How hard is the ATPL theory?
 

Hello,how hard is the ATPL theory? I had no good grades in mathematics,physics. What should i brush up in these two subjects? What level of trigonometry is required?

Is it truth that the most of the content of ATPL is useless? Do people actually learn,or just memorize the content and the answers from ex. Aviation exam,bristol database etc. ?

Finally,how would you advise someone like me?

Thank you in advance.

You need to be dedicated to your studies, simply learning a question bank isn't going to help you at all. There are new questions being implemented on a regular basis hence you cannot rely on just regurgitating what you have seen on a question bank when sitting an exam. Although bgsonline is a great help!

The actual content of the exams isn't rocket science, if you get your head down and learn the content you will do well.

I went with Bristol Groundschool, the course material and instructors were excellent. I actually quite miss it!

The syllabus covers roughly 95% of what a suitably motivated pilot would learn over the average career, but about 40% of it is useless at the beginning. To answer your question, it's just around O level statndard if you go that far back as I do :) Basic trig, pohysics. Just a lot to remember.

You will not pass the current exams on knowledge alone. You will need the help of a database, not to learn the answers but to get used to the daft questions (which seem tio be more concerned about your grasp of English than your knowledge) and to watch out fior the ones that are actually wrong.

The good news is that everything is being given a thorough overhaul and the new Learning Objectives (I am sitting in EASA right now doing this) will be much leaner and meaner and we hope to get the NPA ready fior comment by the end of the first quarter of 2016. A lot of industry people are putting a lot of voluntary work into this, and I think people will be pleased with the results.

The question database will take longer to sort, but all development on questions for LOs that will be changed or deleted has been stopped and resources channelled into areas that are currently a bit short on questions anyway.

Studies
 

Paco is correct in saying O level standard is required. Simply a question of putting in time and effort to learn the "high class rubbish"...... ( quote from Sandy Thomson). Enjoying mental arithmetic and sums generally is important.
I would say that 75+% you can bin once on line.
The Met you learn you use daily. As for the rest....the odd bits.
Post ATPL studies there is a whole new raft of stuff to learn which deals with the practicalities of airline flying.

Try and study a bit daily. Nibble away at it. :ok:

+1 to both the above.

There's no getting around the fact that you need to be proficient enough to get to whatever level needed pass the ATPLs, i.e. whatever equate to an O level these days/where you are. You'll almost certainly need to hang to to some of that proficiency to pass any selection tests prospective employers might throw at you further down the line, and their questions might not be in the banks so a bit of understanding of basic maths/ very basic physics might be handy.

Beyond that as parkfell said "Enjoying mental arithmetic and sums generally is important."

1)What is the O level standard? I am not from UK.

2)So there is new theory implemented? How could this affect me if i started now?

Well, i am determined and will do my best. The school is 5 minutes from my house,the instructors speak my mother language,i have my own room to study meaning i will have no concentration problems,so i think i have nothing to worry about,right?

I already hold a Medical Class 1,i am ready to start but i just was anxious about how hard is the ATPL theory. The course will be intergrated with CATS books.

Thank you everyone..

You need to undertake the school's aptitude testing to see whether you have the potential. Maths & Physics ~ sound foundations are necessary. You need to discuss this with your school.

The O level standard exams are normally taken aged 15/16, and A levels two years later.

The school has no entry test except the ICAO language test. They told me i just need simple physics,maths,and if i don't remember they will show me..

O levels became GCSEs, and there are also international IGCSEs. They are basically age 16 school leaving exams.

In my opinion, you are better off with maths and physics to age 18 / A - Level / baccalaureate level if that is available to you freely. But, bright hardworking people have certainly passed ATPLs with the lower level of school education.

G

Prfpi

"O-Levels" - What Gengis said, exams taken at around age 16 in the UK.

Not sure where in Europe you are, if it helps French equivalence would probably be at a level somewhere between the Brevet and Bacc( e.g. end of seconde, start of premiere )

I am from Greece and i will train to a Greek flight school. You probably say the exams i sat in order to proceed to the first year of high school,is that right?

I really appreciate and take into consideration your words.
However,i would kindly request,due to my stress for the theory,to include something specific i will need to know for each subject ex. For physics : Distance time,speed etc.

Thank you.

If by High School you mean (copied from wiki.):

Then that sounds correct.

I'll leave the specifics to someone more familiar with the current exams.

Further to the above, it looks like Schuler Tuning may be terminated with extreme prejudice....:E

Anyhow, vector addition, basic trigonometry (sine cosine tangent) plane triangles, isoceles triangles, air density, fluid behaviour. That sort of stuff will cover you for met and POF at least. Some subjects you simply have to learn, like air law and operations, some are practical, and you can even answer some nav questions without doing any calculations at all :)

Your school must officially check your abilities in the subjects you mention, by the way - they shouldn't be doing just English if you are walking in off the street. We don't do it officially because students come to us with a PPL, which is slightly different.

Phil

Paco is spot on , the big question is can you determine what the question is asking and then find the answer !