CAA exam stupidity

[A and C]

It would seem that the results for the last exam sitting was delayed by xmas and the new year holidays and the results have reached the candidates late BUT perfectly timed so the people who need to do re-sits miss the entry for the next exams by ONE day !.

Just how stupid are these people ? next they will be wondering why the next set of exams are under attended.

[Say again s l o w l y]

The CAA seem to do this as a matter of course. In the "old" days even if you got your results before the deadline for the next sitting, you weren't allowed to take the next available exam. It does seem that even though the rule has changed, the CAA seem very reluctant to allow anybody to use it. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[mad_jock]

Fax the form in.

The worst they can do is say no.

The person who does the exam booking isn't the person who tells you it can't be done.

I have faxed the form in late before and still got the booking. If you make a fuss it won't happen but if you take what your given they seem to turn a blind eye.

MJ

[Flypuppy]

Sadly because the January exams were somewhat nasty (rumour has it that only 25% of candidates passed PofF) so the demand for resits has been heavy.

The January exams were very tricky. It makes me wonder why there is so much inconsistency in the level of difficulty when the exams are set. We pay a relatively large amount of money for these exams and get a fairly poor service IMHO.

There is a media ruckus over one question in one A level exam. This is par for the course in the JAA exams, and yet it recieves no attention from anyone. We have no opportunity for getting any feedback about our performance or where we go wrong. Who can we complain to about this situation? hmmm The CAA? I dont think complaining to them will have any positive effects....

Yes I am having a whinge and am a bit peeved.

[Whirlybird]

Flypuppy,

When I took my Radio Aids resit, there was a question on Decca, which had been taken out of the syllabus (old national exams). I phoned Bristol Ground School, who said to complain; I did and so did several others; we were asked to put it in writing; I don't know what happened but Alex at Bristol seemd to think we'd be credited with it. Then when I failed Principles of Flight by 2 marks, and remembered one question which I was sure had four wrong answers as choices, I e-mailed the CAA and asked about it, and got given two more marks and a pass. If you make a fuss something may get done. If you don't then it won't. But that's life, not just the CAA.

[boeingbus2002]

Not too sure on how relaible this info is, but I hear in other European countries, when they sit their exams they get results the same day and (more importantly) get to look over their questions to see which were wrong. <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> . .Surely this is an important issue. If I get 76% i obviously made a few errors. Wouldnt the "safety conscious" CAA like to ensure we all had a thourough knowledge of the subject areas? Now, I'd never really know where i went wrong!. . <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[paco]

When you sit exams in Canada your answer sheets are scanned and sent to Ottawa with the results back in less than three minutes. Not only that, you don't have to book them, or do them all in one go, you can take them one at a time and just turn up at any Transport Canada office, though a phone call the day before helps them prepare. No reason why UK couldn't do it.

I have complained about wrong choices available for answers in UK's PoF before and got credited - go ahead and complain! Good luck!

phil

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: paco ]

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: paco ]</p>

[RVR800]

These timings are not errors they are intentional. .you cannot do the resits until 2 months have passed - It's built in to the system

You cannot even book them on a just-in-case basis not knowing your results

I had to wait 2 months after illness prevented me sitting them - they didn't allow it

[floppyjock]

Of course the CAA are not going to debrief you on what you failed. You might got off and study the subject and pass next time. Think of the money they would lose if you didnt have to resit again. Its all about money you have it, they want it pure and simple.

Cynical I hear you say. YES

The whole CAA/JAR system of exams is bollocks, and over priced. Why cant we have a system like in the USA. But we cant do that, that would mean less revenue for the CAA leading to job cuts.. . . .Im with Flypuppy, where do we complain about this bureaucracy and the way they treat people.

Floppy

[Flypuppy]

As for the cost issue has anyone else noticed this little anomaly?

Cost of applying for initial sitting of 14 exams = £718. .but the cost of a resit is £37. .14 x £37 = £518

So what do we pay the extra £200 for? . .Who decides these charges? . .Why are we now having to pay more than twice the cost of the old CAA exams even though there are fewer exams?

On a quick scratch calculation, by the time someone has gone from PPL to ATPL they will have given the CAA around £3000 in exam fees and admin charges.

The CAA is a self regulating group that also has to be at least self funding. It is easy to come to the conclusion that pilots and to an extent licenced engineers are an easy target and cash cow for the CAA.

I have probably upset the SRG now and will never pass any exam ever again, so I'll shut up now.

[ 24 January 2002: Message edited by: Flypuppy ]</p>