Repercussions of failing instrument written?

bc2209

bc2209

Well-Known Member
I am currently in ground school for the instrument portion of flight training. I've recently been throwing around the idea of buying Sheppard air.

In all honesty the ground school portion is not preparing me enough for passing the written exam. I have access to the Gleim instrument book and software and have been using both. My practice test scores have not been very good even after repetitively going through and taking practice tests over and over. However, I've heard that Sheppard Air is much, much better.

Is taking the risk and continuing with the Gleim worth it? Should I purchase the instrument software for Sheppard Air?

Is failing a written exam on par in the airline's eyes with failing a check ride?

Thanks to all replies.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
Buy Sheppard Air. Purposefully get an 89%. Get your money back and start studying for the real test which is the oral and practical.:D
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I am using the Dauntless Prep software on my Nexus tablet + Gleim books.

There are a couple websites too, which I use. So far test scores in the upper 80's and 90's.
 
I used Gleim for my instrument knowledge test back in 2010 and got a 95% on it. Whichever prep product you choose, just make sure that you take your time with it and look up the answer solutions for questions that you may not know. Gleim isn't bad, and provides you with an answer solution for each problem...and is still widely used by many pilots to study for these tests. The thing that I like most about Sheppard Air is that the questions are more readily updated every time that the program is opened. With the FAA updating test banks continuously, I find it worthwhile for the money spent on it.
 
bc2209 said:
I am currently in ground school for the instrument portion of flight training. I've recently been throwing around the idea of buying Sheppard air.

In all honesty the ground school portion is not preparing me enough for passing the written exam. I have access to the Gleim instrument book and software and have been using both. My practice test scores have not been very good even after repetitively going through and taking practice tests over and over. However, I've heard that Sheppard Air is much, much better.

Is taking the risk and continuing with the Gleim worth it? Should I purchase the instrument software for Sheppard Air?

Is failing a written exam on par in the airline's eyes with failing a check ride?

Thanks to all replies.
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I did the instrument written prep with the Gleim book and the practice test software that comes with it. I got a 100 on my written and it took me 12 minutes. I took the CFI-I written (98 on it) and IGI at the same time in about the same time frame.

If you already have the Gleim and the practice test software just use it, don't spend any more money IMO. I had it down to where I knew the answer in the first couple words of each question.

Where Sheppard Air is nice is the ATP because it whittles it down for you and comes with cheat sheets. I used Sheppard Air for the ATP but Gleim for everything before that (Private-Commercial-Instrument-CFI);
 
Just to clarify. I have been getting word that the commercial and multi engine do not have faa written exams. True?
 
When your ready for the test, take the CFII and the IGI (if you want it, and you need a ground instructor rating if you ever want a gold seal cfi) since they are pretty much all the same test.
 
bc2209 said:
Is failing a written exam on par in the airline's eyes with failing a check ride?
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The biggest consequence is likely the extra $150 you will have to fork over if you don't pass it.

But on a more serious note, you do actually need to know this stuff. If you can pass the instrument written, you do not know it anywhere near well enough. Memorizing the answers is not sufficient, at all.

You will be better served in the long run of you actually learn the material
 
Actually, the Instrument written is one I would study for NOT using Sheppard as it is probably the most practical written I have ever taken. You are going to need to knowledge anyway.

Don't be your own worst enem and psych yourself out. If you get to that point, then use Sheppard for an esteem boost.

To answer your original question, the biggest repercussion would be a lighter wallet and the possibility of some deeper digging by an examiner. Relax and take it when your ready, the shortage does not start till next month.
 
Definitely recommend sheppard air, I bought sheppard air for the Instrument written less than a week before taking it in December. I studied with it probably about 3 hours a night for 4 days and got a 90% in 15 minutes. I also didn't completely follow the sheppard air guidelines/method for studying with the software and also only memorized a small portion of the cheat sheet, had I worked a little harder and done those things I'm sure I could have gotten a 100%.

Also, In hindsight I wish I bought it much earlier as I was in a ground school for the instrument written last semester and had I bought sheppard air earlier I would've had much better grades in the class and would've spent less time studying.

p.s. As far as getting your money back if you got less than a 90, I believe you now have to provide them with a question that was on the test that wasn't in their software in order to get your refund.

n57flyguy said:
Actually, the Instrument written is one I would study for NOT using Sheppard as it is probably the most practical written I have ever taken. You are going to need to knowledge anyway.
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As far as the above post goes^, I learned lots of information from Sheppard Air that helped me out big time on the oral. Just because you use Sheppard Air doesn't mean you're not learning the material.
 
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