Difficulty of ATPL exams

[cavok_flyer]

Have to agree with RichardH. Time management I found to be essential in GNAV. I got stuck on a question, fiddled about for too long and left 6 questions unanswered... Could not just guess since they were fill in the blanks answers. Passed with 75%. Not proud about that, just plain lucky.

[Transsonic2000]

G-NAV

Passed with 75%. Not proud about that, just plain lucky.

Congrats on that!!! You passed and that's what it's all about, pretty damn sure that nobody will every ask you on that again!!!

As already mentioned before, time management is critical in G-NAV given that one has to answer 60 question in 120 min, that gives you 2 min per question (and not a second more). So don't get stuck with a single question, trying to get it figured out, it'll catch you in the end when your running out of time and too many unanswered questions remaining!

One key to success is knowing how to work the computer (CR-3/5 or whatever) in and out, forward and backward, since this will make about a good quarter of the G-NAV exam questions (Dead Reckoning)! The other part of the questions will focus on In-Flight Nav, Charts (scale calculations) and Basics of Nav (each making up about a quarter of the exam questions) and don't spend too much time on Magnetism & Compass!

And don't forget, in the end it's all about passed or failed - 75 will be your lucky number!!!

[paco]

Yes, you get fined £69 if you fail

[Finnpilot]

Almost done with my ATPL theories!!! but this bothers me...

Hello there fellow aviators, and ATPL theory students!

First of all, I did not find a specific thread for these kind of thigns but I hope that this fits in here..
SO:

I am now closing in on the finishline with my theory studies with 4 exams left and currently sitting on an average of 88,75% (hoping to raising it to 90+)
The studies so far have not been too tough on me and I have passed all the tests on the first attempt. But there is this one thing that kind of bugs me and I do think I am not alone with this, or so I hope...

I feel like even though I have passed the majority of the exams and some of them with a bright result, I don't remember everything about them anymore. I do understand and remember the big picture but some details and those tiny things that I remember that the question makers love, just don't come clear as water anymore.
Does anybody else feel the same way and is this something that the airlines like to play around with during interviews or do they care more about understanding the big picture rather than the ability to calculate the mach cone, knowing wavelenghts of radio altimeters or what factors affects the three-/single-phase tachometer, gryo wander rates etc..etc.. I think you guys understand what I'm chasing after here..

Ofcourse I know that repetition is important afterwards and I do plan to revisit the materials every now and then just to keep my knowledge current and competent.

Are there anyone out there that have been/is in this same kind of situation and what do you think of these things?

[cavok_flyer]

A chief flight instructor once told us (referring to some of the questionable material we have to know for the ATPL exams i.e. height & direction of a temperature sensor above a grass runway (yes, this question is in there!)) the exam questions should be based upon the knowledge of a current ATPL pilot with 20 years of flying service. I do not know if I totally agree with this, but when I ask one of the LH pilots I sometimes fly (SEP) with about polar stereographic maps, they mostly roll their eyes.

[Transsonic2000]

I feel like even though I have passed the majority of the exams and some of them with a bright result, I don't remember everything about them anymore.

Well, let me tell you, you aren't alone in that boat! And that's basically a very common thing to happen and this will even progress with time, since your brain prioritizes and knows that the exams are passed and the knowledge is no longer required. And on the other hand it must be clearly said, that the sheer volume of all the different ATP subjects is well beyond the storage capacity of the human brain and at the most it's only possible to store the essential information over a short period of time.

In my opinion, the EASA ATP exams are made ridiculously difficult on purpose and it's not about testing any knowledge, since the material is far too extensive, it's more about creating an obstacle which to pass is on the fringe feasibility (for whatever purpose) and probably also a competition/fight between the systems EASA and FAA, trying to "prove/show" our system is better, we are smarter, what ever!

Instead of producing knowledgeable pilots this system rather promotes the "jack of all trades, but master of none" kind a pilot. That's a frequent complain which can be heard from airline training captains, the poor knowledge of prospective junior FOs during screening sessions. In my opinion it's a shining example of a failed concept, which needs too be revised urgently in association with real world aviation experts, like instructors, examiners and airline training captains.

[paco]

You will be pleased to know a revision of the LOs is about to take place. A review of the questions and the writing of new and better ones is already under way.

I agree - they had a chance to do something spectacular and screwed it. Let's hope we can do something about it.

[BWSBoy6]

Thanks for all the pointers guys, I took on board the tip about focussing on the questions where I could pick
up more marks and concentrated on accuracy too.
Took PoF resit on Monday and gnav today. Actually feel for once, gnav went well. Find out results on Monday. Came out feeling a bit happier than previous sitting!

[BWSBoy6]

Pleased that I passed PoF with 91% and Gnav 78% I would have hoped to have got more in Gnav but still a pass (just!)

All your contributions have really helped and are much appreciated.

Now on to Phase 2...

[BWSBoy6]

There's now word going around that the airlines will only look at results with an average of 90%! Sure a pass is a pass? If a minimum of 90% was required, the pass mark would have been set at that level?

[Bealzebub]

"The airlines" are all very different entities. Each recruitment phase will normally follow a profile that sets a minimum tariff for selection. It is usually a case of whittling down the number of applications until you arrive at a manageable number from which the selection for interviews is made.

Generally the first stage is to set a minimum level of experience required. Nevertheless, that doesn't stop hundreds of applications being received that don't meet this requirement.

If a recruiting airline requires a minimum pass mark in examination scores, then it is free to do that as a means of setting a minimum tariff. Certainly not all do that. It has no correlation to the pass mark required for that particular stage of licence issue. Having a licence means you may meet one of the criteria for employment selection, it doesn't mean you will meet the criteria.

Whatever criteria is set, think of it as a big pyramid. The entire pyramid is comprised of "a pass is a pass." The recruitment team are looking for (what they consider to be) the very apex of the pinnacle of that pyramid.