Gleim Knowledge Test Book for PPL Students: Bad Idea?

BugSmasher

BugSmasher

New Member
A few weeks ago, I decided to buy the Gleim Private Pilot Knowledge test guide. My CFI saw me buy it and implied that using the Gleim is "cheating." I trust my CFI and value his judgement highly - but I'm not so sure about this.

I already own the King Schools CD-ROMs, but wanted the Gleim to quiz myself at work and while commuting. I dont see the problem with it - if its used in conjuction with more substantive materials, ground, and time in the air. Anyway, I need something to keep my knowledge fresh b/c I can only fly on the weekends due to work, and usually only once.

So, though I'd ask the experts on JC what you think about using the Gleim Private Pilot Knowledge book as an additional tool for PPL training. Do any of you think that it could be harmful as a supplement?
 
BugSmasher said:
A few weeks ago, I decided to buy the Gleim Private Pilot Knowledge test guide. My CFI saw me buy it and implied that using the Gleim is "cheating." I trust my CFI and value his judgement highly - but I'm not so sure about this.

I already own the King Schools CD-ROMs, but wanted the Gleim to quiz myself at work and while commuting. I dont see the problem with it - if its used in conjuction with more substantive materials, ground, and time in the air. Anyway, I need something to keep my knowledge fresh b/c I can only fly on the weekends due to work, and usually only once.

So, though I'd ask the experts on JC what you think about using the Gleim Private Pilot Knowledge book as an additional tool for PPL training. Do any of you think that it could be harmful as a supplement?
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What your CFI is probably implying is that he doesn't want you to just learn the information by rote - he wants you to actually learn the material. And that's a good sound thought.

But, books like the Gleim are an aid, and are very good to help you study. Sounds like you are interested in learning the material anyway, so studying the Gleim certainly won't hurt anything, and will help to increase your score.

Plus, there are some very weirdly worded questions and answers in the FAA tests that sometimes you can't be sure about until you see the exact questions and suggested answers.
 
BugSmasher said:
A few weeks ago, I decided to buy the Gleim Private Pilot Knowledge test guide. My CFI saw me buy it and implied that using the Gleim is "cheating."
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Horse hockey.

Doctors, lawyers, accountants, real estate brokers and other professionals use study guides to drill themselves on the kinds of questions that will appear on the written tests their licenses require. There is an entire industry that does the same for college, grad school, law school, etc entrance exams.
 
What Midlife Flyer said times 10.

There are quite a few questions on the knowledge test that have ambiguous answers (i.e. like asking you to read and interpolate a performance flow-through chart that is reproduced on a tiny half-page). Best to be familiar with the question/answer bank.

When I took my PPL I did the King videos, then shortly before the test did every question in the Gleim book, then did the full practice exams in the back of the Gleim book.
 
"Doctors, lawyers, accountants, real estate brokers and other professionals use study guides to drill themselves on the kinds of questions that will appear on the written tests"

So do UPS pilots....
 
I recommend the ASA book because it comes with a separate book containing the figures.
 
Basically, it is NOT cheating.

Whatever helps you pass the test right? Its not like you are going to be using the gleim, jepp study guides, for the practical...

well hopefully not. :)
 
I have never heard of this as cheating. Gleim publications are great for FAA written tests. I could not imagine studying 500-1000 questions without having the answer along with an explanation. The FAA tests are dry enough. I recommend Gleim to all my students. Don't be a over-achiever!!
 
piston6565 said:
I could not imagine studying 500-1000 questions without having the answer along with an explanation.
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I think the OP's CFI's point is that one should study the material, not the test questions. That said, people learn differently; I learn better when the pressure to perform is off. I'd rather get a written exam out of the way so I can focus on learning the material rather than worrying about how I'll do on the exam. Besides, the test one really needs to study for is the oral, and those questions don't come from a published test bank (ASA's oral guides notwithstanding).
 
Having a curriculum and instruction background, (outside of aviation), the FAA does not do a very good job of providing an effective curriculum for pilot training. Sure, they provide the PTS...and say that's what you've got to know. However, any decent educational curriculum will have an evaluation process derived from learning objectives clearly communicated to its students. The PTS just doesn't do this effectively. Since the FAA does not clearly communicate to student pilots what they should know...Gleim products do a decent job of efficiently helping pilots know what they will be evaluated on.

Any decent curriculum will leave the student knowing exactly what they will be tested on.

Gleim is not a good reference to learn from, though. They provide ready references that you should consult for detailed understanding of topics.

Delta Air Lines actually uses an objective based learning curriculum for it's training programs. It's a pleasure to go through...you know exactly what to learn...and what you learn is exactly what is tested. It minimizes learner frustration. In fact, an evaluator is not even permitted to ask off the wall questions that are not identified as learning objectives in its curriculum.

All too often in aviation, an instructor teaches students everything they know...and what they think is important. Then an evalutor, typically a more senior pilot, asks the student questions that they think are important and maybe topics the instructor didn't think was pertinent. This type of process, if that's what you want to call it, leads to training failures and frustration...not because the student doesn't have the skills...but because the educational process stinks.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
Horse hockey.

Doctors, lawyers, accountants, real estate brokers and other professionals use study guides to drill themselves on the kinds of questions that will appear on the written tests their licenses require. There is an entire industry that does the same for college, grad school, law school, etc entrance exams.
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You continue to astound me, Mark. Doctors and lawyers and such don't get their degrees ONLY studying these quick reference guides. They are useful memory joggers and give insight into the special kind of knowledge required in the field of study, but.... hey, wait a minute! maybe that IS what you 'other' professionals do. That would explain a lot about the current sad state of affairs in hospitals and courtrooms and such....;)
 
Folks, thanks for weighing in on this. I'll take the majority stance as a "yes" vote and continue using the Gleim as a "refresher" only.

On a side note, it felt awesome to check my post this morning at work and find your input on this question. The fact that pilots from such diverse flying backgrounds could help point me in the right direction gives even more credibility to this great forum.

I hope for the day that I can help a noob on JC. :)
 
B767Driver said:
Having a curriculum and instruction background, (outside of aviation), the FAA does not do a very good job of providing an effective curriculum for pilot training. Sure, they provide the PTS...and say that's what you've got to know. However, any decent educational curriculum will have an evaluation process derived from learning objectives clearly communicated to its students. The PTS just doesn't do this effectively. Since the FAA does not clearly communicate to student pilots what they should know...Gleim products do a decent job of efficiently helping pilots know what they will be evaluated on.

Any decent curriculum will leave the student knowing exactly what they will be tested on.

Gleim is not a good reference to learn from, though. They provide ready references that you should consult for detailed understanding of topics.

Delta Air Lines actually uses an objective based learning curriculum for it's training programs. It's a pleasure to go through...you know exactly what to learn...and what you learn is exactly what is tested. It minimizes learner frustration. In fact, an evaluator is not even permitted to ask off the wall questions that are not identified as learning objectives in its curriculum.

All too often in aviation, an instructor teaches students everything they know...and what they think is important. Then an evalutor, typically a more senior pilot, asks the student questions that they think are important and maybe topics the instructor didn't think was pertinent. This type of process, if that's what you want to call it, leads to training failures and frustration...not because the student doesn't have the skills...but because the educational process stinks.
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I couldn't agree more!
 
My CFI just had me order that one. She said that she wants me to use it along with my other books to make sure that I am learning and retaining the information. It's not, by any means, the only book I'm using. I know there are a lot of people that don't like the idea of using it though, I've had a couple of comments. Personally, that's between me and my CFI. Maybe you should just talk to your CFI and explain that you don't feel like it's cheating because you plan to use the book properly.
 
B767Driver said:
All too often in aviation, an instructor teaches students everything they know...and what they think is important. Then an evalutor, typically a more senior pilot, asks the student questions that they think are important and maybe topics the instructor didn't think was pertinent. This type of process, if that's what you want to call it, leads to training failures and frustration...not because the student doesn't have the skills...but because the educational process stinks.
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Do you think there is a way to avoid this? To make sure that you are getting all the information and not just what one CFI might think is the important stuff?
 
NotCoolEnufToFly said:
Do you think there is a way to avoid this? To make sure that you are getting all the information and not just what one CFI might think is the important stuff?
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Sure! It's actually easy.

Study. Learn your POH front and back, the AIM, the FARs, the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and a host of ACs dealing with everything from weather to maintenance.

The Gleim and the oral test prep books have a much greater resource in them than just practice questions. They have the appropriate references listed, too. Most publications are available for free online. Try to know more than your instructor.
 
Ian J said:
Sure! It's actually easy.

Study. Learn your POH front and back, the AIM, the FARs, the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and a host of ACs dealing with everything from weather to maintenance.

The Gleim and the oral test prep books have a much greater resource in them than just practice questions. They have the appropriate references listed, too. Most publications are available for free online. Try to know more than your instructor.
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Awesome! Thanks. That was a simple answer but very smart and true!
 
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