have a good read of the criteria for the met office reporting cloud cover. They report the lowest cloud and then before they report the next higher band, it must amount to 4 Okta (can't remember the exact figure).
Just to clear this one up - by the book:
1st cloud group reported - lowest cloud
of any amount.
2nd group - next highest layer
SCT or greater
3rd group - next highest layer
BKN or greater
Plus - any CB's / TCU (Towering Cu) to be reported no matter what the amount.
360BT - Dunno how much flying you've done above cloud but if you're above 7/8 cloud at normal piston engined levels below CAS in the UK then there's a
lot of time when you won't be visual with the ground - hence my rules of thumb earlier in the thread.
As for the IFR/VFR not being an indicator of ability - there have been times recently when I will wholeheartedly concur with that one
