CPL written Help!

[miss soufrits]

ok so i have been preparing to do my cpl written exam...i finished up ground school over a month ago and have been studying like mad since...
i have done the transport mock exam online and got over 90%, i did the whole flipping book (600 questions) of the Canadian Commercial Pilot answer guide and did really well...high 80s
Soooo, the kicker is I went to write the mock exam at my flight school yesterday and got only 60%!!! Have i studied myself stupid?? Any words of wisdom? Anyone, anyone?

[767]

Read each question at least 5 times. Most of the time, there is going to be one single word in the question that will lead to the correct answer. I personally had a hard time getting through the cpl written. My advice is to read the questions very very very carefully. Good luck!

[E-Flyer]

ok so i have been preparing to do my cpl written exam...i finished up ground school over a month ago and have been studying like mad since...
i have done the transport mock exam online and got over 90%, i did the whole flipping book (600 questions) of the Canadian Commercial Pilot answer guide and did really well...high 80s
Soooo, the kicker is I went to write the mock exam at my flight school yesterday and got only 60%!!! Have i studied myself stupid?? Any words of wisdom? Anyone, anyone?

I don't want to make you not take your in-school exam seriously, but many in house exams are ridiculous. Many times they're overly old versions and don't even have LO-Charts !

The trick isn't in doing the exam, make sure you actually know the theory behind everything ! Doing questions and sample exams isn't studying, in case you misunderstood the purpose of studying. What I see studying as being is a in depth review of the subject areas you are weak at or need to learn more about. When you're done studying you review your material and go in and write the exam. It's not the hardest exam out there, know your stuff and it should be fairely straight forward.

There's a great post with respect to the cpl written exam and it has some great feedback from people who wrote it in the March / April time frame of this year.

Good Luck

[B-rad]

.

[miss soufrits]

Doing questions and sample exams isn't studying, in case you misunderstood the purpose of studying.

I realize that the cpl wants you to know everything in more depth than the ppl...hence why i studied and studied and studied, i know how to study...
i only started to do the mock exams a week ago just to gage how i was doing...

Found the post you mentioned (commercial written - Depth) and it was helpful...thanks!!!http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... =3&t=40967

that test is designed to fail so you know. your not meant to pass it.

Even my instructor was stumped and baffled by some of the questions and content...

[E-Flyer]

Doing questions and sample exams isn't studying, in case you misunderstood the purpose of studying.

I realize that the cpl wants you to know everything in more depth than the ppl...hence why i studied and studied and studied, i know how to study...
i only started to do the mock exams a week ago just to gage how i was doing...

Found the post you mentioned (commercial written - Depth) and it was helpful...thanks!!!http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... =3&t=40967

that test is designed to fail so you know. your not meant to pass it.

Even my instructor was stumped and baffled by some of the questions and content...

There's no doubt that there are some nasty exams out there, but I don't know your instructor and thus have no right on placing a judgment on him/her, but remember, that instructor might of gotten 60% on all of his subject areas on his PPL and CPL written exams, and barely passed a flight test, and barely passed his exams for the instructor ride and may have been surprised that the theory he didn't read up on before is coming back to chase him. There are always people who try to find the easy way in things. Yes, even in aviation. Just because an instructor has a good attitude doesn't automatically make them a good instructor ! And the other way around.

But again, that's just a possibility so never take the excuse of the instructor to cover up an event that you're not proud of. I know it stings !

I'd be more than glad to try answer any questions you have that your instructor was "surprised" about. You might have one of the best instructors at the school you train out of, but then again, I don't know. I've seen a lot of examples where the students go blind and think their instructor is the best while in reality, that instructor is the dude with the best attitude... but not necessarily the best instructing skills.

Also, your instructor shouldn't be surprised that all of the questions you got wrong were screwed up, I am sure he's been in the industry long enough to realize that TC has some bad exams. I mean, he has gone through:

PPAER
CPAER
INRAT (potentially)
Maybe the IATRA if he's leaving for a carrier soon...

and most likely a lot of discussions with respect to TC.



Good Luck and do let us know how it turns out !

[alti2d]

If you haven't seen it in the answers already.... 2 answers can usually be tossed out straight away, there's no relevance, or very little actual relevance to the question asked. The remaining two answers are often very close in general intent, and sometimes, the smallest difference of wording will determine which is right or wrong. I've sat at the table several times and SWORN that both remaining answers were absolutely correct. It makes it a challenge...

[1000 HP]

Just go write it and relax. If you fail it you can write it again soon.. I went to write the instrument exam in April, without knowing what it was called. (Okay so I am verging on geezerhood). So I wrote the IATRA (Two Crew). Got only 58%! I was horrified Then it comes out that the exam should have been the INRAT! Got (can't remember:pass) I think 82%. No problem. You can fail as many times as you like, but you only have to pass once.

[square]

On my school's mock exams, they would just subtract 30% off everyone's scores.

[k411]

Just go write it and relax. If you fail it you can write it again soon.. I went to write the instrument exam in April, without knowing what it was called. (Okay so I am verging on geezerhood). So I wrote the IATRA (Two Crew). Got only 58%! I was horrified Then it comes out that the exam should have been the INRAT! Got (can't remember:pass) I think 82%. No problem. You can fail as many times as you like, but you only have to pass once.

yes but for every fail you have to wait 30 days times the amount you failed up to 180 days

[miss soufrits]

But again, that's just a possibility so never take the excuse of the instructor to cover up an event that you're not proud of. I know it stings !

Of course it stings...but it was a practice exam...and the only real bummer is feeling as though you are ready, then not getting the mark needed to get the ok to write transports...and forgetting some of the basic stuff because i have crammed SO MUCH into my head...perhaps i do need to relax a bit...
Honestly knowing how far apart the taxiway lights are spaced isnt going to save my ass or make me a safe pilot??

On my school's mock exams, they would just subtract 30% off everyone's scores.

in that case i got 90%...excellent

Doing another pratice exam on Monday...we'll see how it goes...

[square]

Honestly knowing how far apart the taxiway lights are spaced isnt going to save my ass or make me a safe pilot??

Actually you can count the number of visible runway lights from the threshold, multiply by 200 and use that as a valid visibility. Get enough of em and it can mean getting your butt outta dodge when you're stuck in some northern town that's "rough around the edges." That could at least save you a kidney.

[miss soufrits]

Runway lights i see as important and knowing there distance...taxiway lights i am not to sure?

[cubonfloats]

It's not the hardest exam out there, know your stuff and it should be fairely straight forward.

i was told the same thing before i wrote my cpl (by no means is this a personal attack)...then i stopped and thought about that sentence.. what exam will you bomb when you "know your stuff"? of course youll do well when you know your stuff, thats why you study 'your stuff'. [end rant]

getting to know 'your stuff' isnt the easiest thing because your tested on 7 or 8 sebject areas.

if you are comfortable with 'sharper edge - commercial exam prep 2008' you are more than ready for the exam.

[Ant118]

Hi Everyone,

Im new to the fourms. Im currently in to process of my CPL. Im unfortunatly partialed my wrttien with GEN. Gen of all things too. I did high 80's-90's on NAV, MET, and Air Law. Now I know this subject must have been beaten to death but is there any other reading material that would definitly help. My instructor has told me if I just read over "From the Ground Up" I will be fine. But there has to be more! Also a good friend of my family who currently is a 777 Captain for AC told me to get forestair or something like that? Thanks in Advance.

[jpar84]

Hey,

I have been told the c******** book ismuch better than from the ground up and is almost a necessity for study for my CPL, just looking for opinions form those who have used both.

cheers
JP

[loopa]

Hi Everyone,

Im new to the fourms. Im currently in to process of my CPL. Im unfortunatly partialed my wrttien with GEN. Gen of all things too. I did high 80's-90's on NAV, MET, and Air Law. Now I know this subject must have been beaten to death but is there any other reading material that would definitly help. My instructor has told me if I just read over "From the Ground Up" I will be fine. But there has to be more! Also a good friend of my family who currently is a 777 Captain for AC told me to get forestair or something like that? Thanks in Advance.

Chances are the 777 captain wrote his tc exams 20 years ago. But he could be right.

At the end of the day, you weren't prepared to be a commercial pilot, and the sole reason I say that is because as a commercial pilot, you're supposed to know your craft very well. Don't take it wrong, it may come across as a dick maneuver to say this like that but honestly, GEN is one of THEEEEEEE most important subject you will tackle with during your ENTIRE career as a PILOT. When you sit in on that Air Canada Ground School getting type rated to fly the A320, I could say the largest chunk of the information you attain comes from your understanding of GEN today. Sure it's RPM and MP now, but it will be EPR or N1/N2 later; the whole concept of knowing the basics of something will be the sole reason why you would do well and set a good impression in your Airline Ground School Why do you think there's a technical exam as part of most if not all airline interviews?

I heard Cathay's technical exam covers the first 60 pages of FTGU...

A weak knowledge in GEN with a combination of MET would probably be one of the most COMMON reasons you see airplanes crashing. Looks like your met is up there, but gen is 50% of what you obviously don't have enough understanding in.

Don't rush, wait more than 14 days if you need to, attend a few seminars, read up on FTGU, treat your self like a Student Pilot who is learning that stuff from scratch. Trust me, learning this now will save your butt in 10 years when you're commanding an Air Canada Jet !

As far as study material, FTGU and ASA's Green Ground School books are the ones I find the best. The ASA book has better pictures but the writing of FTGU is much better. Cross reference those two books.

Get c******* if you want to learn a bunch of mistakes. But once you finish studying ASA and FTGU, get the sharper edge manual, and tackle the GEN section.


Best of luck !

[Ant118]

Hi Everyone,

Im new to the fourms. Im currently in to process of my CPL. Im unfortunatly partialed my wrttien with GEN. Gen of all things too. I did high 80's-90's on NAV, MET, and Air Law. Now I know this subject must have been beaten to death but is there any other reading material that would definitly help. My instructor has told me if I just read over "From the Ground Up" I will be fine. But there has to be more! Also a good friend of my family who currently is a 777 Captain for AC told me to get forestair or something like that? Thanks in Advance.

Chances are the 777 captain wrote his tc exams 20 years ago. But he could be right.

At the end of the day, you weren't prepared to be a commercial pilot, and the sole reason I say that is because as a commercial pilot, you're supposed to know your craft very well. Don't take it wrong, it may come across as a dick maneuver to say this like that but honestly, GEN is one of THEEEEEEE most important subject you will tackle with during your ENTIRE career as a PILOT. When you sit in on that Air Canada Ground School getting type rated to fly the A320, I could say the largest chunk of the information you attain comes from your understanding of GEN today. Sure it's RPM and MP now, but it will be EPR or N1/N2 later; the whole concept of knowing the basics of something will be the sole reason why you would do well and set a good impression in your Airline Ground School Why do you think there's a technical exam as part of most if not all airline interviews?

I heard Cathay's technical exam covers the first 60 pages of FTGU...

A weak knowledge in GEN with a combination of MET would probably be one of the most COMMON reasons you see airplanes crashing. Looks like your met is up there, but gen is 50% of what you obviously don't have enough understanding in.

Don't rush, wait more than 14 days if you need to, attend a few seminars, read up on FTGU, treat your self like a Student Pilot who is learning that stuff from scratch. Trust me, learning this now will save your butt in 10 years when you're commanding an Air Canada Jet !

As far as study material, FTGU and ASA's Green Ground School books are the ones I find the best. The ASA book has better pictures but the writing of FTGU is much better. Cross reference those two books.

Get c******** if you want to learn a bunch of mistakes. But once you finish studying ASA and FTGU, get the sharper edge manual, and tackle the GEN section.


Best of luck !

Thanks no don't think that it is a dick maneuver. I know now that I wasn't prepared for that section. And yes everyone is telling me that gen is the most important section. That's why I came on here to ask for advice from far more knowledgeable pilots then myself. I'm currently studying my butt off again lol. So I'm going to grab that ASA book and study both and go through them. Thank you for the advice, and will keep everyone updated

Thank you.

[ywgflyboy]

ok so i have been preparing to do my cpl written exam...i finished up ground school over a month ago and have been studying like mad since...
i have done the transport mock exam online and got over 90%, i did the whole flipping book (600 questions) of the Canadian Commercial Pilot answer guide and did really well...high 80s
Soooo, the kicker is I went to write the mock exam at my flight school yesterday and got only 60%!!! Have i studied myself stupid?? Any words of wisdom? Anyone, anyone?

I don't want to make you not take your in-school exam seriously, but many in house exams are ridiculous. Many times they're overly old versions and don't even have LO-Charts !

The trick isn't in doing the exam, make sure you actually know the theory behind everything ! Doing questions and sample exams isn't studying, in case you misunderstood the purpose of studying. What I see studying as being is a in depth review of the subject areas you are weak at or need to learn more about. When you're done studying you review your material and go in and write the exam. It's not the hardest exam out there, know your stuff and it should be fairely straight forward.

There's a great post with respect to the cpl written exam and it has some great feedback from people who wrote it in the March / April time frame of this year.

Good Luck

That is great advice. I studied myself stupid for my PPL exam to the point I kept putting off the actual exam. The practice exams are ALWAYS misleading. What I found the worst about my practice exams is that they had wrong answers ALL the time. THey had great intnetions to prepare us for the exam, but they were not english teachers and not all that bright either. (sorry if any of you guys over there know me and read this.).

I eventaully just had enough and went to write the exam. I got above 90% in every section and felt stupid for how easy it turned out to be and all the time I spent avoiding it based on the practive exam marks of 60%.

You can also study and memorize EVERY question in the world but in the end, if you spent 25% less time and just memorize the theory behind the question, you will not even have to read the answers to come up with your answer. Which is how I usualy write the exams.

Good luck and don't stress about it.

[square]

OK let me tell you a secret. The practice exams are basically useless, they do not teach you anything. They're there as a VERY QUICK guide to whether you're ready to go or not. I never used them and won't ever bother.

Here's a novel idea though: forget the exam. Try to learn the material. When you feel comfortable with the material you're ready to have a licence.

Here a novel study tip: get the Study & Reference guide. Go through the bullet points. Look each bullet point up in the FGU. Learn the 200 words it says on it. Proceed to next bullet point. Repeat until comfortable. Write.

It's so simple that it's painful to watch people struggle through the little tricks they've been "tipped off" to go through.

[E-Flyer]

OK let me tell you a secret. The practice exams are basically useless, they do not teach you anything. They're there as a VERY QUICK guide to whether you're ready to go or not. I never used them and won't ever bother.

Here's a novel idea though: forget the exam. Try to learn the material. When you feel comfortable with the material you're ready to have a licence.

Here a novel study tip: get the Study & Reference guide. Go through the bullet points. Look each bullet point up in the FGU. Learn the 200 words it says on it. Proceed to next bullet point. Repeat until comfortable. Write.

It's so simple that it's painful to watch people struggle through the little tricks they've been "tipped off" to go through.

Seems like for once we have the same opinion about something