unfortunately I used a couple of examples that perhap don't illustrate my point regarding the exams very well
For a better example of a question where they test your knowledge of English rather than your understanding of the subject at hand, please see the "
Chart question" thread over at the Professional Training branch, in particular
EK4457's answer, and his correct reasoning over which one is the "CAA" answer.
Sadly, there is the small detail that, even disregarding the fact that a number of vital pieces of information are missing from the question and therefore assumptions must be made, all of the given answers are bound to be blatantly incorrect, as they are.
This is made possible because in their zeal to make things simple so that even pilots can understand, they give you the wrong formula for the scale factor (their method only works at the equator).
They do teach you, correctly, that on a transverse mercator the scale along the prime meridian stays the same, and that it expands away from it. What they unfortunately forget to tell you is that the rate at which the scale factor expands is also a function of latitude. Which would be fine, it's not something you really need to know. Except that then they go on and ask you questions about it. And then they want the wrong answer.
So in short, you can't afford to know the subject if you expect to pass your exams easily, as I'm sure the aerodynamicists, meteorologists, mechanics, and engineers amongst you know so well. Gets a bit frustrating sometimes, but then again, would
I be able to come up with a better system? Would I be able to push it through the bureaucrats, politicians, lobbists, etc., etc., so that it ever sees the light of day? I don't think I could, and most certainly I'm not going to try. So I for one just took it on the chin and got on with it.
By the way, the correct answer for 80N030E is 1.00045493 (0.04549% error )
