Starting ATPL material early?
 

I'm looking to get onto an integrated ATPL program next year after I graduate from university. Since it looks like I will have some free time this summer, I had an idea of cracking on with learning some of the ATPL content early.

For those who have been through the process, do you think the content is easy to forget if not practised? Should I leave it all until I start my training?

What degree are you doing? If it's science-based and you are frequently using some mental arithmetic skills, then that is good. If not, then I would recommend a maths brush-up. Nothing too serious: just try and get comfortable, fast and accurate with basic functions like division and multiplication, and also with concepts like vector addition and resolution. Trigonometry (sin, cos, etc.) and earth-related geometry (lat, long, angles, etc) is another important subject.
After you are happy with those building blocks, I would study a subject that interests you. Meteorology doesn't require too much 'practice' once the basic principles are understood and you can relate what you've learned to the actual weather every day. Try to understand the forecasts that you get via the media and have a go at interpreting weather charts whenever you see them.
Or maybe you like principles of flight? Again, once the principles are firmly established, you shouldn't need to worry about forgetting them.
Other subjects that require memorisation of facts and figures, like Air Law, might be best left until you have a time-scale to work towards the exam.
Good luck!

Exactly! The content of the 14 subjects is not that much of an academic challenge but it's very extensive and if not practiced/reviewed on a regular basis it's hard to recall. That's the main reason why the exams are commonly split into several sittings, to divide the huge chunk into small little pieces. I'd say enjoy the summer and as you said leave until it starts!

I'm studying Aeronautical Engineering so hopefully the Maths and Physics will be familiar. I think I'll focus on Meteorology then since we don't really do much of that on our degree. Should be a break from all the crazy integrals...

Thanks for the advice all!

Actually you will find yourself almost having to relearn principles of flight for the EASA ATPL exam; compared to the degree theory its is very simplified almost to the point of being incorrect at times.

BAW, ATPL theory only just about hits GCSE level. The maths in the ATPL theory compared to degree level Engineering is very simple. The only thing challenging about the ATPLs is the quantity of information to learn not the technical level of it.

Oh gawd, choose life. Do something fun like go flying instead.

You will forget 80% of what you learn for the ATPL exams. This is because of the way the exams are structured, and the amount of irrelevant stuff you need to know like satellite orbits and what was on the lunch menu at the Chicago convention.

The generally accepted method is: study>test>forget>study>test>forget. So my answer to the OP is don't bother.

This is some bad advice. While there is some "irrelevant" ATPL theory content, a lot of it is very much relevant.

OP, as a University student you probably understand that revising throughout the year is a lot more effective than cramming it all during the week or two prior to the exam. This is at least my experience. I recommend you go over a few of the topics others have pointed out. If you have a genuine interest and motivation to learn, then of course you'll remember what you have studied. You'll thank yourself further down the road when you're preparing for exams.

Wait until you have done the ATPLs!

Interesting to see mixed opinions here. Thanks for the input!

To be fair studying early does have it's benefits - tested and tried. I was wondering if this would be different for the ATPL content. The question is rather which of it would more firmly stay in the mind if studied early. I can imagine, say, Air Law would be forgotten quickly.

I had a look at some of the Principles of Flight questions, and to be honest I could answer nearly all of them with what I've learnt at university

To be honest, the hardest thing about ATPLs is learning which ones to get wrong. Because there are questions that you will get wrong if you give the correct answer. The right answer and the EASA answer aren't always the same!

Oh dear, how so? That's pretty bad.

Actually no one knows the actual correct answers to the questions, except the one single guy in charge of the question bank (the official one).
The unofficial question banks do contain wrong "correct answers" in them.

"Oh dear, how so?"

Don't get me started...... :)

Do you know a colleague of yours in Montpellier ? I'm sure you could get along very well with him :p

Agree 100% ! ! ! That's EASA reality! Past the EASA ATP exams over a year now and I'd say meanwhile I pretty much forgot 90% of the crap! But to be honest, that was already the case after a week passing the exams :hmm:

Correct in evey regard. I tried some PoF the other day, it was not pretty.