Do we teach students to pass an exam?
or
Do we teach students what they need to know and some of what is nice to know and use the exam as confirmation that a certain minimum standard has been acheived?
If a student fails an exam then the instructor has failed.
I have come across some instructors who take the exam questions and limit their teaching to those areas.
Why don't instructors or schools have internal exams? They could be more realistic in their coverage of the topics involved and could include local rules and procedures which must be known prior to first solo.
Yes for many the PPL is not related in any way to professional flying and some use this as an excuse for drumming down standards and making things as easy as possible. Thankfuly we don't have the same attitude to private driving.
Has anyone ever heard "I am only a private driver, I don't need the same standard of driving as that professional taxi driver" - hope not.
Regards,
DFC