Took my Air Law exam on Sunday! ...Failed :( Any tips and advice very appreciated!
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Took my Air Law exam on Sunday! ...Failed :( Any tips? -Now PASSED!
Ok, so I took my first ever PPL exam on sunday and i cannot say i did too well 
i took paper #3 of 'Air Law' and scored a miserable 67.5%.
I do admit, I mostly have myself to blame for this as I made the mistake of booking the exam on the weekend that i was actually moving house & having my car brake down the night before made things 10 times more of a panic! but I also only only had two weeks till the exam after recieving my OAA Air law cd-rom to which I had waited over two weeks for its delivery! So therefore I was not left with much time to study properly. On top of all this, to my own amazment, i actually managed to accidently tick the wrong box on one question to which i knew the answer to! I put this down to lack of concentration from being exahsuted from moving!
I have re-booked the test for the 1st of october and i intend to pass this time and with a Good score! My main problem i have tho is the studying! I don't read books often as they send me to sleep! even the most interesting of stories, i just struggle to get through 5 pages without slipping into a daydream and forgetting what i have read! I also found that the OAA CBT for airlaw was incredibly dull.. Informative yes! but the narrator talks very slow and Loww! (note to OAA, bubbly women make better narrators!)
But Anyhow, I have purchased the AFE Air-law book as i hear a lot of people swear by it and, also i have the OAA PPL practise CD-rom. I am considering signing up to something like PPLQuiz? But i dont know if that would be a good idea with this subject given how often the rules change? Would this be a good idea? or is there a major risk of learning the 'Wrong stuff' ?
If anybody could give me some tips and advice on how to get through this exam i would greatly appreciate it! I dont think ill have an issue with the other subjects as there more at home to me being a technically minded person but air Law its just Ewwww!!
Btw, i guess the PPL confuser is way out of date now too?
Thanks for the help and sorry for rambling on!! lol
i took paper #3 of 'Air Law' and scored a miserable 67.5%.I do admit, I mostly have myself to blame for this as I made the mistake of booking the exam on the weekend that i was actually moving house & having my car brake down the night before made things 10 times more of a panic! but I also only only had two weeks till the exam after recieving my OAA Air law cd-rom to which I had waited over two weeks for its delivery! So therefore I was not left with much time to study properly. On top of all this, to my own amazment, i actually managed to accidently tick the wrong box on one question to which i knew the answer to! I put this down to lack of concentration from being exahsuted from moving!
I have re-booked the test for the 1st of october and i intend to pass this time and with a Good score! My main problem i have tho is the studying! I don't read books often as they send me to sleep! even the most interesting of stories, i just struggle to get through 5 pages without slipping into a daydream and forgetting what i have read! I also found that the OAA CBT for airlaw was incredibly dull.. Informative yes! but the narrator talks very slow and Loww! (note to OAA, bubbly women make better narrators!)
But Anyhow, I have purchased the AFE Air-law book as i hear a lot of people swear by it and, also i have the OAA PPL practise CD-rom. I am considering signing up to something like PPLQuiz? But i dont know if that would be a good idea with this subject given how often the rules change? Would this be a good idea? or is there a major risk of learning the 'Wrong stuff' ?
If anybody could give me some tips and advice on how to get through this exam i would greatly appreciate it! I dont think ill have an issue with the other subjects as there more at home to me being a technically minded person but air Law its just Ewwww!!
Btw, i guess the PPL confuser is way out of date now too?
Thanks for the help and sorry for rambling on!! lol
Last edited by RyanRs; 23rd Sep 2011 at 08:42.
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Firstly dont beat yourself up over your first exam, you have identified the root causes in your post, not enough time and lack of concentration whilst studying.
Its air law, the dullest subject for most students wether ppl or atpl, like you I prefered the technical subjects as you can see or visualise the mechanics or reasoning behind the theory, air law you just have to read over and over till it sinks in, then get you hands on old question papers and/or feedback questions.
Break the study down into managable chunks, do you have an air law ppl book? these are usually broken down into managable sections with progress tests at the end of each section, I dont how the cd rom does it, but id imagine the book would be easier to refer to and study from.
Only book your test when your ready and achieving over 75% consistantly with practice papers.
my tuppence worth...
Best of luck
Its air law, the dullest subject for most students wether ppl or atpl, like you I prefered the technical subjects as you can see or visualise the mechanics or reasoning behind the theory, air law you just have to read over and over till it sinks in, then get you hands on old question papers and/or feedback questions.
Break the study down into managable chunks, do you have an air law ppl book? these are usually broken down into managable sections with progress tests at the end of each section, I dont how the cd rom does it, but id imagine the book would be easier to refer to and study from.
Only book your test when your ready and achieving over 75% consistantly with practice papers.
my tuppence worth...
Best of luck
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If you think PPL air bore was sleeping material wait until you get to ATPL.
Most of the PPL air law is a test of what you should be doing during your PPL training anyway. What is your school/instructor doing to help you here?
You are unlikely to pass any exam by just reading books however many times you read it, you must WRITE IT DOWN. The human mind takes in far more information by writing things down and preferably actually doing things.
You obviously don't need to write everything, create yourself some Key Fact Q cards divided into different topics with the minimum information needed. Revise from these Key Facts.
You should also be aiming for a 100% pass this shall then allow you an error buffer zone for a bad day or some odd ball questions. Aiming for just 75% is likely to see you failing again.
Most of the PPL air law is a test of what you should be doing during your PPL training anyway. What is your school/instructor doing to help you here?
You are unlikely to pass any exam by just reading books however many times you read it, you must WRITE IT DOWN. The human mind takes in far more information by writing things down and preferably actually doing things.
You obviously don't need to write everything, create yourself some Key Fact Q cards divided into different topics with the minimum information needed. Revise from these Key Facts.
You should also be aiming for a 100% pass this shall then allow you an error buffer zone for a bad day or some odd ball questions. Aiming for just 75% is likely to see you failing again.
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my honest advice would be for air law, to get this:
i failed first time then got this guide and just did these questions over and over and then got 90%.
they come for other modules too.
AVIATION LAW & OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES (120 Current Questions, Answers & Explanations)
(can buy from pilot warehouse)
ps. lots of questions were same as the actual exam when it came to it
i failed first time then got this guide and just did these questions over and over and then got 90%.
they come for other modules too.
AVIATION LAW & OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES (120 Current Questions, Answers & Explanations)
(can buy from pilot warehouse)
ps. lots of questions were same as the actual exam when it came to it
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To be blunt. You got one third of a multiple choice paper wrong. This is indicative of the fact that you have a very weak understanding of what is a fundamental subject, and haven't put in the requisite effort.
I doubt that the answer is in finding ways to make the subject easier for you.
Go back to basics. Get the study material out and learn the subject.
You haven't "mostly" got yourself to blame for this. You only have yourself to blame for this.
It isn't the end of the world, so dust yourself down, and put aside the time, and make the effort to learn the core subject.
This is in the "wannabes" forum, suggesting that is your own ambition. These exams at CPL/ATPL level are not going to get any easier or more entertaining. Career professional pilots are also expected to digest an almost daily diet of often very dry regulatory, legislative and operational changes.
If this is your goal, you would be well advised to stop making excuses or finding reasons why you cannot learn. Start adapting to what is required, and put in the necessary effort. It is a very very competitive environment. Plenty of people will rise to the challenges, and if you intend being in that group, you need to address your attitude and motivation to what would be a very difficult, challenging, frustrating and expensive future.
I doubt that the answer is in finding ways to make the subject easier for you.
Go back to basics. Get the study material out and learn the subject.
You haven't "mostly" got yourself to blame for this. You only have yourself to blame for this.
It isn't the end of the world, so dust yourself down, and put aside the time, and make the effort to learn the core subject.
This is in the "wannabes" forum, suggesting that is your own ambition. These exams at CPL/ATPL level are not going to get any easier or more entertaining. Career professional pilots are also expected to digest an almost daily diet of often very dry regulatory, legislative and operational changes.
If this is your goal, you would be well advised to stop making excuses or finding reasons why you cannot learn. Start adapting to what is required, and put in the necessary effort. It is a very very competitive environment. Plenty of people will rise to the challenges, and if you intend being in that group, you need to address your attitude and motivation to what would be a very difficult, challenging, frustrating and expensive future.
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I'm the worlds worst for revising , however the PPL Perfector CD did it for me and helped me pass . I also read the usual ppl books but in small chunks so that I didn't overload at once , otherwise it's confusing !!
I learn things quicker the old fashioned way - taught using powerpoint or blackboard , and seeing technical things up close and explained to me how they work.
Worst thing for me is trying to learn but having too many things going on in your life (particularly work/domestic) at the same time , it makes concentration difficult , and then trying to do the exam is a time waster ................ Do the exam when it feels right
I learn things quicker the old fashioned way - taught using powerpoint or blackboard , and seeing technical things up close and explained to me how they work.
Worst thing for me is trying to learn but having too many things going on in your life (particularly work/domestic) at the same time , it makes concentration difficult , and then trying to do the exam is a time waster ................ Do the exam when it feels right
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note to OAA, bubbly women make better narrators!
Two weeks is not enough time to read and understand air law so you just haven't given yourself enough time! If I were you I would read the book, make whatever notes you feel you need to, then do practice exams from a question bank or from the confuser. I don't see any reason to book the exam in advance as this will only put you under pressure. There are no time limits for learning the individual PPL subjects, so only book the exams when you feel ready.
Good luck
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I passed mine last week by reading the Pooleys book once from start to finish, going back over it and writing down the info and then using the PPL Confuser to remember the stuff in the exam. There was just too much info in the book for me to remember it all so I found the Confuser helpful to concentrate on the stuff that would be in the exam. The writing definitely helped too.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Sadly (in my opinion), it is not a CAA requirement to have completed exams in a prescribed order and by training phase.
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Air Law is, for most people, the most utterly boring subject of all the aviation exams.
I don't remember much about my PPL one (year 2000) but I know I used the PPL Confuser heavily. When I did the much bigger JAA IR version recently, I used an online question bank entirely because the subject matter is so totally dry - and sadly mostly irrelevant to any kind of flight.
I don't remember much about my PPL one (year 2000) but I know I used the PPL Confuser heavily. When I did the much bigger JAA IR version recently, I used an online question bank entirely because the subject matter is so totally dry - and sadly mostly irrelevant to any kind of flight.
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At school I was taught the following method for doing exams:
1) Read through all the questions and write down any notes you think may be helpfull on a spare sheet of paper.
This helps clear your mind of all the things you know you will need and helps you to recall other information deeper in your memory.
2) Answer the questions. If you get stuck on any one then skip it and, if you have time, come back to it later.
There may be questions later on which you find easy and you don't want to miss those for the sake of one you find difficult.
3) Spend any time after completing all the questions and before the end of the exam going through the exam again from the start checking your answers.
With reference to point 3, when I did my IMCR exam I found two questions for which I knew the answer but had marked the wrong choice on the answer sheet. I don't know why but I am glad I spent the last 20 mins checking my answers.
Good luck.
1) Read through all the questions and write down any notes you think may be helpfull on a spare sheet of paper.
This helps clear your mind of all the things you know you will need and helps you to recall other information deeper in your memory.
2) Answer the questions. If you get stuck on any one then skip it and, if you have time, come back to it later.
There may be questions later on which you find easy and you don't want to miss those for the sake of one you find difficult.
3) Spend any time after completing all the questions and before the end of the exam going through the exam again from the start checking your answers.
With reference to point 3, when I did my IMCR exam I found two questions for which I knew the answer but had marked the wrong choice on the answer sheet. I don't know why but I am glad I spent the last 20 mins checking my answers.
Good luck.
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There are variations of this, depending on what grabs you. I used an online question bank and did a screenshot of each question which I found "intractable", and then I went through all those.
Ultimately, however, you don't need to get 100%. You need to get 75% IIRC and this means that the worst ones can be "let go".
Ultimately, however, you don't need to get 100%. You need to get 75% IIRC and this means that the worst ones can be "let go".
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Thanks for all the replies! I have taken note of all the comments and different studying techniques and i will certainly put much more effort into it this time! I Don't know if i can agree with the comments referring to my attitude tho, I certainly have the determination and my goal is to eventually fly for a career however i do also have quite a 'time demanding' job, being a fuel tanker lorry driver, i have to work long hours and shifts. I have no choice but to work as i need to pay my bills! unllike a lot of people i have known who have a very good financial status and can afford to prioritise there flying training! I do get some waiting time whislt at delivery points, which i will use to study the air law book. I would have done this before but i was under the impression that the OAA cd-rom would be all i need to get a good pass on the subject, so i did not bother with purchasing a Book to study along side it! I have since purchased the AFE 10th edition Air law/Coms book now and ill try two x 1 hour sessions of study a day.
I do have a dillema now tho!!
As someone mentioned above, There is no rush to do the PPLs -unless its holding you back for the solo. Well,turns out thats exactly my situation! My past two hours of lessons have just been nothing more than practise and the club will not allow me to continue until i have the exam done! Now here is the main problem i have; I am booked up for 6 more flying hours between the 25 ~ 3rd, these were booked well in advance and them dates chosen as its the only time work would allow me my remaining holiday (before loosing it!) I was hoping that in them 7 hours i would do my 4 hours of solo circuits and start my Nav! But i only have two date choices to retake my Air law.. the 22nd (which is a bit close) or the 1st ! which means i would have to cancel 5 of the 7 hours as they would be more 'practise' -which is good but unnesecarry given the costs!!
Do i, take the air law on the 22nd and study like hell at work and at home? Or cancel all those lessons and take the exam on the 1st ?! I wonder if i could use this as fire power against the school to let me take the Solo before the Air-law?! its nearly a grand in a week they could miss out on!
I do have a dillema now tho!!
As someone mentioned above, There is no rush to do the PPLs -unless its holding you back for the solo. Well,turns out thats exactly my situation! My past two hours of lessons have just been nothing more than practise and the club will not allow me to continue until i have the exam done! Now here is the main problem i have; I am booked up for 6 more flying hours between the 25 ~ 3rd, these were booked well in advance and them dates chosen as its the only time work would allow me my remaining holiday (before loosing it!) I was hoping that in them 7 hours i would do my 4 hours of solo circuits and start my Nav! But i only have two date choices to retake my Air law.. the 22nd (which is a bit close) or the 1st ! which means i would have to cancel 5 of the 7 hours as they would be more 'practise' -which is good but unnesecarry given the costs!!
Do i, take the air law on the 22nd and study like hell at work and at home? Or cancel all those lessons and take the exam on the 1st ?! I wonder if i could use this as fire power against the school to let me take the Solo before the Air-law?! its nearly a grand in a week they could miss out on!
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It's not a big deal, just go and do some dual cross country navigation exercises instead.
It doesn't matter when you go solo - it's not a race. There are many other practical things you can do, and there is no need to do the syllabus in some kind of arbitrary order.
Having said that, you really should be able to get air law nailed by the 22nd.
It doesn't matter when you go solo - it's not a race. There are many other practical things you can do, and there is no need to do the syllabus in some kind of arbitrary order.
Having said that, you really should be able to get air law nailed by the 22nd.
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To me it sounds strange that the school you are using have set dates for tests and you have to book in advance. Is this common practise at flight schools?
I was probably spoilt by beeing able to decide on the day if I wanted to do a test or not. If it was raining and I felt ready I did a test and if not and the sun was shining I flew.
I was probably spoilt by beeing able to decide on the day if I wanted to do a test or not. If it was raining and I felt ready I did a test and if not and the sun was shining I flew.