Have nearly completed my ATPL's Distance Learning. I too have a busy day job (actually 2) and found that dedicating Saturday and Sunday and part week nights - say 10 hours per week ok at the initial stages of reading study guides and doing sample questions - not much note taking. As the exams came nearer, say 1 month before I then upped the hours to 15 per week and started noting answers I got wrong in sample questions and general key notes. If you make too many notes initially it will take you a lot longer as there is so much and 50% a waste of time as far as the exams are concerned. I went for effectiveness rather than efficiency. A week before exams I stopped day job to focus on study/sample questions at 35 hours for revision week. Frankly at times your day jobs will have to take a back seat to the study. Good luck mate go for it.
