Funny thing is that the pommie / JAA / EASA whatever it's called these days, system, is a blatant exercise in rote learning :
All the schools have all the questions and answers in a big databank and the "brush up courses" basically consist of a couple of weeks doing practice exam after practice exam of the actual questions and answers, until you can regurgitate them in your sleep. Someone who is good with exam technique and memorization could get 100% in the JAA ATPLs and never set foot in an aircraft. And they still reckon that is supposed to be the superior "gold standard" of pilot licences
I haven't done the FAA ATPL but I understand it's the same - all just memorize all the freely available questions and answers and you're good to go.