If you look at the standard leaving the ATO's I think you'll find that Pitch + Power = Perf is not something that's really taught any more - at least not in the early parts of the syllabus. Pitch and power considerations ought to be introduced very early on (even E of C) however I don't believe it is these days. Student pilots at large integrated schools are not taught to think for themselves any more either sadly.
Question bank is what the ATPLs are about, memorise and regurgitate without question. No time. I get over 90 in some tests and I'll be the first to admit I don't have a notion about most of the stuff. However I think this is a regulatory issue rather than the schools, we all know we're being taught the most irrelevant stuff whilst the relevant stuff is pushed to the side. Hopefully once fully finished the ground school I'll learn something relevant!