Which Topic on the PPL or Instrument Written Test Gave You the Most Trouble?
Posted by googhacker@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I’m working on my PPL right now and just started digging into the written test material. I’ve been surprised by how weirdly some questions are worded and how much detail gets tested that doesn’t seem super intuitive—like the METAR stuff, or the rules around special use airspace.
I’m curious for those of you who’ve taken the test (PPL or instrument):
What tripped you up the most when studying?
Was it a specific topic, a type of question, or something about how the info is presented? Just trying to get a feel for what other pilots have struggled with—and maybe swap study ideas while I’m at it. Thanks in advance!
Consistent-Trick2987@reddit
Studying for instrument now and the VOR/HSI position questions are the death of me. I’ve heard a lot people say understanding holds was difficult but those make sense to me. PPL came a lot of easier for me. Instrument definitely more challenging but also much more interesting material.
Rictor_Scale@reddit
Start pounding as many free, online written tests as you can. Repeat them until you're near 100%. After a while you will start to recognize questions from the FAA bank, especially the ones vaguely or poorly written. This has a positive side effect of highlighting areas you need to study up on especially for your eventual check-ride. Engage your CFI about particular trouble areas.
For me it was TAFs, runway markings, clouds, and VORs. In fact I found the written, one-line, rapid-fire type of questioning with a short, quick answer to be similar to how my oral went. For example: What is CFIT? Controlled flight into terrain.
walleyednj@reddit
Personally, I hate the VOR/HSI position questions with a deep burning passion. However, I did get a 97 on my PPL exam and 98 on the IR (go Sheppard Air!).
mustang__1@reddit
Those started to make a lot more sense to me when I realized it's easier to think about like "well you just haven't turned the airplane yet"
Anthem00@reddit
Nothing should trip you up. If it does - it’s a lack of understanding that you need to address. For instance - metars that you mention. Every pilot knows it should know how to read metars. You use them multiple times every time you fly.
FuriouslyFurious007@reddit
Not exactly. Some of the questions from the FAA are very oddly worded as the OP stated. It might not be due to a lack of understanding but just confusion over the wording.
On to answering OPs question: I got a 95 on my written. One of the questions I messed up was exactly that, a metar question. They showed three long metars and ask for the cloud type. I just didn't see any clouds listed, but obviously I missed one in there. I wish I had studied that section more.
Anthem00@reddit
There is a difference between you missing a question in the test vs just metars being foreign to you and you not understanding them…. Lots of people are going to make mistakes because of wording or because of deceptive questions. But if you don’t have a clue about metars because the concept trips you up - well then you’re just guessing on the test and you still lack understanding afterward.
Odd_Importance_2446@reddit
lol
Helpful_Corn-@reddit
Personally, I found the performance chart questions especially difficult, specifically the ones with the graph that you have to read across the page. They are small and low resolution. You have to follow the guide lines with just the right spacing. It all makes them quite difficult to parse correctly.
Then you have the answers. Sometimes they are so close together that any of them might be right, and sometimes none of them seem to make any sense.
ATrainDerailReturns@reddit
Imma be real I just took the L on many of the VOR position questions
Sharp-Beyond2077@reddit
PPL exams were ok but CPL exams were annoying. The wording of the questions. Feels like they aren't testing your knowledge more your English comprehension. Like they purposely trip you up to make more money on a resit or something. Read through the questions carefully. 1 little word can be the difference between a pass and fail.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I’m working on my PPL right now and just started digging into the written test material. I’ve been surprised by how weirdly some questions are worded and how much detail gets tested that doesn’t seem super intuitive—like the METAR stuff, or the rules around special use airspace.
I’m curious for those of you who’ve taken the test (PPL or instrument):
What tripped you up the most when studying?
Was it a specific topic, a type of question, or something about how the info is presented? Just trying to get a feel for what other pilots have struggled with—and maybe swap study ideas while I’m at it. Thanks in advance!
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