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3 Answers

Private Pilot Checkride Prep

Asked by: 2702 views Private Pilot, Student Pilot

I've been studying for my PPL checkride that's coming up, but I've seen several delays due to weather. I've been reading the PPL checkride oral prep book and I also have a virtual reality set with a Cessna in it so I've also been doing that a little bit for practice. Since I've been delayed so much I find myself forgetting some of the small stuff and it's really stressing me out.  What's an effective way to prepare when you can't make it to the airport?

3 Answers



  1. KDS on Feb 09, 2019

    There are courses like the King’s that will walk you through a test.

    I’ll bet if you located the local Civil Air Patrol that one of the members who is an instructor would be happy to sit with you and go over a mock oral at no cost.

    If you can find someone who has recently taken a test with the examiner that you will use, ask them about their experience. The examiners all work from the same set of rules and standards, but each one has an area that they go into a little deeper than the next person.

    READ the ACS (all of it). You would be absolutely amazed at how many applicants show up for a private pilot test and during the flight say things like “how slow do you want me to fly during slow flight” or “what bank angle do you want during steep turns”. I know of a case where the applicant completely overshot the landing during a short field landing and though he was doing fine as long as he didn’t run off the end of the runway. It’s really the instructor’s fault when things like that happen, but it’s the applicant who gets the pink slip.

    Know the difference between Part 1, Part 61, and Part 91 in the FAR’s. Know the definition of an accident per the NTSB regulations.

    Look at your section chart and ask yourself “what is that symbol” and “what does that line mean” and why it this thing the color that it is. Look at everything in the legend.

    RELAX … Despite what it sounds like when your instructor talks to you, I can guarantee you that your examiner WANTS you to pass. He or she also wants you to be safe and legal, so the examiner isn’t going to bend the rules (too far), but down deep in their heart, they are tickled pink when you do well. So, do study, but don’t stress because the examiner is really on your side.

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  2. ayavner on Feb 10, 2019

    It sounds like you are doing the right things as far as keeping your head in the mental space by reading and using your simulator… keep in mind, there are GOING to be things that you forget, we all do. That’s why they keep printing books.

    Maybe teach yourself to think differently about it – rather than trying to learn and memorize every fact (you won’t), learn to get good at how to look it up. Of course, you don’t want to look up everything, and I am not suggesting that at all. But I think you will find as you study and you find these things you forgot, discipline yourself to looking it up. Not in your notes or youtube videos, but actually at the source – whether that be the FAA books or the FAR AIM or whatever.

    As you go through this exercise you find that you will be smoother and more fluid at looking things up when you need to, and you will also end up reinforcing the info in your mind as you do. Put a tab on that page when you do.

    As an example, sometimes I would have problems memorizing the weather clearance and visibility minimums. Rather than staring at endless products to try to cram all that into my brain – I look for the things that are common (1/5/2, 3SM, etc) then its much easier to remember that the rest of it is in 91.155 than it is to try to remember all of the gotchas. In an oral situation, you would simply use the white board to fill in everything that you do know (which I bet will be most of it) then you can explain well there are a couple that slip my mind just now, but here if you look in 91.155…. etc etc…. Extra points if you explain that if you are planning an XC, you would be certain to remind yourself of the requirements for any airspace you’ll be in, using the regs if necessary.

    There is a lot of memorization required, but a lot of that comes with practice and experience. The test is not a memory test, it is to see if you have a grasp on the subject and can be safe. My instructor told me the 3 D’s – don’t do anything Dumb, Dangerous, or Different and you should be OK.

    Relax! 🙂

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  3. PocketCFI on Feb 20, 2019

    1. Read the ACS multiple times. It is a great source of information for what is expected. Most examiners will also ask you if you read it and if you say no that isn’t good.

    2. Nothing beats being given an oral exam prep test. In a part 141 environment this is supposed to happen during your End Of Course exam. I would recommend that you try and either get this done with a CFI you like or use a service that offers these exams by certified instructors.

    3. Recorded videos of the oral exam are also good and are the next best thing. While the oral prep books have good content in them they are not the same thing as being given an oral exam by someone who has seen multiple FAA Checkrides. It is a big difference as your answers can lead down different paths of questions.

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