Distance Learning Advice
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Distance Learning Advice
Hi
I'm seeking some advice from those of you out there who have completed the ATPL exams via distance learning.
I'm probably going to start a course with Bristol in March. I have a full time job and a daily 3 hour round trip commute. Hence I'm not going to be able to commit masses of time to learning each day - majority will be weekends. I'm estimating about 10 hours per week.
Thus I'm setting myself the target of finishing all 14 exams by Dec 2010 - not stretching I know but I want to be realistic!!!
My concern is when it comes to revising for brush up and exam time that my knowledge of what I covered in say the first month of my learning will be very limited as I may have forgotten lots of stuff.
I'm not a stupid fella by any stretch of the imagiation but I would like some feedback from those of you who took a longer time,say 18 months plus, to complete the groundschool element.
Thanks
llen
I'm seeking some advice from those of you out there who have completed the ATPL exams via distance learning.
I'm probably going to start a course with Bristol in March. I have a full time job and a daily 3 hour round trip commute. Hence I'm not going to be able to commit masses of time to learning each day - majority will be weekends. I'm estimating about 10 hours per week.
Thus I'm setting myself the target of finishing all 14 exams by Dec 2010 - not stretching I know but I want to be realistic!!!
My concern is when it comes to revising for brush up and exam time that my knowledge of what I covered in say the first month of my learning will be very limited as I may have forgotten lots of stuff.
I'm not a stupid fella by any stretch of the imagiation but I would like some feedback from those of you who took a longer time,say 18 months plus, to complete the groundschool element.
Thanks
llen
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Due to work commitments, it took me around 16 months to do my DL course, so thats a similar time frame to what you are predicting. I remember that before I started, I had the same worries as you. I worked out that I could do about 15 hours per week and didnt want to forget everything that I had learned by the time the brush up course came. Using hindsight, I can now see that it turned out just fine. I actually ended up doing between 20-30 hours per week due to the fact that once I got into it, the subjects were quite interesting and flowed really well. The main thing that I would say, is plan your week ahead. I also found it very beneficial to take a few evenings at the end of each month to re read the things covered at the start of the month. The brush up courses are really good and by the time they come around, its amazing how much you still remember. I got 14 first time passes with 92% average in the end. Best of luck.
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Took me 3 years as I stopped halfway through for 12 months.
You don't have to worry too much. When you go to Bristol for your 2 week brush up, they will go through all you need to know for the exam's. You will be fine. Trust me, read through the stuff and get the progress test done and then get yourself to Bristol when you have done that. You will be fine.
Rob
You don't have to worry too much. When you go to Bristol for your 2 week brush up, they will go through all you need to know for the exam's. You will be fine. Trust me, read through the stuff and get the progress test done and then get yourself to Bristol when you have done that. You will be fine.
Rob
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It took me a little under 18months; as i was working shift work at the time I had to go part time to be able to fit the study in;
I found that you need to build in revision time into your study for the very reason you describe; if you're also only going to study at the weekends, you are IMHO going to make life very difficult for yourself;
Whilst the brush up courses are great and they give you the info you need you still have to go to them prepared with some knowledge; EGCC may be under estimating the work required to a new starter; The study is not difficult but there is a lot of info to absorb;
Good luck;
I found that you need to build in revision time into your study for the very reason you describe; if you're also only going to study at the weekends, you are IMHO going to make life very difficult for yourself;
Whilst the brush up courses are great and they give you the info you need you still have to go to them prepared with some knowledge; EGCC may be under estimating the work required to a new starter; The study is not difficult but there is a lot of info to absorb;
Good luck;
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Can't rate Bristol Ground School highly enough - although plenty of other courses get good reviews. I took 18 months, working full time and with a new baby(!) If you structure your week and dedicate yourself, you shouldn't have a problem. I even actually quite enjoyed the experience in a perverse way - it's something we all have to go through. There's also an online Bristol forum for help/advice etc.
The 2 week Brush-Up courses are intense and consolidate your months of study. Combined with the excellent question bank you'll be ready for the exams when they come. Good Luck ( Av 94%)
The 2 week Brush-Up courses are intense and consolidate your months of study. Combined with the excellent question bank you'll be ready for the exams when they come. Good Luck ( Av 94%)
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Hi,
I did mine in 5 months, full time at home though. The 1st module is the hardest and once you've done that one and learnt what's involved the second is much easier.
I reckon I managed 3-4 hours a day 5-6 days a week. I think the hardest thing for me was not knowing what to expect, how much I needed to revise and partially being scared of the actually exams.
I can tell you though, the BGS 2 week revision week is amazing, it's concise, in depth and worth every second there. You will work, life, eat and breath the ATPL subjects and by the time you get to the 1st exam on the Monday morning you will be in the best position you can to pass the exams.
Once you've done Module 1, Module 2 is alot easier, you can study smart and know what works for you.
The Question bank is invaluable as I reckon a good proportion of all the exams questions are word for word on there, however, learning the questions and answers may make you pass the exams but wont be much use in the real world, knowing the fundementals are essential.
All I can say is find what works best for you, study the way that suits you and set yourself a realistic time scale for revising and then sitting the exams. I know it's all very well sitting on the other side of the fence having passed the exams, but I loved every moment of the study, the revision and the ground school.
If you love flying then you will have no troubles in finding the motivation to study.
Good luck and remember the end goal...
I did mine in 5 months, full time at home though. The 1st module is the hardest and once you've done that one and learnt what's involved the second is much easier.
I reckon I managed 3-4 hours a day 5-6 days a week. I think the hardest thing for me was not knowing what to expect, how much I needed to revise and partially being scared of the actually exams.
I can tell you though, the BGS 2 week revision week is amazing, it's concise, in depth and worth every second there. You will work, life, eat and breath the ATPL subjects and by the time you get to the 1st exam on the Monday morning you will be in the best position you can to pass the exams.
Once you've done Module 1, Module 2 is alot easier, you can study smart and know what works for you.
The Question bank is invaluable as I reckon a good proportion of all the exams questions are word for word on there, however, learning the questions and answers may make you pass the exams but wont be much use in the real world, knowing the fundementals are essential.
All I can say is find what works best for you, study the way that suits you and set yourself a realistic time scale for revising and then sitting the exams. I know it's all very well sitting on the other side of the fence having passed the exams, but I loved every moment of the study, the revision and the ground school.
If you love flying then you will have no troubles in finding the motivation to study.
Good luck and remember the end goal...
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I'm almost in the same shoe as Llen save for the fact that he has signed up the March slot and i have yet to enroll myself (still considering, chief reason being i livein the Far East and bristol is not exactly near!
)
Seems like the average time needed is 5 months full time for Mod 1. Just wondering if anyone has done it less then that? say 3 months full time 8 hrs/day?
)Seems like the average time needed is 5 months full time for Mod 1. Just wondering if anyone has done it less then that? say 3 months full time 8 hrs/day?
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w15, wouldn't you be limited by sittings' dates in the UK??
What about 6 weeks 16h a day?
There's also mandated brush-up time/tuition when doing it via DL providers as I'm sure you know..
What about 6 weeks 16h a day?
There's also mandated brush-up time/tuition when doing it via DL providers as I'm sure you know..
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I am sure Bristol have made you well aware of this but beware the 18month time limit from taking your first exam to passing your final one. You unfortunately don't have the luxury of taking it just as slowly as you would like.
I plan to start with Bristol Ground School in the next few months (depending on my work commitments) and aim to get a hour or two at the end of the working day and then full time at weekends. I hope this will allow me to get module 1 done in 6months followed by a bit less for module 2.
Is there an audio CD you could buy or make yourself? Would sound like excellent use of your spare 3hrs on the road!
I plan to start with Bristol Ground School in the next few months (depending on my work commitments) and aim to get a hour or two at the end of the working day and then full time at weekends. I hope this will allow me to get module 1 done in 6months followed by a bit less for module 2.
Is there an audio CD you could buy or make yourself? Would sound like excellent use of your spare 3hrs on the road!
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I took around 13 months with BGS - also with a 3 hour commute, but it was on the train, which allowed plenty of reading time.
With Bristol, just trust in the Force. I can't overemphasise how good their brush-up courses are at cramming information into your head. After two weeks of Baz and his jumbo whizz-wheel, you'll be dreaming general nav questions in your sleep. Literally.
Topics that I'd struggled with and/or forgotten about at home suddenly 'clicked' when discussed in the classroom. If you put the effort in, you'll be fine.
With Bristol, just trust in the Force. I can't overemphasise how good their brush-up courses are at cramming information into your head. After two weeks of Baz and his jumbo whizz-wheel, you'll be dreaming general nav questions in your sleep. Literally.
Topics that I'd struggled with and/or forgotten about at home suddenly 'clicked' when discussed in the classroom. If you put the effort in, you'll be fine.
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Thanks all - some really good advice there.
From what's been posted I'm hearing that I should be realistic about the amount of time I can dedicate to study, set realistic deadlines and by following the course as suggested coupled with the brush up it should be ok.
One other thing I was considering was doing it over the same time period but in 4 sittings instead of 2. Forgetting the logistical issues and expense surrounding extra brush up courses, does anyone have any thoughts on that?
llen
From what's been posted I'm hearing that I should be realistic about the amount of time I can dedicate to study, set realistic deadlines and by following the course as suggested coupled with the brush up it should be ok.
One other thing I was considering was doing it over the same time period but in 4 sittings instead of 2. Forgetting the logistical issues and expense surrounding extra brush up courses, does anyone have any thoughts on that?
llen
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The CAA stipulate that you have to attend an appropriate course of ground school before passing the exams. Bristol GS run such a course and will require you to read the notes, take the progress tests and attend the two brush up courses.
That is the minimum requirement. If you want to do 4 brush up courses and are happy to pay for the extra two then I can't see Bristol turning you away. But you'd do well to take their advice on the best way to tackle it. They have A LOT of experience and know all the pitfalls.
I believe you have a maximum number of sittings, so if you're using four instead of two you're already two down in case you need those extra sittings later.
That is the minimum requirement. If you want to do 4 brush up courses and are happy to pay for the extra two then I can't see Bristol turning you away. But you'd do well to take their advice on the best way to tackle it. They have A LOT of experience and know all the pitfalls.
I believe you have a maximum number of sittings, so if you're using four instead of two you're already two down in case you need those extra sittings later.
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I signed on the dotted line with Bristol at the beginning of November 2008. I hit the books straight away and immediately became bogged down with Gen Nav.
Have been plugging away at it and although not getting great passes on the progress tests, I feel I am making headway. I feel uneasy, moving onto other areas before I understand a point that has had me stuck.
Besides the quality of the Bristol notes, the ATP Forum is great for getting to grips with seemingly awkward formulae and theory. As yet I have not had to post a query as a search has turned up the required info!
I have booked for the brush ups at the end of August and the exams thereafter. I will get around to the QB but not until at least the middle of June so that it'll see me through to the exams!
If anyone else is booked around the above times, get in touch.
Have been plugging away at it and although not getting great passes on the progress tests, I feel I am making headway. I feel uneasy, moving onto other areas before I understand a point that has had me stuck.
Besides the quality of the Bristol notes, the ATP Forum is great for getting to grips with seemingly awkward formulae and theory. As yet I have not had to post a query as a search has turned up the required info!
I have booked for the brush ups at the end of August and the exams thereafter. I will get around to the QB but not until at least the middle of June so that it'll see me through to the exams!
If anyone else is booked around the above times, get in touch.
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Can anybody tell me in general how much more difficult the ATPLs are to the PPL syllabus? I ask since I was expecting it to be very difficult stuff but I've been going through an Oxford Met CD I've been given (its old) and it doesn't seem that much different to the PPL Met. Is this just Met? Which subjects have the biggest leap forward (I know a lot of people mention Gen Nav for example)?
