Corruption is the bigger problem.
The syllabus may have elements that are less relevant to certain types of flying, but what I learned was generally all good stuff, looking back.
Learning by rote will get you through current CAA exams.
This is possible because the actual CAA Question Bank is available. It's common knowledge. Go to a certain groundschool, and for a nominal sum you will get the full, current UK CAA set of multiple choice questions and answers.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
Why the hell is this available? The groundschool in question claims it's built this question bank purely out of recall of people entering the exams. BULL****. There were enough hints, nods and winks in that groundschool to tell you other forces were at work. Not to mention the fact that their QB questions were essentially word-for-word and answer-for-answer to the actual exams.
How then, are they able to release full version updates at the same time as the CAA?
Spend one months per module on that bank, and you will recognise each question and answer sufficient to get 95%+ in the actual exams, with time to spare.
Total bollocks. That's what needs fixing first and foremost.
If the actual exam questions were not available in the first place, people would have to do some proper studying. Not all of the ATPL syllabus is hard, there's just quite a bit of it.
1085 questions in Met can be memorised and pushed into the visual automatic response regions of the brain, sufficient to pass that exam, and I personally feel that's the trickiest exam in some respects.
How can anyone defend a multiple choice exam system where applicants can buy the answers?
Because of this, the only barrier to entry in this game is cash and some time.