View Full Version : Questions Banks and the New EASA ATPL?
So with the new EASA ATPL syllabus upon us whats the situation with the question banks? I will be taking the new syllabus (no choice) but a little concerned that the likes of AV Exam will not be relevant.... as much as I intend to fully understand the subjects I do believe the question banks are useful to consolidate memory.
Been reading some info but all seems a little tricky to understand and sketchy.
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 13:53
Are there even books out yet for the new syllabus?
I don't want to scare you but:
Questionbanks are not only useful to consolidate memory, as of today they are a neccessity to pass the easa written exams. You will find out soon enough.
You should always fully understand the subjects, but even if you do, there are tons of questions specifically designed to trick you into the wrong answer, and aditionally a ****load of questions pertaining to random useless facts. i.e. aeroplane certified after XXX above what door threshold height should emergency slides be supplied: answers a) 1.83m b) 1.86m c) 1.84m d)1.85m. You get the drill. I've seen questions so stupid that I tought " I will never get this on my exam" and guesss what? I did. Luckily I remembered those questions by the shear fact that they were unbelievably dumb.
This is article still applies as of today:https://dutchpilotgirl.com/atpl-question-database/. (Note: disregard the database that she's shilling in the article. As of today Avex, BGS and ATPLQ are the ones).
Don't worry, the databases will be updated in due time. They generate their content from student feedback.This essentially means that they'll need enough students on the new syllabus providing feedback before they can update their databases. Most EU CAA's still use the old syllabus, so that's bad luck for the current generation of new syllabus students, as you will be the first ones to the slaughter house. Try to remember the questions and provide feedback on Facebook groups or commercial databases, in this sense you will help the next generation, just as the previous did for us.
I guess the big question is, how quickly will they update? First exams are in Nov, then Feb and finally May 21
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 15:15
It the database's task to go to compare the new LO's to the old and delete their existing questions accordingly. In this way you will have guidance material untill feedback about any new question appears.
Easa won't eat :mad: out a whole new QDB, but rather add and delete questions, as they've done in the past.
pilotatlast
2nd Aug 2020, 15:16
Try selecting an ATO that teaches the subject rather than learning the answers to the exams!
So a gradual(ish) shift rather than a
total flip? Logically that makes sense.
"Are there even books out yet for the new syllabus?"
Yes - Pilot Training & Ground Studies - Electrocution's Aviation Books (http://www.electrocution.com/aviation/#JAR)
"Easa won't :mad: out a whole new QDB, but rather add and delete questions, as they've done in the past."
Yes they will - at 10,000 questions it is smaller than the old one but all of them are copyright EASA.
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 18:00
Do you have a source? I can't imagine them effectively deleting their entire current database and creating a new one from scratch. It would make more sense that they'd recycle the current ECQB6.0 questions which are still in line with the new syllabus LO's, besides adding new ones ofcourse.
The past few year's they have deleted, modified and added questions according to the newer LO's, you're telling me that they threw it all away?
Regarding the books I ment major providers to flightschools like CAE, Nordian, Jeppesen etc. No disrespect, I have your book and I like it.
CAE are using EASA First edition NPA29 books if that means anything ?
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 18:12
Those are 'old' and have been in circulation for a few years now.
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 18:32
Try selecting an ATO that teaches the subject rather than learning the answers to the exams!
Sure mate, and which ATO could teach you to answer questions like this one?
ihttps://imgur.com/t4oXF6Omgur.com/t4oXF6O
C
the same as entering on a ship
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 19:01
It is C indeed
So with that being the books provided to us surely the logic that the questions cant be that much different and will gradually change would hold?
I’m with you logically they surely can’t just be dumping everything then starting fresh makes no sense... I guess our problem will be differentiating between relevant and not relevant questions.
Had an email back from ATPLGS and they essentially said they will be adding a new features and updating as soon as they get the questions.
African_TrouserSnake
2nd Aug 2020, 20:13
The switch to ECQB2020 just seems a bit premature, considering there is hardly any study material available as of today. Quite a few other member states postponed it untill xx/xx/2021.
However, the UKCAA isn't the easiest to do you written's under, considering they're constantly updating their questions and making it harder by type-in questions, 'select multiple correct answers' questions etc... So it doesn't suprise me in that sense.
Just keep a sharp lookout on the Facebook groups and hope that some other students did their exams under ECQB2020 just before you.
Your ATO should provide adequate training. They've probably been briefed by the UKCAA and should point out the difference between your books and the new LO's etc.
Goodluck!
Climb150
3rd Aug 2020, 02:19
C
the same as entering on a ship
Can someone please tell me how this relates to the safe operation of aircraft? Does the pilot have any control over their passengers documents?
The new LOs have been out for quite a while now and there have been one or two editorial meetings between EASA and course material writers so most of them should be about finished by now. Our notes were certainly accepted 6 months ago. The philosophy behind the new syllabuses is that anything a pilot has no control over will not be asked and anything that is considered to be what is "basic knowledge" (such as a straight conversion between lbs and kg) will not have a question wasted on it - it will be dressed up in a scenario.
Some dead wood (e.g. Maslow) has been removed and new stuff has been added in attempt to stop teaching people how to fly modern equipment on Sopwith Camel thinking, but the majority of changes were simply moving stuff around between subjects.
To be fair to EASA, they have inherited the process from JAA, the members of which should hang their collective heads in shame for not producing a world class system when given the opportunity to do so. I know from my own experience that changing a live system is not easy, so the fault lies with those who set it up in the first place. The one I don't agree with is the new KSA 100 which is based on the ICAO core competencies.
Now all they need to do is ensure that the questions match the LOs......
And to make a small point about some of the more obscure point of law - many a charter pilot has been dropped in it by a company who would not have been had they knew something about it - even the FAA require you to know what a common carrier is. The airline is responsible for flying passengers back home who are denied entry for lack of paperwork (that's why they check your stuff before you depart), so you need to be up to speed.
parkfell
3rd Aug 2020, 08:32
....... at 10,000 questions it is smaller than the old one but all of them are copyright EASA.
Would a member of the legal profession explain how COPYRIGHT will impact upon the ability of ATOs to produce their question banks....
It presumably means they will have to create their own and not just reproduce them
parkfell
3rd Aug 2020, 09:55
Probably a good thing that actual understanding is now required as the copyright issue might prove a difficult hurdle to overcome.
A legal minefield for the ATOs?
Having to understand the logic by asking the question WHY.
Prior to JAR when the CAA set the exams the papers were separate for engines, as only piston engines was required for licence issue. Jet engines was only required if you wanted a turbo/jet engine type rating.
PPSC notes were produced by Mike Longhurst, although the Rolls Royce jet engine book was essential reading.
His question bank was 210 questions. I eventually learnt the correct responses to them in a day and scored 90% in the exam.
In the end, it was nothing to do with understanding the subject and asking the question WHY, simply a “Pavlov dog“ response to the question and recognising the answer.
It wasn’t until the type rating did the mists clear and you began to understand WHY.....
My view is that the State’s function is to ensure that candidates have a good basic knowledge, no more
VariablePitchP
3rd Aug 2020, 15:10
Try selecting an ATO that teaches the subject rather than learning the answers to the exams!
I’d bet every penny of my lifetime earnings that if you studied the content meticulously for five years and took someone who sat and just learned the answers for six weeks that the bank learner would wipe the floor with you.
That’s how it always has been, and always will be unfortunately.
They have been under pressure from airlines for a more rounded package, hence ksa 100. As mentioned, I don’t agree with it
Thanks for the replies guys, it seems we have had a stroke of luck and we will now be doing the old syllabus by the skin of our teeth. Unfortunately there are many more who will not be so fortunate as us. I did end up speaking to ATPLGS who where extremely helpful and they did tell me they where now working flat out to introduce new functions in their app's to isolate out old questions or highlight old questions think they also mentioned they have some updating of questions going on as we speak...this will hopefully be rolled out in a few weeks. But obviously they are only able to do what they can with what info they get from people taking the exams...a little worrying for those people!
VariablePitchP
I'd also like that bet :)
asmith474
24th Aug 2020, 20:12
when are these changes actually starting? I'm about to start sitting my exams in poland
It depends - the UK has just put it back till the end of March - Sweden has already started. Makes no difference to us.
WingsofRoffa
8th Oct 2021, 16:32
Have the QBs come along at all in the past year?
mirkoni
17th Oct 2021, 18:17
...Talking about studying the new syllabus, anyone knows anything about new CBTs and Textbooks based on the new EASA syllabus? Tried to email some well known CBT producers a few times regarding that, they didn't reply for some reason (it was during COVID peak though). Thanks.
Alex Whittingham
18th Oct 2021, 17:47
You have no responses, mirkoni, so I'll chip in. I have changed my point of view on this. Having now received quite a bit of feedback on the new syllabus exams I think they actually are fit for purpose, at least the EASA ones which have been corrected and updated over the last year, I'm not sure about the UK CAA versions which have not. There are questions asked that are outside the syllabus but not many, less than 10% probably and 'outside the syllabus' is a matter of degree in most cases. 'Just outside the syllabus' may be a matter of interpretation and acceptable (well not to a pedant), obviously 'wildly outside the syllabus' is not.
I now have the view that the disastrous early results were mostly the fault of the ATOs who did not properly assess how the exams were likely to change, and therefore didn't teach their classes properly. Of course they aren't going to admit this and they are busy blaming everybody else, so it must remain just an old man's opinion. Combined with this some clearly haven't updated their training material either at all, or at least properly. One hears reports of students who just haven't heard at all about quite basic concepts. On the other hand some ATOs such as FTE Jerez clearly have prepared properly and have seen a reduction in percentage scores but NOT a significant reduction in pass rates, yet other ATOs have near 100% fails.
As far as question banks go, yes, we are coming on. There's a lot of information out there if you cast our net widely. May I recommend the discord server...link available from the facebook group ATPL theory students EASA 2020.