AI Tutor vs. Commercial Coaching Classes: A Conversation Between Two Students

Scene: Two classmates, Rohit and Aman, are sitting under a tree during lunch break. Their school day has just ended, but their learning journeys couldn't be more different.

Rohit: (sighs) You're lucky, Aman. You get to go home after school. I have to rush straight to my coaching class. I barely get time to breathe these days.

Aman: You're still going to that big-name coaching center, right? The one with those huge posters of toppers outside?

Rohit: Yeah, that one. My parents think it's the only way I'll get into IIT. They keep saying, "Everyone who cracks JEE goes to coaching." They spend a fortune on it – lakhs every year. So now I have no choice but to slog through it.

Aman: That sounds rough. What's it like there?

Rohit: Honestly? Miserable. The classrooms are packed – over 200 students stuffed together. The teacher talks non-stop with a microphone, scribbles on a whiteboard, and moves on. If you don't understand something, tough luck. There's no time for questions.

It's all about speed, shortcuts, and solving 200 problems a day. No real understanding. Just endless cramming to get better marks. And the worst part? We're made to believe that's what success means – just marks.

Aman: That's crazy. Doesn't it overlap with what you learn in school?

Rohit: Exactly! I've already stopped paying attention in class. What's the point? The teachers here explain the same thing in more detail later. But now my schoolteachers think I'm lazy or arrogant. They've given up on me, and honestly, I don't blame them.

Aman: That's what's wrong with this system. Parents think schools are bad because of large class sizes, so they send us to even bigger classes. And since everyone's chasing ranks, real learning gets lost somewhere in between.

Rohit: I know, man. And the pressure is insane. My parents keep reminding me how expensive my coaching is – as if guilt will make me smarter. I'm constantly tired. I come home at 9 PM, still have assignments to finish, and wake up at 5 to revise.

Sometimes I feel like I'm just attending lectures all day, listening to the same topics on repeat – school, coaching, revision. It's like living inside a loop.

Aman: That sounds exhausting. I used to think I'd need coaching too, but my parents did something different. They got me an ApnaPC with an AI tutor.

Rohit: An AI tutor? Like an app?

Aman: (laughs) More than that! It's like having a personal teacher who never gets irritated, never rushes, and always knows what I need to work on. The AI explains things step by step, gives me questions based on my weak areas, and helps me master every topic.

And I don't have to waste hours traveling. I learn from home – safely, comfortably, and at my own pace.

Rohit: Wow. So you don't have to sit through boring lectures for hours?

Aman: Nope. I just study for two focused hours a day. The AI tutor keeps track of what I've learnt and where I'm stuck. If I don't get a concept, it explains it again in a new way. And guess what? Because I understand the why behind every topic, I actually remember it.

Plus, I invite two or three of my friends over on weekends. We study together using the ApnaPC. The AI tutor gives us problems, we discuss solutions, and even compete with each other. It's like a study group – but smarter.

Rohit: That sounds… fun. I can't even imagine studying being fun. Coaching classes feel like punishment.

Aman: That's the difference. When learning becomes interactive, it sticks. We even joke around, take breaks, and play quizzes. It doesn't feel like studying; it feels like exploring.

And the best part? I still have energy left to play tennis every evening. I look forward to it. It keeps me fresh and sharp. You can't do that when your whole day is swallowed by lectures.

Rohit: I wish my parents could understand that. They still believe coaching equals success because that's how they studied decades ago. They think if they're spending more money, it must be better.

Aman: Yeah, that's the old-school mentality. They equate cost with quality. But technology has changed everything. With AI tutors, you don't need to pay lakhs – you just need curiosity and consistency.

My marks in school have actually improved since I started learning this way. I topped the last two exams. Even my teachers are impressed because I get the concepts, not just the formulas.

Rohit: That's the irony – you're doing better without coaching, while I'm drowning in it. Maybe it's not about the number of hours spent studying, but how you study.

Aman: Exactly. Coaching classes make you memorize; AI tutors make you understand. Coaching gives you pressure; AI gives you confidence.

And because I'm learning at home, I'm not stuck in traffic or late-night batches. My parents are happier too – they know I'm safe, focused, and enjoying the process.

Rohit: (sighs) You've got it figured out, Aman. I'm honestly jealous. I used to love physics and math, but now they feel like enemies.

Aman: You can still turn it around, Rohit. Tell your parents to try the AI tutor for a few weeks. They'll see the difference. It's not about replacing teachers – it's about giving you control over your learning.

Rohit: Maybe you're right. I just want to enjoy learning again, not fear it.

Aman: And you can. That's what this new way of learning is all about – making education joyful again. Imagine studying on your own terms, in your own space, with your own curiosity leading the way. That's what the future looks like.

Conclusion

This conversation between two students mirrors the reality of India's education system. One is trapped in a commercial rat race, where marks matter more than understanding. The other is thriving – learning smarter, not harder – through the power of AI and self-paced exploration.

When learning becomes personal, convenient, and fun, education stops being a burden and becomes a journey of discovery.

Help us improve India's first free AI Tutor for JEE students at app.jee.eklavya.io!

We want students to become independent, self-directed, lifelong learners – because the best education doesn't come from a classroom; it comes from curiosity.