Just passed it...what a relief...have been bricking that for months. Missed 8 questions for an 87% pass. All last night i was dreaming MB=RB+MH.. LOL. I did the Sportys on line video course as well as the Gleim Private pilot study plus of course everything i have learned from my school and instructor. Don't know that i would really recommend the video training on its own, there is a lot more information in the books, initially i thought the video's were just trying to get you though the test and not really teaching you, but that view has mellowed as my training advanced and i understood more. But i don't feel the video course is enough on its own to truly understand the material The books have all the information, but i don't do well with "book smarts" i could read something 50 times and not learn it, but do the task twice and its locked in. Doing the practice tests (which both courses provide) and seeing why i was getting stuff wrong really helped cement the knowledge. I equate it to when i used to ride motocross, "you don't know how fast you can go till you crash". I learn by not only knowing why "A" is right, but understanding why "B" is wrong. Everyone has there own way of passing the tests, and of course the questions i got wrong were in the subjects i thought i knew and the correct ones are the ones i thought I was going to struggle with..either way happy to get one step closer....
Damien, thanks for sharing. I am using the Gleim PP kit as well, but I have not logged onto their website yet to see the online materials included in the package. Like you, I am finding some parts of the Gleim manuals lacking in the visual illustrations and overly verbose on the written descriptions. Based on what you posted, I think I will try the Sporty's videos too. I need something more "3D" to understand some of the material completely. Plus, everytime I see that Sporty's catalog come in the mail pimping their annual plane giveaway contest, I get an itchy trigger finger to buy something! -Greg
Just be aware that the person doing your final checkride to get your pilot's license (the Designated Pilot Examiner) will be notified by the FAA of the subject areas on the written test where you missed any questions. The DPE will spend extra time asking you questions in those topic areas during the oral exam part of your checkride test. So, for example, if you missed a question or two in Weather, you can expect several oral questions on Weather topics. Spend some time re-studying those areas where you missed some questions on the written. Of the 3 parts of the testing (written test, oral exam, and flying practical test), I found the oral exam the most challenging (although I passed it on the first attempt). .
I missed one question on the written. It was a hand signal... I did really know all the hand signals, so I don't know how I missed that one, just checked the wrong box I guess.... My examiner looked at the written results after we had flown, and got this puzzled look and said "you missed a hand signal????" I kinda shrugged and said "I guess so".. Then he made the sign of crossing his throat and said "what does this mean".. I said "cut".. he said "good, you're done, passed, now give me your log book"...
I had heard that from several people as well. My best childhood Friend who is now a CFII in Oregon told me its a double edge sword, if you get 70-80% they think you haven't studied or don't know it so grill you on that, if you get over 90% they think you have just memorized the test questions so grill you even harder i was told 85% is the sweat spot..heres hoping I know on a couple of the questions i double guessed myself, and even though i knew the right answer, thought to my self "hold on thats too obvious" and marked the almost correct answer...duh I better learn those hand signals...
That's funny... sweat spot... sweat dripping off your nose is always a giveaway... Where is the SWEET spot????
I made a 100 on my private written, and it kind of pissed off the check pilot, so he gave me a pretty good going over on the oral questions. But, he passed me without any trouble. The wind was blowing about 40 mph so my short field landing was SHORT.
I had to cancel my first scheduled IFR checkride, because... it was IFR... I had to fly to the place where the examiner was, and it was a cruddy, low ceiling typical winter Great Lakes ice trap kind of day.. I called him to cancel and he said "I'd sure like to get this done, is there any way you can you make it down here to pick me up??" and I said.. 'No, it solid IFR here, and if I show up down there I for sure wasn't legal getting there"... he said.. "good pont"....
I am too, sort of, but went to a Catholic school... spelling is serious business there. I just thought 'sweat spot' was hysterical for some reason....
