Changes to FAA written test

I also took the CAX - Commercial Airplane written this week (July 27th) and got a 94. I used FAA books (PHAK, AFH, FAR/AIM), Gleim Commercial Written Book, and Dauntless software... nothing at all unexpected on the test.

I have heard the FAA has fixed (removed) most of the bad questions on the FOI test now that had caused all the troubles for people earlier this year. I'll be planning to take that in another month or so after I finish the CAX practical...:rawk:
 
I'll be the third vote for CAX. Took it 27 Jul using the Dauntless prep software and got a 95%. I'd say no changes.
 
How did you all study section 5 Weight and Balance and Performance, and section 9 the Nav questions on the Commercial FAA exam? Those questions all seem so skewed to me.
 
cmhumphr said:
How did you all study section 5 Weight and Balance and Performance, and section 9 the Nav questions on the Commercial FAA exam? Those questions all seem so skewed to me.
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I think these are the best example where many practice tests help. Particularly with something like Dauntless ground school software that then shows you how to figure the solution using the test supplement figures when you're not sure or the answers aren't matching up.

The performance questions for fuel burn never seemed right to me until I figured out that the test always figures these as (fuel burn for segment * non-standard temp variation) + fixed startup and takeoff allowance. Don't include the startup and takeoff allowance before applying the non-standard temp.

Any of the line-based performance questions for takeoff roll and such are always quite a bit off from my figures, but always close enough that choosing the closest answer works out. I recommend using a ruler and writing in the test supplement and drawing the lines to get it as close as you can... and they'll still be different from the answers they provide, but "close enough".

The weight and balance questions work out ok for me.
 
I took the FIA written back in March I believe. There were definately 25 questions on the test that I did not see in any of the prep ware books.
 
I took the instrument written a week or two ago, and I recognized almost every question from the ASA test prep. So it hasn't changed yet... phew...
 
Hello everyone,

I recently too the CAX and scored a 90 and it was all wrote memory. Pretty much studied about 3 days. I even memorized the numbers on the Weight and balance naturally from reading them and didn't retain much from it and still got a high grade. That is was the FAA is trying to change and I agree. It was way to easy to "memorize" the answers.

Also, recently took the FOI today. Now this is my second go around from trying to do the same thing as the CAX and just wrote memory it and failed with a 65. After using the AIH and the Gleim Online ground class for 3 days (NOT the questions and answers, but the online outline study guide) I passed it with an 89. If you follow the Gleim online outline and learn the material it was worded a little differently on the test but it was an obvious answer still. Just study like you would any other college class and pass it with ease.

Now in my defense I'm only a low time instrument pilot knocking out all of my written tests so don't knock on me to hard for just memorizing the answers to the CAX :P I will be restudying all the CAX material and focusing on moving on to my commercial soon. Just remember "Pilots practice till they get it right, Professionals Pilots practice till they can't get it wrong."

Good Luck EVERYONE!
 
booster363 said:
Hello everyone,
Also, recently took the FOI today. Now this is my second go around from trying to do the same thing as the CAX and just wrote memory it and failed with a 65. After using the AIH and the Gleim Online ground class for 3 days (NOT the questions and answers, but the online outline study guide) I passed it with an 89. If you follow the Gleim online outline and learn the material it was worded a little differently on the test but it was an obvious answer still. Just study like you would any other college class and pass it with ease.
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Thanks for the update on FOI. It sounds like they've fixed it, very good news.
 
thanks for that update booster. i'm getting that gleim ish today. just can't get enough of the CAX eh? tehehe
 
CAX is probably the easiest written out of all of them. FOI used to be the easiest and now is the one everyone seems to be failing on the first try because it has nothing to do with the questions ASA or Gleim released. Good luck for future written takers.
 
To echo earlier posts, here are my experiences in the last 3 months:

Took the FOI in June and it was very different from all prepware. Passed, not by a lot, but phew...
Took the FII in July, no changes, all good, just IR stuff, still the exact same test as the IR, as expected. Passed, easy peasy.
Took the FIA last week, about 10-20 questions I had never seen, mostly on endorsements, regulations, and flight instructor privileges and responsibilities. Passed, but not with as high of a score as I had been getting on practice tests. Recommend reading the FARs closer/more intensely for anyone about to take this test.
 
Tld said:
Took the FIA last week, about 10-20 questions I had never seen, mostly on endorsements, regulations, and flight instructor privileges and responsibilities. Passed, but not with as high of a score as I had been getting on practice tests. Recommend reading the FARs closer/more intensely for anyone about to take this test.
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Took FIA yesterday, and it was pretty much as you described, I did no recognize about 10-15 questions, some of them I applied some logical reasoning and got them right, but others are 100% rote memory. I passed but while I was well above 90% on practices, I scored an 83. I studied with ASA test prep, I think if you prepare your exam with ASA and you are close to 95% at home, you can give it a shot confident that you can afford to fail on those unknown questions and still pass. Now looking to the FOI which as they said at the school has turned from a quick and easy test to a very hard one with high failure ratings.
Good luck to everyone
 
So what do i need to buy to pass the FOI these days? Gleim has a guarantee but sucks and Dauntless is good but no guarantee? and ASA? I'm on chapter 3 of that stupid Aviation Instructor's Guide to Wasting My Freakin Time and I just dont care to read another single page. You're either a good teacher or not. Help? Anyone?
 
Thought I would let everyone following this thread know that I am planning on taking the FOI test either this weekend or sometime next week for sure. I will give a update when I do. I am just making sure I keep getting atleast a 90 % on my practice tests!!

Nick
 
Although it has already been discussed, I literally just took the Commercial Pilot Airplane written an hour ago and passed with a 91. I didn't recognize two questions but that's about it. ASA Prep Book and Gleim 2011 pretty much is the way to go.
 
Pachong said:
So what do i need to buy to pass the FOI these days? Gleim has a guarantee but sucks and Dauntless is good but no guarantee? and ASA? I'm on chapter 3 of that stupid Aviation Instructor's Guide to Wasting My Freakin Time and I just dont care to read another single page. You're either a good teacher or not. Help? Anyone?
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I read it twice and I'm sure I could have another go at it.
You're going to be required to know some if not a lot of the FOI stuff for your checkride.
Its better if you take your time and read it carefully the first time around instead of beating yourself over it again and again when it comes time for the ride.
 
citrus said:
I read it twice and I'm sure I could have another go at it.
You're going to be required to know some if not a lot of the FOI stuff for your checkride.
Its better if you take your time and read it carefully the first time around instead of beating yourself over it again and again when it comes time for the ride.
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All of the tests began changing this year. The latest is the Private Airplane with a change dated in June of 2011. Gleims etc will NOT reflect these changes until their next publishing cycle at the least. That would be for 2012. Go to www.faa.gov and there you can find the most recent banks of knowledge test questions with the current changes included.
 
cmhumphr said:
Although it has already been discussed, I literally just took the Commercial Pilot Airplane written an hour ago and passed with a 91. I didn't recognize two questions but that's about it. ASA Prep Book and Gleim 2011 pretty much is the way to go.
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I used King Schools for mine. I'll be taking it (Comm. Airplane) Thursday-I'll let you guys know how it goes.
 
Ok busy weekend but I am calling the school tomorrow to get the test on the books. If they can get me in at 4:30 pm any day this week then I will do it this week, if not then Saturday morning for sure.
 
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