Word on the Written Test

Kodiak

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Kodiak
I took the written test yesterday. The college in my town that usually gives the test was still cowering in place because of the Chi-virus. So I drove 90 miles to San Angelo, Tx and took it at an aviation company there. The first thing I saw when entering the testing company was a religious sign on wall that said, "If God meant for man to fly, he would have given him more money". Everyone may have already seen this discouraging sign before, but this was my first. You can take in rulers, CX-1, and other such equipment, but no writing utensils and they make you empty your top pockets and leave you billfold and gun in your car (well this is Texas, after all). They give you 2 pencils, both dull and not sharpened. They take you into a little room with partitioned off fixed desks where the computers are located. There is a camera fixed on the wall behind you and you are watched by the tester the whole time you are in there. You instructed to not leave the room, I suppose even if it is on fire. You cannot talk to anyone else in the room (I was alone).

I found the test to not be too intimidating. I only didn't recognize 2 questions, but missed 5. As well as I recognized all but the answer to two questions and as careful as I was to reread each question, I am not sure how I could have missed more than 2. Unfortunately, you don't get to see what you missed. The FAA, of course, wants to protect the test so that people can't just memorize the answers. The two written test prep sites I used for preparation seemed to have all the question and their answers anyway. I got one test question that I recognized from both of the test prep sites, but both of these sites have different answers to the question and both swear that they have the right answer. I used the one from the test site that is the most reputable. I had to guess at the answer because of the following.

This brings up something about that particular question. It was one that covered finding the center of gravity. The diagram is the one that has pilot/passenger, rear passenger, luggage, fuel, and oil lines fanning out from 0º to 90º in a graph. The testing site gives you a sheet of tracing paper to draw the lines on the graph, but there is NO WAY you can clearly see the graph lines though the tracing paper. This is a great flaw in this test. What should be done is you should be given maps and graphs that you can actually draw on. I suggest that you be sure to memorize the answers from web test sites because that is the only way you are going the pass any of those graph questions. I would mention the answers but the FAA gives a warning before the test that revealing any questions on the test will bring about a sure punishment that seemed to imply something like 40 lashes with steel tipped wips or being dragged by a rope behind an FAA car.
 
When I took my written test I was provided with a binder full of all the reference/figures from the test so I could look at the paper versions if needed and calculate anything. They also provided a clear sheet of projector paper and a marker so I could draw over any charts or graphs without writing on the actual reference material. They had a small room with partitioned desks as well as a video camera over each desk so the proctor could watch from another room and they recorded the event in case any questions came up. You could leave the room to use the restroom if needed but had to notify the proctor and get escorted so you couldn't walk out to your car to google anything or look in a book, this didn't pause the test though and your time was still ticking away while you were away so it was recommended to use the restroom before actually starting the test. I think I missed 3 questions and at the end I was able to see the questions I missed but it did not provide the correct answer. You should have gotten a paper from the testing center with codes on it that identify the questions you missed and your CFI should be able to look those up. At least, mine was as he had to sign my logbook stating we had gone over the questions I missed. Oh, I also had to empty my pockets and they put all my personal items in a bag that was stored at the front desk waiting for me to return after testing was completed. Pretty sure that's standard for any test that is proctored.
 
Unfortunately, the book with graphs and such is so large that making copies for each student would make the exam twice as expensive as it is now. Onion skin paper would let you see the graphs underneath but I don't think anyone at the FAA or the testing centers know what that is.

I like Will's note that his testing center provider plastic slide and marker.
 
...You should have gotten a paper from the testing center with codes on it that identify the questions you missed and your CFI should be able to look those up....

Yes, I got 3 of those codes, but I couldn't locate where to find them. The FAA sight had something about them, but I couldn't see where to find them.

PA.I.B.K1 PA.I.E.K1 PA.I.E.K2
 
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Yes, I got 3 of those codes, but I couldn't locate where to find them. The FAA sight had something about them, but I couldn't see where to find them.
Show it to your CFI. Mine had a book or app that allowed him to figure out what they correlated to.
 
Unfortunately, the book with graphs and such is so large that making copies for each student would make the exam twice as expensive as it is now. Onion skin paper would let you see the graphs underneath but I don't think anyone at the FAA or the testing centers know what that is.

I like Will's note that his testing center provider plastic slide and marker.
I had the advantage that my testing site was also a flight school so they probably get more than a few students taking the written and can justify the hassle/expense of creating it. On a side note, they only had like 2 or 3 binders with the materials in it so if they had 2-3 people taking the same test they all got their own binder. Would probably look bad for people to be passing binders back and forth during a test. While the tests questions change or get cycled in the computer its my understanding that the figures refenced in the tests are always the same number. i.e.- a sectional of Hampton roads will always be figure 3 regardless of which question you are on or how the computer cycles the tests. I'm just guessing on the figure number as I'm not cool enough to memorize stuff like that.
 
I took my written in March. I got a calculator, pencils, and a sheet of scratch paper to go with the Supplement (which was a printed book, so yes, the figures or graphs/charts are always numbered the same). I also brought in my (nonelectronic) E6B and my rotating plotter. No handy overlays or anything to help with graph questions. I thought those were so easy because I had previously only had them on a computer screen. Ever try to accurately trace a graph on a computer screen? Ick! Anyway, I had no problem with those questions, and I didn't have the answers memorized.

If you want to look up your own answers like I did, you can do it by using this PDF:

https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/private_airplane_acs_change_1.pdf

Is that what you were referring to?
 
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Your first code has this explanation from the ACS:
Knowledge The applicant demonstrates understanding of:
PA.I.B.K1 General airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes, including:
PA.I.B.K1a a. Certificate location and expiration dates
PA.I.B.K1b b. Required inspections and airplane logbook documentation PA.I.B.K1c c. Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
Your second code:
Knowledge operating under VFR as a private pilot.
PA.I.E.K1 The applicant demonstrates understanding of:
Types of airspace/airspace classes and associated requirements and limitations.
And your third:
PA.I.E.K2 Charting symbology.
 
There is a camera fixed on the wall behind you and you are watched by the tester the whole time you are in there.


When I did the ATP written there was a camera on the wall, but it was unplugged. Next to the plug was a hand written sign, ''Video recording. Do not unplug''.

The proctor started off reading something, but when I looked up 30 minutes later he was snoozing soundly.
 
Ah, religious sign? Lol, you're joking right, lol. The tests are now proctored, meaning someone sitting in there with you or a camera on which the proctor can watch you. Glad you passed.
 
Yes, I got 3 of those codes, but I couldn't locate where to find them. The FAA sight had something about them, but I couldn't see where to find them.

PA.I.B.K1 PA.I.E.K1 PA.I.E.K2
Gleim test book used to have the codes in the back and a list of questions for each. Maybe they can’t do that any more.
 
I took my written in March. I got a calculator, pencils, and a sheet of scratch paper to go with the Supplement (which was a printed book, so yes, the figures or graphs/charts are always numbered the same). I also brought in my (nonelectronic) E6B and my rotating plotter. No handy overlays or anything to help with graph questions. I thought those were so easy because I had previously only had them on a computer screen. Ever try to accurately trace a graph on a computer screen? Ick! Anyway, I had no problem with those questions, and I didn't have the answers memorized.

If you want to look up your own answers like I did, you can do it by using this PDF:

https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/private_airplane_acs_change_1.pdf

Is that what you were referring to?

I guess that is going to be as close as you can get to knowing what you missed.
 
Hmm. I wasn't disarmed last time. Were you open carrying?
No, but the test signup sheet you get from PSI states that. I don't really think that even the FAA has the authority to keep you from carrying at a test. It said no weapons. I usually ignore such things but decided to not test it. It may be like these little pistols signs with a no-no circle overlaying it - meaningless here. I have seen only one open carry since that started.
 
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I guess that is going to be as close as you can get to knowing what you missed.

As far as I know, yep. If you already have a good idea which questions you missed, though, it is pretty easy to see if the codes match up with what you are thinking.
 
Ah, religious sign? Lol, you're joking right, lol. The tests are now proctored, meaning someone sitting in there with you or a camera on which the proctor can watch you. Glad you passed.
The sign had a picture of some Greek god character flying through the air with his arm stretched straight out in front of him with a propeller spinning on the tip of his finger.
 
Gleim test book used to have the codes in the back and a list of questions for each. Maybe they can’t do that any more.

I have the current Gleim book, but the codes in the back don't correspond to these codes.
 
Yes, I got 3 of those codes, but I couldn't locate where to find them. The FAA sight had something about them, but I couldn't see where to find them.

PA.I.B.K1 PA.I.E.K1 PA.I.E.K2

Did you read the paragraph above that line?
 
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