Question we get asked all the time: “Are private classes better, or should I sign up for a course with other kids?” The short answer: it depends on what problem you’re actually trying to solve. Long answer, keep reading.
Three Options, Not Two
A lot of people think it’s “private vs. group” and that’s it. In reality there are three different paths:
- Private Classes — one-on-one reinforcement of school (or college) math. It’s not about olympiads, it’s about understanding whatever is tripping you up right now.
- Private Olympiad Classes — the same, but focused 100% on individual olympiad prep, at your own pace, with its own syllabus.
- Group courses (the Basic/Intermediate/Advanced ladder) — training in a group, with other students at the same level.
When Is Private the Right Call?
- You have specific gaps in one topic and need to close them fast, without waiting for the rest of the group to get there.
- Your schedule doesn’t fit any available group time slot.
- You prefer moving at your own pace, faster or slower depending on the topic, without matching anyone else’s.
- You’re at an in-between level and neither group course is quite the right fit.
When Is Group the Right Call?
- You’re motivated by (healthy) competition and comparison with others on the same path.
- Bouncing ideas off classmates is, for you, part of learning — and in olympiads, discussing a problem with another competitor almost always helps.
- You want something more affordable than one-on-one (group, in general, gives you more for the price).
- You already know your level and there’s a group course for it.
“It’s not that one option is ‘better.’ They solve different problems. And sometimes the right answer is combining both.”
Can You Combine Them?
Yes, and it’s actually pretty common: take the group level that fits, and add a few private classes when a specific topic needs more attention than the group’s pace allows.
If you’re still not sure which fits you, Private Classes and Private Olympiad Classes have more detail, or just reach out and we’ll help you decide.