Hey guys! I am starting my journey to get my PPL and I was wondering if anyone has any study tips that helped them get their PPL or other aviation achievements. I just got my Private Pilot test guide and it is lengthy to say the least. Anything helps! Thanks!
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Hey! Awesome to see you start pursuing your PPL. My best advice is to invest in an online ground school for written prep. That’s how I got a 95% on mine.
Sites like Sportys or King Schools have great programs to help you understand the content as well as detailed explanations for questions on the written.
I highly suggest studying in sections. Don’t just cram all the subjects at once to study. Take time to dissect and understand questions from each category such as performance or airspace before you take practice tests.
Both King and Sportys have extremely detailed video training series to help you conceptualize concepts. Don’t cram your studies, take your time. Feel free to shoot me any questions you may have.
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@Asher provided some great tips.
Sporty’s is an awesome program - I’ve started my work there and will hopefully use them to gain my PPL but I am aiming to go to Embry Riddle if possible​
maybe give them a call and explore their possibilities. Good luck!
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I just took the free online king schools practice test to study and got a B.
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Thanks @Asher @deltaoutofdca @Kstate for the tips. Right now I have Jeppesen FAA airman knowkledge books. But I think im going to invest in a sportys subscription.
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You absolutely should. The books only go so far. The question banks get updated and the online courses do a good job reflecting accurate questions you can expect on the written. I’ve found that books are better for studying for things such as ground/oral knowledge for the checkride itself.
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I haven’t done any pilot training (yet!) but I have done my fair share of studying. A great way of studying something complex is to try to explain whatever topic it is to a fifth grade in a way that they’d understand. That requires a pretty good grasp on the subject to do.
Very similarly, in medicine there’s a saying of “see one, do one, teach one,” in reference to a surgery/procedure. That’s obviously not applicable in all aviation contexts, but it definitely can be in some. For example, you could listen to your CFI make a radio call. Then, the next time you make it yourself. Finally, you have to explain how do to it to a fellow student who hasn’t done it yet or even a non-aviation family member.
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I’ve done very little training in aircraft, but I can tell you that I highly recommend the Sporty’s course. Not sure if you’re familiar with AAA Driver’s Education, but they are roughly the same. Interactive “minigames”, videos, and a main course. If you want actual flight school curriculum, then the FAA-H-8083 (pretty much any of them, but the blue book mainly) is usually on-par with most, if not all flight schools.
From what Mort said previously, I was suggested a book that was $80 on Amazon. It may have been Jeppssen, though I forgot, but it explained the 8083 book in simpler, less technical wording. Happy studying!
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Thank you guys very much! Sporty’s is becoming a popular candidate so I think ill give that a try!
Yeah, sportys is good for private from what I hear. Anything beyond private I recommend sheppardair.
For the written I literally just spammed practice tests until I consistently got 95%+ several times in a row and that helped me to get a 90% on the written. The higher you get on the written, the easier your PPL oral exam will go, so don’t just aim to get the minimum passing grade.
Also the written loves to just throw in questions to try and trick you (there were several like that on mine) that you really are unable to study for, so just know your information and choose the best looking answer and try not to second guess yourself. I honestly thought I got a 75% max on my written b but ended up doing a lot better than I thought!
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Awesome thanks! About the Oral exam, how did you prepare for that? I have PP oral exam guide, but its a lot of questions to memorize. Did you just use practice test questions for the oral exam as well?
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Watch as many PPL mock orals on Youtube as you can. That’s what I did and it honestly was really good. Also do mock orals with your instructor and study what you are expected to know on the ACS!
The examiner is not looking for perfection, and it’s OK if you don’t know something, but you do need to know where to look it up that’s not Google. I was asked a few niche questions that I hadn’t practiced for, but I was able to find the answers to them in the POH/FARAIM
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There’s plenty of mock orals on YouTube, I’d highly recommend watching those to prepare. It gives you an idea of how the test will go and what kind of questions may be asked.
Also, get a copy of the ACS. It’s available for free online, and there’s one that comes with ForeFlight (if you have that). Read through it, line by line, and make sure you feel confident answering at least 2-3 questions about each one.
Definitely focus on getting the written knocked out first, the subjects you miss on that test will pop up in your oral.
Hope this helps!
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Thank you both @AviationFreak @DiamondGaming4 . Super informative!
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But, if I’m not mistaken, I am pretty sure you need for flight hours as well too. I think that’s the first step, then a few hours in they introduce you to ground school.
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