PPL Written
Posted by Enough-Syllabub3787@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 35 comments
Hi all I need to still take my PPL Written and somebody suggested I used sportys, is this a good way to practice for it? and please tell me some methods yall used to study also
Purple_Ad_8897@reddit
Just took and passed the written today, not in impressive fashion haha. I used Sporty’s and it worked. I foolishly never got the PHAK and it would have been pretty helpful in hindsight. I just watched the videos, did the practice tests, and specifically kept using the “Questions I’ve never seen” feature. Haven’t been in the plane at all other than a Discovery Flight. So Sporty’s did a really good job of making concepts I was very unfamiliar with pretty easy to understand and remember. Good enough to pass anyway. 10/10. Easy to use and track progress. Also, as of last night it was on sale for $50 off for what you need. Good luck!
Secure_Crazy_9447@reddit
Planning to do the same thing! I have my discovery flight soon and started sportys about a weak ago, I’m through the first chapter. What is PHAK? And do you have any other advices for someone who’s currently doing sportys? Appreciate it!
Purple_Ad_8897@reddit
Hello, the Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement blah blah blah book. It’s a soft cover book. You can get on Amazon for 13 bucks. Just type in PHAK, make sure you get the 2026 version it’ll pop right up. It’ll say FAA-CT-8080-2H in the top right cover and has a red cover. Sorry, tried to post a link or a picture, but for some reason, it doesn’t wanna go through on here. They will actually give you. A copy of the book, scratch paper, etc. to use on the test. So, it would’ve been really helpful to have a copy of the book in front of me while studying and going through Sporty’s. Has all kinds of supplements and photos associated with the questions or you can put down overlays, see exactly what supplemental material you might get related to test questions, etc. I don’t really have too much info other than give yourself plenty of time to go through the videos. I watched them on regular speed and paid really good attention. And then I just listened to them again on 1.5 or I would listen to them while I was doing something around the house. I didn’t listen to every single video second time stuff I got down. I didn’t waste much time on. The practice test on sporty is 60 questions but the actual test is 65 make sure to take a calculator, just in case one won’t be provided. I took a mechanical E6B, a old-school slide E6B, a charting apparatus and didn’t really use any of it, but I would definitely take all of that anyway cause you might be the unlucky person who has tons of math questions or something like that where you need those items.
PApauper@reddit
The PHAK is actually the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and is FAA-H-8083-25C (Blue Cover). 25B had a red cover. The PHAK is good for additional information if you are confused on anything Sporty’s videos discuss, but if I remember correctly, you get access to the digital versions of all the books you need as part of your Learn to Fly course. I wouldn’t waste the money buying the testing supplement.
Purple_Ad_8897@reddit
You’re right, it was in Sporty’s and I just never accessed. For me personally, I’d have liked to have the hard copy and not toggle back and forth between tabs. But you’re 100% correct, it comes with Sporty’s. I forgot, good clarification 👍
vanhawk28@reddit
Prepware. App on iPhone that works pretty well
Thomas-Ligotti97@reddit
ASA worked amazingly well. Everybody in my class used sportys except me and 3 other guys and 3 of us scored the highest
vanhawk28@reddit
Yah my instructor told me he’d sign me off when I got 3 90% on the practice tests it gives you and I ended up with an 87 on the actual test so not bad
Thomas-Ligotti97@reddit
Yea I think everybody scores on average like 5-10 points less than practice tests.
I feel like anybody can get a passing grade if they make an attempt with even a little effort. Absurd how many people I’ve seen fail them
Blacklisted777@reddit
+1
_-Cleon-_@reddit
Absolutely, worked beautifully.
Watch all the videos, take the practice exam over and over until you're consistently getting 90%+, and you'll be good to go for the written. Some of the questions are on the exam verbatim.
Primary-Jette-3704@reddit
I used Part Time Pilot for my PPL written and honestly loved it. They have a lot of practice questions, and whenever I got stuck on something, Nick and his team replied pretty quickly. What helped me most was taking lots of practice tests and also always trying to understand why the answer is correct.
Prestigious-Elk-9061@reddit
FlightReady Test prep is great for PPL. Helped me get a 98%. It’s almost like Sheppard Air but for Private Pilot.
Pilot_Neptune@reddit
I used Part Time Pilot and it was awesome. I still follow them on social media and they are always updating their stuff for FAA written changes.
ashtranscends@reddit
I used Gleim for my PPL written and scored in the high 90s. Once you’ve moved on to instrument & beyond, Sheppard Air is the way.
Squawnk@reddit
I feel like gleim is a but unpopular but I quite liked it for my PPL and IR
Thomas-Ligotti97@reddit
Nah use ASA and use the Sheppard air tactics.
They have basically the same questions but I find ASA easier for people for some teason
Mega-Eclipse@reddit
I used sporty's. I watched the videos, but they only cover maybe 50% of what is on the written. Thankfully, sporty's has a test bank of around 1,000 questions that are essentially verbatim what is no the real test.
What I did wasn't the most efficient (but it worked). I just took a bunch of practice tests in test conditions. I memorized some stuff (VFR mins, rules, parts of thunderstorm), and learned the stuff that needed to be learned (weight and balance, takeoff roll, navigation etc). I was taking 2-3 tests a day, and just kept taking them until I was getting 90+% and could finish in under an hour. I got a 95%.
That said, you can sort of mimic the Sheppard method via sporty's. You create a training session that is comprised of the entire test bank for each category (or the entire bank, if you want), Then choose the option to "only show the right answer." The first time through the bank(s), you read the question and the right answer to associate those things together.
There is no "trick", it's just a lot of work.
Ben9096@reddit
Use sportys and keep taking practice tests until you’ve seen every question in their test bank
lakeeffectcpl@reddit
I did the Sporty's course for PPL and IR... Well prepared.
SpicySausageFst@reddit
I used the Pilot Institute course and found their videos and interactive content to be really high quality, comprehensive and modern. Then i supplemented with the free Sportys practice exams after finishing all the PI videos. Got a 93 in the official exam.
Pilot Institute do focus a lot on charts and W/B calculations, which don't come up much on the test anymore from what i can gather. All the content is great for prepping for the oral portion of the check ride though.
I didn't get the PHAK or FAR/AIM materials before taking the exam, but i have purchased hard copies of them since then.
Dizzy_College_1932@reddit
Shepherd Air. 100%. Spend a weekend going through every question and following their study strategy. Bang out a 90+ on a practice test and Monday morning do the real thing.
ashtranscends@reddit
There is no Sheppard for PPL
3417-@reddit
I wonder why not.
Dizzy_College_1932@reddit
Damn I just looked no way. I always saw the tab and assumed they had a course
Worldx22@reddit
Same here
Different_Hour2257@reddit
Sporty is good for PPL and in addition you can make flashcards of things you'll need to remember during the practical part; if you want examples you can check that https://www.instagram.com/airheadatpl/
Desperate-Contest542@reddit
I used Prepware for my PPL and it was good. Then was turned onto Sportys and Sheppard air. I find sportys to be little easier to digest compared to Prepware, has great explanations, and utilizes the Sheppard air style of memorization if that’s something you’re interested in. I think
Sportys is the perfect blend of raw material and learning concepts.
TxAggieMike@reddit
This is an excellent conversation to have with your instructor.
They are there to ensure your success with the knowledge exam as well as flight skills.
Bobs115thDream@reddit
I used Sporty's for PPL and didn't have any issues with the written at all. They cover everything you'll be tested on and the format is very straightforward and easy to digest- basically just 10/15 minute videos on a subject with a small quiz to review. They also have practice tests for you to do too which were very similar to the stuff I ended up seeing in the test and was pretty helpful.
If you don't already have one too, I'd recommend picking up a copy of the PHAK (Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge) too.
False_Reputation_612@reddit
Yup! I used sporty's and got a 93%.
Definitely use the practice tests and keep redoing them until you get 90+ %
Intrepid_Hat_7692@reddit
Sportys yes for PPL
Worldx22@reddit
Sportys to understand the concepts and videos. When it comes to the written use Sheppard Air. I'm using it for my IR written now. Best $50 I spent so far.
RaiseTheDed@reddit
Sheppard Air does not have a PPL written test prep.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hi all I need to still take my PPL Written and somebody suggested I used sportys, is this a good way to practice for it? and please tell me some methods yall used to study also
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