Bristol Ground School - Module 1 ATPLs
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6
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From: tax haven
Bristol Ground School - Module 1 ATPLs
Hi all,
I am currently studying for the above (got the 2-week brush-up course starting on 20th Jan) and wanted to air my worries!
I am finding that as I have progressed through the course, I tend to have forgotten much of the past subject matter, on that same subject that I would of studied a few weeks prior.
Is this normal, and will the brush up course bombard me with so much that I will not forget much of what has been learnt in a hurry?
And before any of you say it's because I have the intelligence of a small newt, I, like many of you have an Aero Eng degree, etc, blah de blah.
Just wanted someone to try make me feel better / give me the honest truth.
Cheers.
I am currently studying for the above (got the 2-week brush-up course starting on 20th Jan) and wanted to air my worries!
I am finding that as I have progressed through the course, I tend to have forgotten much of the past subject matter, on that same subject that I would of studied a few weeks prior.
Is this normal, and will the brush up course bombard me with so much that I will not forget much of what has been learnt in a hurry?
And before any of you say it's because I have the intelligence of a small newt, I, like many of you have an Aero Eng degree, etc, blah de blah.
Just wanted someone to try make me feel better / give me the honest truth.
Cheers.
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
Jet Blast Rat
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 0
From: Sarfend-on-Sea
The purpose of the brush-up course is to draw together what you have already learnt. No new material should be presented apart perhaps if a new question has come up in a recent exam outside the syllabus (it does happen occasionally). The reminders you get there, plus any revision work you do after (I would recommend most people have at least a week's gap between a brush-up course and exams. When we set up distance learning this will be structured into the course) should fix in your mind what has faded, and focus you towards the most important material. This is important and is difficult when you are learning on your own, with no-one to guide yu to concentrate on fundamental or commonly-examined material.
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
Send Clowns,
It's not often I disagree with you... but on this point, I do.
I can only speak from my experiences of Module 1 at Bristol (although soon I'll be able to add Module 2 to those experiences). Over the 2-week brush-up period for Module 1, I (along with all the other students) left school at 5pm every day, went back to where I was staying, and worked until 11pm, with a short break for dinner. It was essential to do the work there and then, so that any questions could be raised the next day in class. As the days went by, I also built up a collection of feedback questions which we didn't go through in class, and those questions I didn't look at until after the course.
Starting the following Sunday, I spent each evening doing the feedback questions for the exams I had the following day. All the work I'd done over the last two weeks was fresh in my mind, and I was able to answer most of the feedback questions without any problems. The model answers were there for the few questions I got stuck on.
By the time I got to the exam hall, I felt totally prepared. I'd spent the previous night looking over feedback questions, and was feeling confident because I'd been able to answer most of them.
I doubt that it would be possible to spend an extra week doing feedback between the brush-up and the exam. Even if you were to take that extra week, you couldn't maintain the constant 9am-11pm schedule which going to classes forces upon you, and the material would not be so fresh by the time you sit down in that exam hall.
Just my thoughts, of course... others may not agree.
FFF
--------------
I would recommend most people have at least a week's gap between a brush-up course and exams
I can only speak from my experiences of Module 1 at Bristol (although soon I'll be able to add Module 2 to those experiences). Over the 2-week brush-up period for Module 1, I (along with all the other students) left school at 5pm every day, went back to where I was staying, and worked until 11pm, with a short break for dinner. It was essential to do the work there and then, so that any questions could be raised the next day in class. As the days went by, I also built up a collection of feedback questions which we didn't go through in class, and those questions I didn't look at until after the course.
Starting the following Sunday, I spent each evening doing the feedback questions for the exams I had the following day. All the work I'd done over the last two weeks was fresh in my mind, and I was able to answer most of the feedback questions without any problems. The model answers were there for the few questions I got stuck on.
By the time I got to the exam hall, I felt totally prepared. I'd spent the previous night looking over feedback questions, and was feeling confident because I'd been able to answer most of them.
I doubt that it would be possible to spend an extra week doing feedback between the brush-up and the exam. Even if you were to take that extra week, you couldn't maintain the constant 9am-11pm schedule which going to classes forces upon you, and the material would not be so fresh by the time you sit down in that exam hall.
Just my thoughts, of course... others may not agree.
FFF
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 222
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From: UK
Agreed wholeheartedly with FFF, I felt it was important to go straight from the groundschool brushup on the Friday afternoon (BGS in my case), into the weekend where you can have a mixture of relaxtion (hmm not very much as I remember but certainly the odd beer or two) and work.
I felt ready to hit the exams on the Monday, psyched up, fresh from intensive cramming, call it what you will, but ready.
I personally feel by leaving a gap of a week you will lose some of that intensity that you've just gained from the two weeks, and "come down" somewhat from the state of preparedness and readiness you leave the brushup with.
I felt ready to hit the exams on the Monday, psyched up, fresh from intensive cramming, call it what you will, but ready.
I personally feel by leaving a gap of a week you will lose some of that intensity that you've just gained from the two weeks, and "come down" somewhat from the state of preparedness and readiness you leave the brushup with.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 143
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From: Shropshire
Agree with FFF and GB - (I generally do). I think it is better to keep up the momentum, leave the groundschool on the Friday afternoon - keep up the work over the weekend and then straight into the exams. I would not want to leave any sort of gap.
It is hard to define but I found an energy for the 3 weeks of brush ups and exams that I do not usually enjoy. I have only experienced the same once before and that was also in a situation where I was working in a very intensive learning environment. On both occasions I was working from around 8.30 to 24.00 each day and a little on the weekends and for some reason it felt great. Go with it.
By the way I think we all feel the same way about the brush ups. I certainly felt anxious about my knowledge of the material but in the end it was all fine. Strangely I am feeling the same anxiety now with Mod 2 even though I have been there once before and it was fine.
Good luck
It is hard to define but I found an energy for the 3 weeks of brush ups and exams that I do not usually enjoy. I have only experienced the same once before and that was also in a situation where I was working in a very intensive learning environment. On both occasions I was working from around 8.30 to 24.00 each day and a little on the weekends and for some reason it felt great. Go with it.
By the way I think we all feel the same way about the brush ups. I certainly felt anxious about my knowledge of the material but in the end it was all fine. Strangely I am feeling the same anxiety now with Mod 2 even though I have been there once before and it was fine.
Good luck
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Brush up.
Swiss Tony
I felt very like you before my Module1 brush up and I am just a farmer, with no degree, but I managed ok. Although I was studying well past 11 o clock each day.
As most people will tell you everything will fall into place as the fortnight goes on.
Hope to see you there as I will be doing mod 2 then.
good luck
gdn
I felt very like you before my Module1 brush up and I am just a farmer, with no degree, but I managed ok. Although I was studying well past 11 o clock each day.
As most people will tell you everything will fall into place as the fortnight goes on.
Hope to see you there as I will be doing mod 2 then.
good luck
gdn
Jet Blast Rat
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 0
From: Sarfend-on-Sea
It is all very well taking the exams straight after the brush-up course but there are very good reasons that I would recommend one week of self study after.
Many students find that they have not really done enough work, however much instructors stress the difficulty of the course, or that they don't understand all the material in one or more subject. This may be discovered on the first week of the brush up which allows two options: if a serious lack then the exams can be delayed by a month (any later will be too late for the CAA). If less serious then the material can be revised over the week after the brush-up.
Finally there is a problem if a student reaches the end-of-course progress tests and this highlights areas that he still does not understand. A week in which to work o those areas has been found to be very valuable.
I quite agree that since these are all contingencies, for a good student the issue is unimportant. However I have worked a lot giving private tuition to students who have already failed exams. Therefore I have more experience with the students who have either underestimated the workload or experienced difficulty understanding the material (as opposed to those like FFF who sail through
). Since both issues are particular problems for distance learning, with no direct contact in class until the brush up, I would still recommend most students consider taking a week for self-study before the exams.
Many students find that they have not really done enough work, however much instructors stress the difficulty of the course, or that they don't understand all the material in one or more subject. This may be discovered on the first week of the brush up which allows two options: if a serious lack then the exams can be delayed by a month (any later will be too late for the CAA). If less serious then the material can be revised over the week after the brush-up.
Finally there is a problem if a student reaches the end-of-course progress tests and this highlights areas that he still does not understand. A week in which to work o those areas has been found to be very valuable.
I quite agree that since these are all contingencies, for a good student the issue is unimportant. However I have worked a lot giving private tuition to students who have already failed exams. Therefore I have more experience with the students who have either underestimated the workload or experienced difficulty understanding the material (as opposed to those like FFF who sail through
). Since both issues are particular problems for distance learning, with no direct contact in class until the brush up, I would still recommend most students consider taking a week for self-study before the exams.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: UK
Send Clowns,
I was under the impression that the brush-up courses ended the weekend before the exams are sat. That would mean having to have a month between the brush-ups and sitting the exams.
Could you clarify?
Thanks,
LF
p.s. As of 9am tomorrow, I start page 1, hope its as good as everyone says.
p.p.s. Just ignore all that, I've just realised, it must be a Bristol thing.
I was under the impression that the brush-up courses ended the weekend before the exams are sat. That would mean having to have a month between the brush-ups and sitting the exams.
Could you clarify?
Thanks,
LF
p.s. As of 9am tomorrow, I start page 1, hope its as good as everyone says.
p.p.s. Just ignore all that, I've just realised, it must be a Bristol thing.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: eu
I dont understand very well what you are talking about?
these questions are not the end of the world.just study it, and u will pass the exam. Bristol gives you the question you will have at the exam, so where is the problems.
there is a lot to read, but I dont think it s a reason to panic before the exam. guys!, you start to scare me.
Experience has a lot to do. A guy with 50 h and no license and a guy with a commercial experience and thousand hours of flight time will do the difference.no?
Have you considered that some subjects are already well known by some pilots?and some pilots will have to study less than others.
I understand most of the course, will I have some problems during the brush up course???
what is the average level of experience of students?
these questions are not the end of the world.just study it, and u will pass the exam. Bristol gives you the question you will have at the exam, so where is the problems.
there is a lot to read, but I dont think it s a reason to panic before the exam. guys!, you start to scare me.
Experience has a lot to do. A guy with 50 h and no license and a guy with a commercial experience and thousand hours of flight time will do the difference.no?
Have you considered that some subjects are already well known by some pilots?and some pilots will have to study less than others.
I understand most of the course, will I have some problems during the brush up course???
what is the average level of experience of students?
