Prep Time for Written Tests

C

ComplexHiAv8r

Well-Known Member
I was asked by a young (in TT) pilot yesterday the amount of time that should be put aside for preparing for the written exams. He is looking at IFR presently, then movin to COM, and into the CFI. He told me most tell him to cram for 3-4 days and take the exam, and he wanted more insight. Maybe he will sign up here as well (he is lurking).

What has been your study habits to prepare for each exam? Are they the same for each exam, or do they vary some?

Thanks
 
It usually took me a week to get through the Gleim books. From there, I'd use an online testing system (Sporty's or Exams4Pilots) during the evenings. After that, I'd go and use the ASA Test prep software at the local flight school for about 3-4 days. After I felt pretty good (>85% consistently) I'll decide to take the test the NEXT day. That morning, I'd come in, take ONE practice test on the ASA Test Prep - then - no matter the score, go and take the written.

So, for each written - one week with the gleim, another week with online and ASA test prep, written test on Thurs, Friday, or Saturday.

This system has worked very well for me. It afforded me the time needed to get some good studying, AND enjoy other things.
 
surreal1221 said:
It usually took me a week to get through the Gleim books. From there, I'd use an online testing system (Sporty's or Exams4Pilots) during the evenings. After that, I'd go and use the ASA Test prep software at the local flight school for about 3-4 days. After I felt pretty good (>85% consistently) I'll decide to take the test the NEXT day. That morning, I'd come in, take ONE practice test on the ASA Test Prep - then - no matter the score, go and take the written.

So, for each written - one week with the gleim, another week with online and ASA test prep, written test on Thurs, Friday, or Saturday.

This system has worked very well for me. It afforded me the time needed to get some good studying, AND enjoy other things.
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OK, so you are saying that you basically memorized the FAA test bank. Right? How many questions on each exam did you not know the exact answer for?

I know that the ASA test prep software (and book for that matter) is almost exactly, word for word, what you will see on the written test. Also, the disk that comes with the King (CPC) PPL and IR courses contains around 900 questions, in all of the different areas.

For the IR, I started on a Monday morning (without looking at ANY questions prior to) and spent a solid 8 hours per day just memorizing the questions and NEVER looking at a wrong answer. I did that for 3 days, and I took the test on the morning of the 4th day (Thursday). I only got an 81% on that written, but hey...it is a passing score.

As for the Commercial test, I am using the ASA test prep software. The FAA question bank that they are using only has about 675 question in it. I am taking in about 150 questions per week and ONLY looking at the CORRECT answer. Basically, memorizing all questions and answers. I have about 300 of them memorized now, and will be taking the written in a couple of weeks. I am hoping to score in the mid/upper 90's on the exam. Will let you know in a couple of weeks.
 
Nope, no memorization. . .I'm not that good.

As far as how many questions I didn't know the answers to. . .I really don't know. I'd get one wrong, I'd study the subject area - build actual knowledge - and then move on.

I utilize the Gleim as a foundation for written test prep.
 
If this student is planning on becoming a CFI then I would recommend a little more than cramming for the test.

If the student truely understands the subject material then they should be able to pass no matter what. Uderstanding this material is going to be the first step to becoming a CFI, and you can use that to the students advantage and desires.
 
I took a ground school class and used the Jeppesen materials. I started with the textbook by reading through it and studying it. Then moved onto the knowledge test guide and went through it a few times. Lastly, a friend gave me the King DVD written test prep and I did that. It definitely took longer, but then I had the time (several months) to do it and really learn the stuff. Jeppesen has ok materials and they are expensive, but it worked.:)
 
Study to the point that you can easily explain just about all the areas to your friend. Swatting(sp?) the information never helps. I did that in the past and it hasnt gotten me anywhere. Now that I'm getting ready to start prepping for the CFI, it will be crucial to thorougly understand the subject matter to explain clearly to future students.
 
I've always worked slowly through the test prep materials. I feel like I have ADHD when it comes to things written by the FAA, so cramming isn't very useful because I get distracted too easily. As an instructor, I give my students a study plan, then quiz them over the materials during a pre-flight. That way they stay on track and don't have to cram before an exam. Pretty soon they reach the end of the book and don't feel overwhelmed. Most of them like that method. I try to steer away from cramming, because after the exam a lot of the information gets dumped. A slow, steady method tends to increase comprehension and retention, imo.

As for my personal method, I usually start by setting a goal to take my test, just to keep me motivated and on track. That way I can set a pace. Then I go through the ASA once, reading all the questions and highlighting the correct answers.

After selecting all of the correct answers, I break it into study chunks (usually about a chapter/night, depending on the test prep) and go through the book a couple of times that way, taking extra time on the things I find challenging after a couple of times through it (always the stupid VOR position questions!!!) This usually takes about 2 weeks or so.

A couple of days before my written I do online tests to check comprehension, then study what I had questions on or things I got wrong. I try not to get too worked up about it (meaning I take the written regardless of score), sometimes you get an easier exam filled with "duh!" questions that you can finish in 20 minutes other times you get the nasty one full of computations and calculations that you finish just barely within the time limit.
 
I just went through the Gleim book when I had some spare time and then I also would do 60 questions once a day on the computer.

When I could consistently nail it with 90 plus scores, I figured I was ready.
 
i prepped 2-3 days before the tests just going through the gleim book and then doing practice tests on the gleim software.

The exception was my ATP written, which i prepped for 4 hours prior to taking the test.

Works well, from private to ATP (including agi and igi) my scores were all in the 90's.
 
I haven't studied much for mine. I usually "wing it" and average a pretty low score, but still pass.

You know what they call a medical student who barely passes? A doctor.

If you really care about it, I would probably recommend about a week or so.
 
mojo6911 said:
I haven't studied much for mine. I usually "wing it" and average a pretty low score, but still pass.

You know what they call a medical student who barely passes? A doctor.

If you really care about it, I would probably recommend about a week or so.
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:yeahthat: Some of those questions the FAA makes up are absolutely retarded too. A lot of the questions have nothing to do with being a safe pilot. Take the test, pass, and work hard in training and you can be a great pilot.

I used Sporty's Study Buddy (free) and it was an absolute God send. Another thing you can do is take a permanent black marker and mark out the wrong answers in your test prep book (ASA, Gleim, Sporty's). That way the only answer you see for the questions is the correct one.

Good luck!
 
Is there any truth to the rumor I've heard?

Rumor: The lower your passing score on the written, the longer and harder your oral is going to be. Whereas a PPL candidate with a 95% written will have an easier oral.

True?
 
killbilly said:
Is there any truth to the rumor I've heard?

Rumor: The lower your passing score on the written, the longer and harder your oral is going to be. Whereas a PPL candidate with a 95% written will have an easier oral.

True?
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Could be, I did pretty well on my Private written, and it seemed like my oral was short. It was about 30 mins...maybe. I'm working on my instrument training now. My score on my instrument written wasn't as good as my private written, so I will have to compare the two orals.
 
killbilly said:
Is there any truth to the rumor I've heard?

Rumor: The lower your passing score on the written, the longer and harder your oral is going to be. Whereas a PPL candidate with a 95% written will have an easier oral.

True?
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Absolutely fair question. Here is what the DE that did my PPL told me in regards to the written:

Don't confuse knowledge from a written exam with knowledge about the practical test that you are up for. A few years ago, the written was where you could read over the material one time and go take the test and pass it. However, someone at the FAA got a brilliant idea to send the knowledge test stuff off to some professors for a make-over. Now, all three answers sound legitimate as answers. That is why you never look at a wrong answer when studying for the test. Have you ever heard of an examiner asking a candidate questions in the oral that are from the written test?

The answer to the oral is utilizing the ASA Oral Exam guide booklets. If you know that book cover to cover, your oral will ALWAYS only be a few minutes long. After the 6 or 7th question....if the candidate really knows the answers to the questions..the DE has the right to make the oral as brief as possible.
 
do sporty's (or exams4pilots) exams like ALLLLL DAY long for about 3-4 days, you'll memorize every question, and you'll be all set :)

kind of teaches you while too, because you end up getting the worng question first few times, and you eventually learn the answer to it and go 'oohhhhhhhhh' :)
 
I had like a 73 or so on my private written and had like a 25 minute oral because I actually studied for that and knew every question he asked instantly. The DE told me that as long you pass your writtens then just study the important stuff.

The FAA likes to throw in nonsensical ######## that I personally find it better to cram for 2 days take the test and just hope that you can forget some of that garbage. I took my CFII written this morning (80%) and I have already forgotten the remote indicating compass questions. Also not having any ADF experience forced me to just memorize those questions too.
 
killbilly said:
Is there any truth to the rumor I've heard?

Rumor: The lower your passing score on the written, the longer and harder your oral is going to be. Whereas a PPL candidate with a 95% written will have an easier oral.

True?
Click to expand...


Depends on the examiner, really. All of my oral exams, including the CFI, have been short. I think my scores were:

Private: 85
Instrument: 72 (Barely passed!)
Commercial: 80
CFI: 82
FOI: 96ish
CFII: 80
 
I used Gleim's CD rom for my private and scored a 95. The cd allows you to take practice tests as many times as you want. I thought it was a great way to study.
 
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