ATPL Online and BGS Online - what's the difference?

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

So, I was looking for a question bank and I know that one of the most loved QB is Bristol's QB.
It turned out that Bristol GS has both ATPL Online and BGS Online as question bank.
So, what's the difference?

Which one is the best as of now?

And how do you compare Aviation Exam to these two? (I gave a look at their demo and liked the explanations).

[keith williams]

It turned out that Bristol GS has both ATPL Online and BGS Online as question bank.

BGS does not have two question banks. Until about a year ago BGS worked in conjunction with a software company (I think it was called IDC). Together they produced the ATPL Online question bank.

Until the break-up ATPL Online was generally recognized as being the best thing on the market. Whether it has remained the best is a matter of debate.

The two companies then went their separate ways and the software company took ATPL Online with it. As far as I am aware BGS no longer play any part in the running of ATPL Online.

A few months after the break-up, BGS produced their own online question bank. If you want to read comments made by current users go to the bristol.gs website, select Resources then ATP Forum, then read the posts in the BGS Online forum.

As far as I am aware neither the ATPL Online providers nor the Aviation exams providers have a similar open feedback forum for potential customers to read. BGS should be commended for their openness.

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

That's exactly what I knew, Keith Williams, but I gave a look at the bottom of ATPL online website and it says:
© Copyright ATP Online Ltd, Bristol Groundschool and IDC Ltd. All Rights Reserved, 2009-2013.
It looks like that Bristol still plays a part in the running of ATPL online.

[ABZ777]

The copyright disclaimer on the ATPL online website is probably there as some of the content during the partnership originated from BGS material/instructors and is thus copyrighted to them? Just a thought.

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

You're probably right!:8

[ABZ777]

Having used ATPL online I can say that it is good, reliable and quick when going through lots of questions. I spoke to some BGS guys last week who said that the BGS question bank is just as good in terms of content but from a technical point of view it cuts out and is quite sluggish. I sat six ATPL(A) exams last week and can verify a lot of the ATPL online questions appeared in question papers. There were of course a number of new questions for each subject as well, which was expected as the CAA are continuously updating the central question bank. I hope this helps, but if you know the syllabus and subject content then answering new and unseen questions from a question bank shouldn't be too much of a problem! :)

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback.
I think I will use Aviation Exam (I like their explanations) + ATPL Online then.

[Up North Like]

ATPL and BGS are like for like. Some of the explanations are as little as a letter 'L' for example - meaning Lift from the Lift formula. That is the explanation for 30% of the Principles of Flight Questions. That being said, these two sites do as they say they will, they give you practice questions and sometimes help you towards the right answer. They definitely don't teach you the subject, this is where Aviation Exam is different.

I haven't used it myself but a lot of my course-mates have and they say it is great. The questions are regularly updated and there are usually, and sometimes in depth explanations about the answer and the methodology used.

Although it costs more, it is probably your best bet if you are looking for maximum experience.

[liam548]

ATPL and BGS are like for like. Some of the explanations are as little as a letter 'L' for example - meaning Lift from the Lift formula. That is the explanation for 30% of the Principles of Flight Questions. That being said, these two sites do as they say they will, they give you practice questions and sometimes help you towards the right answer. They definitely don't teach you the subject, this is where Aviation Exam is different.

I haven't used it myself but a lot of my course-mates have and they say it is great. The questions are regularly updated and there are usually, and sometimes in depth explanations about the answer and the methodology used.

Although it costs more, it is probably your best bet if you are looking for maximum experience.



Why is Aviation Exam different in this respect? BgsOnline gives detailed explanations as well.

[speed_alive_rotate]

Do you have to buy AviationExam for the year at 146euro?
There seems to be more questions and more updates on Aviation compared to any of the others!
Anyone using Aviation at the moment, and what sort of success are you having???

[liam548]

I am using Bristols QB (BGS, not ATPLonline, I understand they have the same parent company or did have?) to check my CATS study. It works fine on the phone but I do prefer the app interface of aviationexam to be honest.

You can purchase a month or up to a year much the same as Bristol

[sm85]

Those you who are studying ATPL by distance learning, how are you finding it in terms of hours of study required, fitting it in with work etc? is it manageable and is there decent support if you have problems?

[speed_alive_rotate]

Thanks for the info Liam548. Anyone else using AviationExam, are you finding it reliable when it comes to the actual exams???
I do know you must also study the books, but I have heard so many horror stories of people making excellent notes and sifting through all the material in the books only to fail, and then guys who bank on a daily basis and just about neglect the books passing with very high grades!!

[slawek_s]

speed_alive_rotate - I used Aviationexam.com 18 months ago and found it excellent. Most of questions I faced during the actual exam (Polish CAA) were the ones I've seen @ aviationexam.com - I would estimate it to be about 95% coverage. I passed all exams at first take with a nice average of just above 90%. I bought access to this database for 6 months but used it only for 2mo.

When it comes to reading books and understanding problems vs. banking all day long: I've read all ATPL books (a set of I believe 15 by Jeppesen) and made sure I understood 99% of questions I answered when banking online. On the other hand I know people who have not read a single book, did not understood many questions and passed all exams. The choice is yours - either you want to pass or you want to understand & pass. For me the option was obvious :)

[speed_alive_rotate]

Thanks for the advice Slawek S. Well done with the exams, fantastic results. I am studying for my ATPLs in Dublin Ireland at the moment. So I wonder how accurate Aviationexam.com is for the Irish based exams.

[pplal]

I too am studying for the ATPLs in Dublin with my first 6 to be sat in November . I find myself here looking for reassurance in the way Iv been studying . I used aerosolutions to help get me through the books and feel my knowledge is suffice in understanding everything , now I am concentrating on the atpl online.uk question bank . I have been told and hope its correct that the question bank is a good representation of the actual exams . Its very hard to know what is the best way to tackle it . Is there any one who has sat IAA ATPLs recently that could say weather or not the ATPL online questions show up in the actuals ?
Best of luck Speed Alive Rotate with the exams

[planedrive]

Personally, I found aviation exam the most useful as a learning aid, but mainly due to its much better UI - could not stand that orange band across the top of the screen! - and the larger option base. I really liked the fact that you can save a test and come back to it later, something you can't do on BGS or ATPL Online.

I got 95% average (first time passes) earlier this year using AV exam, revision notes and a little bit on ATPL, just to see if there were any major differences. Some of my course mates used ATPL only and got 97/98 all first time passes, and some failed 2 or more exams.

Find whichever one suits you, but don't neglect the books! After all it should be the information that's learned, and not the question bank!

[Greg2041]

"... using AV exam, revision notes and a little bit on ATPL, just to see if there were any major differences."


Out of interest Planedrive, did you find any differences between Aviationexam and ATPL?

[speed_alive_rotate]

The very best of luck in your ATPLs too PPLAL. Hopefully all the hard work will pay off for us. A mix of lads I know using either ATPL online or Aviation exam, think it can be down to luck on the day too.

[liam548]

Dont forget that The Great Circle also offers some great training for ATPLs as well, including apps etc