Gleim Knowledge Test Book for PPL Students: Bad Idea?

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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What parts of the AIM and FARs would you recomend hitting first? I look at the thing and am just like.....where do I start....
 
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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I think you were given good advice by Ian J. When I was a student I spent hours upon hours studying the AIM, POH, Regs, and as many FAA AC's I could get my hands on. Basically, you should know and be familiar with the content of all those publications. Hopefully, you are paired up with a great instructor who can lead you in the right direction as well.

If you enjoy learning that stuff...I think you know you are heading down the right path. I always loved learning that airplane stuff.
 
B767Driver said:
If you enjoy learning that stuff...I think you know you are heading down the right path. I always loved learning that airplane stuff.
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I do enjoy it, however, I'm a little frustrated with the amount of time I have to sit down and study it. I try to get in a little on my lunches and on slow nights at the second job and I've given up some plans tomorrow to sit down and get some studying done, but I feel like it's coming so slow. Of course, I'm not in a hurry.
 
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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Your instructor is a jerk.

I would love it if my students bought the Gleim- it means you're studying!
 
I am a huge fan of Gleim and ASA test preps. I think Gleim's computer software is worth its weight in gold because not only does it get you used to what you will be seeing when you do take the written, but because of the aforementioned references and explanations. Also, for some people (me especially), if they sit in front of a book with a highlighter in hand for longer than 10 minutes, they end up falling asleep! There's something about the interactive computer stuff that keeps me focused.

ASA's FAR/AIM has a cool list in the front of the book of suggested regs and AIM stuff to study, according to which certificate/rating you happen to be working toward. I'll bet I'm not the only CFI here who has highlighted and tabbed their FAR/AIM using that list!
 
The software seems like a great idea.

After a few weeks of studying the Gleim, I can definately say that its a good knowledge-retention source. Baciscally I circle the questions that I miss and revisit them on a daily basis when moving on to the next section.*

*W/exception of today - slept in late due to NJC - Chicago event, and 3-hr cross country later this pm. Good times. :rawk:
 
n57flyguy said:
What parts of the AIM and FARs would you recomend hitting first? I look at the thing and am just like.....where do I start....
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PM me your email and I'll shoot you what I use for a PPL syllabus. It has ground and flight lessons with a detailed breakdown of what to read before each lesson. It's probably not perfect, but it can be used as a sort of guided reading list.
 
Ian J said:
PM me your email and I'll shoot you what I use for a PPL syllabus. It has ground and flight lessons with a detailed breakdown of what to read before each lesson. It's probably not perfect, but it can be used as a sort of guided reading list.
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Me too?
 
One time I was doing ground school with a student, and the dude didn't know anything. I asked him to point me to class C airspace. "No, thats class B", "No, thats class E", "No, thats class D", "No THATS A VOR", I'm not even kidding. The guy didn't know anything. Later that day I came to learn that he had already took the knowledge test, and he got a 90+ on it.

If you're interested in learning the material, then you'll need something other than the gleim books. Those books are based 100% on the FAA questions, and the FAA questions do not encompass everything you need to know. The FAA questions, in my opinion are pretty ######, if you ask me, but thats for another thread...

If all you want to do is pass the test, and you're not at all interested in actually learning something, then just the gleim will do you fine.
 
butt said:
One time I was doing ground school with a student, and the dude didn't know anything. I asked him to point me to class C airspace. "No, thats class B", "No, thats class E", "No, thats class D", "No THATS A VOR", I'm not even kidding. The guy didn't know anything. Later that day I came to learn that he had already took the knowledge test, and he got a 90+ on it.

If you're interested in learning the material, then you'll need something other than the gleim books. Those books are based 100% on the FAA questions, and the FAA questions do not encompass everything you need to know. The FAA questions, in my opinion are pretty ######, if you ask me, but thats for another thread...

If all you want to do is pass the test, and you're not at all interested in actually learning something, then just the gleim will do you fine.
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I don't *think* anyone suggested just using the Gleim.
 
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