New Atpl Exams - Early Next Year

[Greg2041]

Okay, this is just a rumour and although I haven't started the ATPL programme, the following thread on the Bristol ATP forum may be of interest. More worringly for students, Bristol haven't yet replied!

The text reads,

"... I've read that the examination content, (and coursework), will be changing from early on next year.

Will that effect those of us who are half way through the course - for example could we go into an exam, and find loads of different questions not covered in the syllabus that we've been revising?

If this isn't the case, (hopefully), how will the distinctions be drawn between 'old' and 'new' ATPL/CPL candidates with regard to syllabus and examination content?"

Any ideas as to what we can expect?

Cheers

Greg

[RudeNot2]

Fantastic :* I have literally just received the Mod 1 pack. Will be interested to hear what is happening...

[fadedfootpaths]

Bad news, I recieved my Mod 1 just before 3 weeks:ugh: Anyways, I am going to get it done from some other JAA country.

[GIZZAJOB]

Simple enough , We had some CAA gadgie in our flying school not so long back . I believe unless there have been some radical changes that if you have regeistered for the current JAR exam then those are the exams you will take . The new exams form part of the new EASA syllabus . From what we were told the syllabus will be almo st identical withthe learning objectives being almost the same . What will change is that the exams will be trimmed to be more specific to the actual subject. Ie there is a truck load of Air law in Ops Proc , and when I did POF there were questions duplicated in the perf exam . They are trying to get rid of this overlap and there was even talk of getting rid of ops completely and intergrating it more appropriately elsehwere .
But this was form the mouth of a CAA dude so take it as you will

[Sagey]

Rumour been going around for ages, they were apparently going to change question bank 18 months ago....... it didn't happen but of course bad questions get removed and new ones get added all the time. Having got first time passes in all through BGS, I would be highly surprised if they were not totally on the ball with any changes etc, so those of you starting mod 1 really won't have to worry.

[Greg2041]

Hmm but the changes are due early 2009 so it doesn't much sound like a rumour anymore. For those signing-up now, it might be worth finding out what is coming!

.... you never know, things may improve.

Greg

[GIZZAJOB]

Hmmm dont forget you ' re dealing with the CAA and EASA I doubt for one minute things will get any easier . If they do decide to completely change the CQB which is doubtful think on that practice question databases like BGS etc etc will be out of date and no use , this will make studying a damn sight harder with no actual practice questions to look at , I would get registered for the exams asap

[Greg2041]

Even more hmmmm. Maybe that's why BGS is not responding to the queries on their site.

Greg

[mech500]

Hi all,
It has been mentioned above something along the lines of ''get registered for the exams asap''
I am about half way through my ATPL theory i have not booked the next set of exams. Does that mean i am ''registered'' (since i have already started) or are you considered ''registered'' when you pay for the exams and receive a sitting date.

Thanks.

[Alex Whittingham]

The new syllabus is due to be introduced in late 2009/2010 following the release and alleged validation of CQB15. We're currently working to CQB13 with some questions from CQB14 being imported in dribs and drabs by the CAA. The new syllabus, on its own, would be a definite improvement on the current one mainly because it removes the duplications that GIZZAJOB refers to above and some areas of silliness, like the requirement for helicopter students to name the components of fixed wing aircraft, things like flaps and ailerons. It also refers to current regulations, like EU OPS rather than out-of-date areas of JAR OPS.

The problems are (1) that the CAA want to introduce loads of new questions at the same time, and history suggests they will be rubbish and (2) they haven't come clean about how they will manage the transition although they have informally suggested that they will run two sets of exams in parallel for a while to allow students who have already started training to finish on the syllabus which they have been taught.

We have a meeting with them on Wednesday to discuss this. More later.

[clear prop!!!]

Oh dear oh dear!

I wish you all well!

Oh how I remember the introduction of the JAA question bank and the farce that that was ( i had the misfortune to be one of the 1st through that fiasco).

The CAA are not known for smooth transitions!

[Vone Rotate]

I got told the pass mark is going up by 5% to 80%??

Ok.....Maybe not!!

Seriously, I got told by my old training provider the CAA are getting rid of all the over lap in subjects. ie Gen Nav will be just Gen nav not all the INS, compass errors etc. I Think POF and Airframes and systems over lap a lot too.

We also got told the CAA are a little cheesed off with the online Qbanks being as close as they are to the real thing and having a big shake up of the questions to get people learning the subjects again rather than concentrating on the Qbanks...How true that is I don't know....

Good luck to all. Its a great feeling to have them behind you:ok:

[Greg2041]

Being a little controversial here but maybe they should allow open access to their own question bank of some 16,000 questions.

[MartinCh]

Greg2041, dream on...

[Greg2041]

Just seen this on a neighbouring website updated August 2008.

Looks like the current JAA question database will be ditched and yes, I have a dream but it ain't going to happen any time soon!

"Unfortunately CQB 14 is not considered suitable and the CAA will have to wait for CQB 15 to be issued; the current forecast is March 2009."

... although I guess CQB 15 will be just CQB re-worked assuming the same is true of previous CQBs.

Incidentally, was there ever a CQB 1?

Greg

[Alex Whittingham]

....and the update. The CAA intend to introduce the new questions starting December 09. They are expecting, at the moment, to offer two parallel sets of exams for those taught on the new syllabus and those who started on the old syllabus for up to 18 months from the introduction of the new questions. The new questions will be added to, and will not replace, their existing question bank.

[Andy_R]

That should be fun for you, teaching two syllabus' in parallel :ooh:

[Alex Whittingham]

Yes. We're going to try and avoid it, as much as possible, by teaching the new syllabus as soon as poss. That will mean there will be areas taught that aren't examined for a period. No change there, then. You'd laugh, if the impulse to cry wasn't so strong.

[Andy_R]

Having had 4 weeks of classroom training in the last 8 weeks, I know exactly what you mean :ok:


And that is without 2 syllabus' (syllabi?) for you guys to worry about!!


Ah well, on with the Perf homework :{

[Flying Squid]

I understand that there were 3 or 4 EU Op's questions in the Op's paper last week....... what's that all about????

Alex.....the urge for a gentle sob in the exam was fairly overwhelming from what I gather! :{

[eikido]

Mr Alex Whittingham, do you think we should rush to read the old syllabus or should we wait for the new one.

Eikido

[Alex Whittingham]

The EU OPS questions were there because that's the current legislation. Despite the fact that the current syllabus refers to JAR-OPS the CAA decided to 'get in the groove' by deleting references to JAR-OPS 1 and replacing them with EU OPS. It caused a great deal of confusion. All the answers were the same as before, though.

Should you do the new syllabus or old? Most FTOs teach a combination now anyway and include topics like diesel engines which are from the new syllabus. Certainly OAT do, as do we. I would think you should avoid the new questions if you can, as there will be lots of them and they won't be validated properly. As the CAA are talking about running the two exam systems in parallel for a while it should mean that when they make a formal announcement, which they haven't done yet, they'll set a date and say anyone who starts an ATPL course after that date will be on the new question bank. I'd expect at least three months notice of the date.

The best decision would be to introduce the CQB15 questions gradually after the DEC 09 start date, rather than all at once. With a bit of luck that should allow the FTOs to keep on top of them.