When is the best time to take exam?

OUTTIE

OUTTIE

Well-Known Member
Hey all. when is the best time to take the written exam during training? Should I take it before starting training or right near the end before the checkride?

I need advice!:D
 
I always took mine near the end so I had a better understanding of the questions because I've actually flown and trained.
 
89-LX said:
I always took mine near the end so I had a better understanding of the questions because I've actually flown and trained.
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Same here. I'm actually gonna take the Instrument Airplane written sometime this week and hopefully a checkride by the middle or end of Feb.
 
oh I see. I always think to take it before training to get out of way. But it seems near the end makes more sense since you know after you fly. thanks
 
One guy who only had 5 hours toward his private license and a Gleim signoff tried taking it and failed, he had never even seen a flight computer/plotter and had never done cross country flight planning. No reason in rushing it, take it when you are ready, but preferably not the night before your checkride.
 
OUTTIE said:
Hey all. when is the best time to take the written exam during training? Should I take it before starting training or right near the end before the checkride?

I need advice!:D
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I asked the same question about seven months ago and received good feedback Took my test early passed easy. Could do better on the score though.
 
My philosophy has been to take the written within a 6 - 8 of weeks of when I expect to take the checkride. That way, I have less time to forget stuff for the oral portion of the practical!
 
Start working on the written right after first solo. During pre-solo, all your study attention should be focused on local knowledge of local procedures and your specific aircraft systems and the nuts-and-bolts of flying your airplane.

But after solo, and during your x/c training is when you will need to learn the kind of stuff on the written, so that is the time to study for it, and I try to have the PP student passed the written prior to the long x/c.
 
Sled14 said:
One guy who only had 5 hours toward his private license and a Gleim signoff tried taking it and failed, he had never even seen a flight computer/plotter and had never done cross country flight planning. No reason in rushing it, take it when you are ready, but preferably not the night before your checkride.
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I did mine when I only had maybe 10 hours or so. I had done no XC planning or used a flight computer. You do not have to have an understanding of the questions to answer them. The ones I didn't understand (mainly VORs at the time) I just memorized the answers. I passed with an 89. I probably would have gotten higher if I had taken it at the end, but still well within the pass range.
 
I might be against the crowd here but this is what I'll tell you:

Study study study, but for God's sake DO NOT memorize the questions/answers. Take a practice exam maybe once a week or every 2 weeks and when you hit 80-85 two times in a row, go for it.

I honestly cannot emphasize DO NOT memorize. I say that for your own good. Studying for the test really helps clean up anything your CFI might forget or breeze through and it'll make all your checkrides a breeze, I promise you that.
 
Sled14 said:
One guy who only had 5 hours toward his private license and a Gleim signoff tried taking it and failed, he had never even seen a flight computer/plotter and had never done cross country flight planning. No reason in rushing it, take it when you are ready, but preferably not the night before your checkride.
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:yeahthat: As an instructor one of the most frustrating things was having students not be able to take their check ride because they hadn't taken the written yet. As soon as you start flying cross countries talk to your instructor and go take it. That will allow you to get it out of the way and still have plenty of time to study for the checkride.
 
elmetal said:
I might be against the crowd here but this is what I'll tell you:

Study study study, but for God's sake DO NOT memorize the questions/answers. Take a practice exam maybe once a week or every 2 weeks and when you hit 80-85 two times in a row, go for it.

I honestly cannot emphasize DO NOT memorize. I say that for your own good. Studying for the test really helps clean up anything your CFI might forget or breeze through and it'll make all your checkrides a breeze, I promise you that.
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I see no problem with memorizing some questions you just don't understand yet. Try to learn it, but if you can't on your own memorize and worry about learning it later with an instructor. You will have to really learn it at some point, but it doesn't necessarily have to be before the written.
 
elmetal said:
I honestly cannot emphasize DO NOT memorize. I say that for your own good. Studying for the test really helps clean up anything your CFI might forget or breeze through and it'll make all your checkrides a breeze, I promise you that.
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All of the questions that involve math or a flight computer - memorize them. Even knowing how to do them, you will still get some of them wrong. Either do that, or just guess. No one is ever going to care if you got the glider and airship questions wrong on your AGI written...
 
amjon said:
I see no problem with memorizing some questions you just don't understand yet. Try to learn it, but if you can't on your own memorize and worry about learning it later with an instructor. You will have to really learn it at some point, but it doesn't necessarily have to be before the written.
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yes but at the same time, say your cfi is terrible (But since you're a primary student you likely don't know this) and forget to teach you VORs or NDBs (NDBs is acceptable VORs absolutely not, or doesn't teach your correctly.

You memorize that crap and take the test everything is great, now it's checkride time and you get busted because your CFI is a piece of garbage.

I'm saying don't memorize it to help yourself and keep you on your toes as opposed to relying only on your CFI
 
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