Prep for the IFR Oral

[cookmg]

My checkride is scheduled for two and a half weeks from now. I want to be sure that I am highly prepared for the oral. I have the little ASA book with the most frequent questions asked on the oral. I was wondering how all of you suggest I study for the oral. Should I focus on memorizing this book? Should I get some ground instruction from my CFII? Should I study the King tapes? Should my focus be on the FAA materials? For those of you who felt very comfortable going into your instrument orals, how did you prepare?

Thanks.

P.S. I scored a 93 on the written yesterday. I was very pleased. Should I be prepared to answer several questions on the oral for the areas that I showed weakness on the written?

 

[pilotshan]

First, buy the practical test standards. It looks like your little ASA book, but even skinnier. Then go through the areas of operation where it lists all the subjects for the ground portion and make sure you know everything there is to know about all of the subjects. You can look at the Oral Exam Guide, but don't rely on that at all. When you have questions, call your instructor. A decent instructor is available for his/her students almost always (except when flying and when sleeping, those should be the only times you shouldn't expect them to be available). Finally, about 2-3 days before your checkride, sit down with your instructor for about 2-3 hours and have him/her quiz you on all things related to instrument flying. Voila! A successful oral exam.

 

[bobbysamd]

IFR oral

Your instructor should have been referring to the PTS during the entirety of your training. There is a tendency among many instructors to train students strictly to perform within the PTS because it is the test. Just the same, you should be acquiring knowlege and skill, and the PTS is your yardstick.

Your instructor should schedule a lengthy oral (brief) with you a few days before the practical. He/she should grill you on every knowlege subject in the PTS. I do mean grill. If your instructor is doing his/her job, your practical oral will be a piece of cake.

Review the PTS for the materials upon which the test is based. Probably the AIM and Instrument Flying Handbook will be two references. Know what's in 'em and the others, and prepare answers based on the materials referenced in the PTS. As long as you answer correctly and according to the FAA's line, you'll pass - although you may disagree with the FAA, or your instructor disagrees, or the DE disagrees. The FAA's position is always the final word on what you must know and/or how to do it.

Hope that helps. Good luck with this extremely important practical.

Originally posted by pilotshan
When you have questions, call your instructor. A decent instructor is available for his/her students almost always (except when flying and when sleeping, those should be the only times you shouldn't expect them to be available).

Yes, you should call your instructor with questions you may have. But use discretion when you call. Instructors deserve a life, too. One or two flight instructors even have a life. Just don't abuse the privilege.

 

[dmspilot00]

Dont buy the PTS, you can download it from the FAA's website.

 

[de727ups]

ASA oral exam guide

If I had to say to do one thing above all others.....I'd say memorize that little book. If you can get intel on the examiner and what he is looking for on the oral, if he has any pet peeves, that would be even better. My last IFR guy busted the checkride because, after identifing the NDB, turned down the volume too far and didn't notice it when the examiner turned off his ADF. Cheap trick in my book but that's the sort of thing that happens out there. Turns out this is one of the things this examiner always does so, had I had the intel in advance, could have warned my student. Good luck to you....