the exam. As a result, their notes might lack some key details.
Requires Regular Effort: Self-made notes need to be updated regularly, especially in subjects like current affairs. If not maintained properly, they lose their usefulness.
Consider joining CLAT coaching in Kolkata or any reputable institute nearby for expert guidance and effective preparation.
Subject-Wise Comparison: Coaching vs Self Made
Both coaching notes and self-made notes have their place in CLAT preparation, but depending on the subject, one might give you a better starting advantage. Here's how they work across each section of the syllabus.
1. English Language
Coaching notes provide ready-made grammar rules, comprehension methods, and vocabulary lists that are aligned with the exam pattern. These help students avoid wasting time on less relevant content.
Self-made notes are good for tracking your own vocabulary or mistakes from mock tests, but they usually take longer to build and revise.
2. Legal Reasoning
Coaching notes explain legal principles with examples and include relevant case laws. This saves time and offers clear direction, especially for beginners.
Self-made notes work well when you want to summarise tough principles or cases in your own words, but identifying what’s important can take extra effort.
3. Logical Reasoning
Most coaching notes cover question types with solving techniques and common logic traps. These help in building accuracy and speed.
Self-made notes may include your shortcuts or repeated mistakes, but they usually support the coaching material rather than replace it.
4. Current Affairs and GK
Coaching notes are organised in weekly or monthly formats and highlight exam-relevant news. They offer wide coverage without the need for daily reading.
Self-made notes can be useful for adding selected facts from newspapers, but they depend heavily on how consistently you follow current events.
5. Quantitative Techniques
Coaching notes offer formulas, model questions, and time-saving methods. They are especially useful for students who need structured maths practice.
Self-made notes can help you revise your weak areas or shortcuts, but they usually work better when combined with standard material.
When Coaching Notes Are More Useful
There are some situations where relying mainly on coaching notes is practical and effective:
When there is limited time left before the exam.
When you are juggling school and entrance preparation.
When you are beginning your preparation and need guidance on what to focus on.
When you prefer reading to writing.
In these cases, coaching notes can give direction and allow faster completion of the syllabus.
When Self-Made Notes Are More Effective
There are other situations where preparing your own notes gives better results:
When you have enough time to study and revise.
When you prefer learning actively by writing and thinking.
When you are preparing without coaching and need to structure your own study material.
When you want to revise only selected content in the final days.
Self-made notes help in building strong personal memory and focused revision.
Also checkout Ways to prepare for CLAT and AILET exam together
What Most Students Prefer
Many students do not choose just one method. They take the advantages of both.
They may follow coaching notes to complete the syllabus and make short self-notes for difficult topics or errors made during mocks. This mixed method allows them to revise faster and keep the preparation more organised.
Some students also maintain a separate notebook for vocabulary, current affairs, and legal maxims, where they only note things they feel are important and need multiple revisions.
This method balances expert guidance with personal understanding.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between coaching notes and self-made notes depends on your learning style, available time, and stage of preparation. Coaching notes save time and offer expert-based content, while self-made notes help in better understanding and long-term retention.
Both methods are useful. The key is not choosing one over the other blindly but using both wisely. Start with coaching notes to build your foundation. Then, prepare your own short notes for the areas you find difficult or important. Revise regularly, attempt mock tests, and stay focused on your progress.
In the end, it is not the notes but the consistent efforts, clear strategy, and smart revision that help you succeed in the CLAT exam.
Let your notes support you — not burden you. Use them to simplify your preparation and increase your confidence with every passing day.
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