Changes to FAA written test

Just took it 2 weeks ago, got through it. I read the AIH twice and I still didn't feel prepared enough.
During the test makes sure you read everything carefully, no matter if you've seen the question before or not.
There were quite a few questions were I just sat there staring at the screen nitpicking the differences between some of the answers.
 
Here is the situation the ATP, FOI and FE, writtens where changed in february the rest will all be changed in 10 days. June 13th is the release date for the new tests. What the FAA is doing is it is not releasing the questions to the public anymore because they are tired of dumb pilots who have no knowledge because the just memorize question and answer and don't have a clue about the subject itself.
I have been instructing for quite a while and when my students ask for help with the written I either teach them the subject myself, if they have the time and money or advise them to purchase the software from Pilottrainingsolutions.com. So far they only have the Private and Instrument written prep but its very well done entertaining, it covers all the material in an easy way and most of all gets the job done (the student that had the lowest score using their software had a 92% on an instrument). I am happy with them and will keep using their software, can't wait to see the commercial and ATP prep software from them..
 
therouge said:
Here is the situation the ATP, FOI and FE, writtens where changed in february the rest will all be changed in 10 days. June 13th is the release date for the new tests. What the FAA is doing is it is not releasing the questions to the public anymore because they are tired of dumb pilots who have no knowledge because the just memorize question and answer and don't have a clue about the subject itself.
I have been instructing for quite a while and when my students ask for help with the written I either teach them the subject myself, if they have the time and money or advise them to purchase the software from Pilottrainingsolutions.com. So far they only have the Private and Instrument written prep but its very well done entertaining, it covers all the material in an easy way and most of all gets the job done (the student that had the lowest score using their software had a 92% on an instrument). I am happy with them and will keep using their software, can't wait to see the commercial and ATP prep software from them..
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But are they going to release the subject areas? It would be nice if the FAA would just be up front about what their plan is. I guess I'm asking too much though...
 
Troy said:
I am currently studying for the FOI. I'm glad I got the heads up for the test because I always use the Gleim to study but it seems like people are still failing after studying from the FAA 2008 instructors handbook. After I bought my 2011 Gleim FOI study guide they emailed me 2 updates with some but not all of the new questions which should help. I plan on studying the handbook and the Gleim updates. Anybody pass it recently?
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I used the 2011 Gleim (including the 2 "updates") and the 2008 AIH and only scored a 66%, later passing when the FAA sent a letter correcting some questions that could have been misinterpreted (see my previous posts in this thread).

The problem with the FOI is that I also sat at the screen trying to choose between 2, sometimes 3 seemingly correct answers because of the heavy reliance that the FAA places on semantics - but don't you dare emply rote memorization! :insane: My favorite is the question where the answers are a, b and c; praise, positive feedback and reward, respectively. Like I said...semantics most of the time. Sometimes it's more than just knowing the material through and through.

Before getting the corrected passing test score I purchased dauntless' FOI/FIA package and have been using that. There are updates every few days which is nice, but I don't expect to see any of these questions on the actual test. The benefit is the computer based test training which is nice - If I get something wrong, google / FAA ACs / etc are all in another window.

Stick with the AIH and use the Gleim as a resource for the kind of questions you'll get. All in all, when I took the test a little over a month ago I only recognized 2 questions from the Gleim.

As a litmus test, go check out ASA's updates to the FOI test...that'll show you where the Gleim is at.

Best of luck, and keep us posted!
 
I want to bump this thread and put out a request that anyone who takes any knowledge test. Please post up how you did and if you noticed any changes. The more information on these tests we can spread around the more prepared we can make each other.
 
While I can't comment on the changes, I just took the IRA a few days ago and the questions seemed pretty consistent with the Gliem test prep software. Scores on the practices tests were around my actual score.
 
Looks like I picked the wrong time to start the CFI. I will probably be doing it the old fashioned way and study the AIH(by the way, does anyone know which text is best to study for the FIA?) instead of doing a threesome with John & Martha King.
 
I just took the FIA today. I was getting 96-100% on my practice tests after using the Gleim test prep and I got a mid 80s score on the actual. I recognized about 70 percent of the test straight from the Gleim, the other 30% were new questions (implemented in the recent last week update) that I have never seen before, some where a little ridiculous such as the memorization of specific AC numbers. I've never gotten a score lower than 94 on a written so it was a little disappointing but a pass is a pass. I would recommend to anyone looking to take any written test to hurry up and take them before they change the test bank more. They are planning on increasing the total combined test bank questions to over 100k over the next 2 years and making them online based so changes can be make instantaneous. Just my .02.
 
I'm a little confused about what to do, I am studying for FIA and FOI with the ASA test prep just because it is the same study material I used for my Commercial and Inst written and I feel more comfortable with them. I am ready to take FOI and will be ready in about 2 or 3 weeks for FIA, but now we are in what seems to be a crucial month for new updates to take place. I already checked ASA test updates page and last update is from Apr 2011. Everything looks confusing this days, should I wait some time until the water clarifies? or should I expedite my preparation to take the tests before it goes worse? Thank you
 
RockyM said:
I'm a little confused about what to do, I am studying for FIA and FOI with the ASA test prep just because it is the same study material I used for my Commercial and Inst written and I feel more comfortable with them. I am ready to take FOI and will be ready in about 2 or 3 weeks for FIA, but now we are in what seems to be a crucial month for new updates to take place. I already checked ASA test updates page and last update is from Apr 2011. Everything looks confusing this days, should I wait some time until the water clarifies? or should I expedite my preparation to take the tests before it goes worse? Thank you
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The method that ASA has to use at this time to provide you with updates is to wait until other students take the test and report back to them with a few questions that they can remember directly after taking the exam. This is a long process but eventually they will have the whole test bank but this will take a very long time not only because of the method but also because the FAA is not changing the test bank in one day, it's a step process being carried out over two years with no information released as the the increments of what number of questions will be added on what date and to which test. The FOI is already messed up so take your time studying for that by reading the AIH but the FIA has not been completely changed but the longer you wait in the short term then the better odds of them increasing the bank with more ambiguous type questions that you have never seen before. ASA will probably have an accurate study guide that will allow you to score a 100% on all test but that will take a couple years. Just my 2 cents.
 
Well I thought I posted but I can't find it so I can write it again for those looking at taking the FOI. I used the Gleim book with the two revisions to study, along with reading through the Aviation Instructor's handbook. I studied the AIH then the gleim then the AIH. I took three practice tests from ASA scoring a 90, 94, and 98. I felt confident going into the FOI test and ended up leaving with a 76%. About 50% were questions I had never seen before. My advice is spend all your time learning the concepts of the AIH and you should be able to pass. A lot of the questions were ones that the answers are right if we use a dictionary to define the word but instead you needed the AIH definition. Good luck to all that take it!

-Scott
 
is it true if happens you fail the written test you basically wouldn't be marked down as failing a written exam and they'll credit you the questions you got wrong(if it was the new questions that they have added)
 
scott_l said:
Well I thought I posted but I can't find it so I can write it again for those looking at taking the FOI. I used the Gleim book with the two revisions to study, along with reading through the Aviation Instructor's handbook. I studied the AIH then the gleim then the AIH. I took three practice tests from ASA scoring a 90, 94, and 98. I felt confident going into the FOI test and ended up leaving with a 76%. About 50% were questions I had never seen before. My advice is spend all your time learning the concepts of the AIH and you should be able to pass. A lot of the questions were ones that the answers are right if we use a dictionary to define the word but instead you needed the AIH definition. Good luck to all that take it!

-Scott
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This hits the nail on the head. Read the AIH, and take thorough notes on it, noting the keywords used in the text. The FOI test is heavy (read: HEAVY) on semantics - as in "according to the FAA, is the sky azure, or crystal?" Read the handbook through and through, and only use the Gleim / ASA as giudes to the TYPE of question you'll get.

FWIW there are a few contradictions in the text too. E.g., in chapter 2, one of the Instructor's Actions Summary tells you not to distract students while they are practicing a skill (2-24), but a few pages later the Instructor's Actions Summary says to practice distractions with your students!!! (2-28).:crazy: While understanding the subtleties of these things in context, imagine that semantic question on a written test?

Best of luck, all.
 
sounddoc said:
FWIW there are a few contradictions in the text too. E.g., in chapter 2, one of the Instructor's Actions Summary tells you not to distract students while they are practicing a skill (2-24), but a few pages later the Instructor's Actions Summary says to practice distractions with your students!!! (2-28).:crazy: While understanding the subtleties of these things in context, imagine that semantic question on a written test?

Best of luck, all.
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Does it say when they are learning a new skill not to distract them, but once they know the skill somewhat to add distractions? That's what I would take it as. When you don't know something at all you REALLY need to focus on that one thing; once you are somewhat comfortable with that, then you can add some real life to the mix.
 
Homa Bird said:
is it true if happens you fail the written test you basically wouldn't be marked down as failing a written exam and they'll credit you the questions you got wrong(if it was the new questions that they have added)
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If you have taken it and failed the FAA has already contacted the people getting credit for missed questions. The questions that they gave credit for have been removed from the bank. If you fail it now you just "FAILED" it.
 
sounddoc said:
This hits the nail on the head. Read the AIH, and take thorough notes on it, noting the keywords used in the text. The FOI test is heavy (read: HEAVY) on semantics - as in "according to the FAA, is the sky azure, or crystal?" Read the handbook through and through, and only use the Gleim / ASA as giudes to the TYPE of question you'll get.

FWIW there are a few contradictions in the text too. E.g., in chapter 2, one of the Instructor's Actions Summary tells you not to distract students while they are practicing a skill (2-24), but a few pages later the Instructor's Actions Summary says to practice distractions with your students!!! (2-28).:crazy: While understanding the subtleties of these things in context, imagine that semantic question on a written test?

Best of luck, all.
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The distractions thing applies it to specific contexts of practice: blocked, random, and deliberate. This is definitely a question I had and you are not supposed to use distractions during deliberate practice.
 
scott_l said:
The distractions thing applies it to specific contexts of practice: blocked, random, and deliberate. This is definitely a question I had and you are not supposed to use distractions during deliberate practice.
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Sorry for the delay on replying to these - yes, that is true what you guys have said about the distractions, and that is what's in the AIH. What I was getting at is that's the kind of questions I was seeing on the test when i took it. I just thought it was funny that in two places in my notes, a page away from each other, there is a direct contradiction. The issue isn't not knowing the difference (and it appears folks here do) but how the question would be worded in the test itself.

I'm gearing up for the FIA written...waiting as long as i can to see how things shake out with Dauntless updates since the new tests are out now.
 
I took the FOI about 2 months ago and was blown away by how many questions weren't in the study guide. Of course I bombed it even after scoring high in the online practice test. Finally passed it with 76% after reading the entire FOI handbook. Keep in mind I have taken the FOI and FIA before and past scoring in the 90's(wish I didn't let them expire... oh well).

Just took the FIA last week. Failed that too(what can I say I'm on a roll). To say its fustrating is putting it mildly. Some of those questions appear to purposely be written to throw you off. All I can say is the FAA is a joke if it thinks making a written test harder is somehow improving pilot skill. I don't mind the 100,000 bank questions but at least work them clearly and be fair about it. Will give the FIA another shot in two weeks after some more studying...
 
I took the FIA today. 96 on practice and 84 on actuall. What made it difficult was the regulations in part 61 related to what endorsements student rereational glider and private pilots need. I recommend studying the FAR for it. I used the FAA aeronautical knowledge book and Asa test prep, niethet of which went into deep detail on these specifics. Everything else was straight forward aerodynamics similar to commercial pilot exam.
I'll be taking the FOI next week.
Good luck to the future applicants.
 
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