Taking the ATP written

[T206driver]

I just don't know. I bought the 2006 version of the ATP test from ASA. I have read about as much as I can stand. I have taken the ATP 135 portion test 20 flipping times. My score aways seems to end up between 75 and 80. I feel like I am beating my head against the wall. I wonder did ASA put out a piece of junk? WTF am I doing wrong. I shouldn't walk into a perspective employer with a lousy 75 or less and say I passed. That just doesn't cut it.

 

[kf4amu]

I bet you are getting frustrated and taking the test too fast and getting different questions wrong each time.

For these tests you need to separate the questions into 3 pools. 1. questions you always get right, 2. questions you think you know but arent sure so you get various ones wrong, 3. questions you totally guess at.

Remove the 1st pool and ONLY concentrate on the 2nd and 3rd.

With good software you can retake the tests using only the questions you got wrong. After a few rounds you will start recognizing the proper answers and now those questions can be put into the 1st pool.

Thats just to get a good grade, not necessarily learn the material.

 

[JediNein]

The one thing that changed my practice scores from 70s to 90s was getting and using a magnifying glass. Some of those figures are downright unreadable.

Then, go through the test, answering only the questions you know off the top of your head. Skip all the ones that you have to think on, do calculations, or don't know. This should have your score in the 70s.

Next, go through and do the calculations. This should have the score in the high 70s to low 80s.

Now, go through and answer all the hard ones. This is the 80-100 percentile area.

If the above doesn't work, get a copy of the current book (08's out in a week or two), use a highlighter, and highlight the correct answers only for the sections giving you the most trouble. You'll need at least two highlighters, if not more. Because it's the most recent exam, take the practice exams in the back of the book.

Once your practice scores hit the 90s, take the test!

 

[LR60BOY]

And when you are given the option of taking the FAR 121 or 135, take the 135 version! The calculations section, i.e. W&B, is easier for a BE1900 than a B727. The prospective employer doesn't care which one.

This advice is given on the fact that I took the test 7+ years ago but, I don't think it has changed.

 

[T206driver]

I do take the 135 version and I still get those 727, 737 and DC-9 questions. I have become proficient in the w&b type questions. I think the 727 w&b questions are less likely to introduce more errors in the calculations and to me are easier than the B1900 questions. You are right, some of the charts are downright unusable. Never fear I have a piece of clear plastic with some very straight lines on it. I can go over missed questions with the software. Sometimes I just shake my head at the bad explanations and or were did they get those numbers from, especially with the EPR calculation. I really wanted to know if anybody else has had this much fun with an ASA product. They claim I can do the Flight Engineer test from the same software, I have my doubts. Thanks anyway for your support.

 

[Inconceivable]

About five years ago they put a mix of all a/c types on both tests.

The wife just got the ASA test prep last month since it now works on a Mac. Interestingly, all of the tests for every rating are installed, but cant be accessed without the appropriate license key. There is a directory called "htmlhelp" which has HTML versions of all of the study guides for all of the tests. Kind of nice for reviewing IR written stuff before a regional interview or whatever.

The ATP written software also includes the Flight Engineer tests as well.

In the books as well as the software, ASA has never been good at telling you why an answer is correct, only that the others are wrong--and sometimes why

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Not to boast but I got a 99% on the 121 written. All self studying - no prep courses with conveniently truncated question banks.

My advice is to purchase the software and book from Gleim. Great study system. Some questions are best answered with the book (charts etc.) and others can be quickly glossed over with the software. The software will also allow you to get throuh questions much quicker in a vendor format of your choosing. You'll also be able to segretate the questions as one poster has mentioned. The book was nice to have as I kept it in my bag when I traveled or wasn't by the cpu which had the software installed. This way, you can peck away at some questions here and there in your spare time.

I took the 121 a few years ago and it still had some 135 aircraft and W&B questions on it.

My advice is to study EVERYTHING excpet the 121 regs or 135 regs depending on which test you're taking. Everything else may come up. Happened to me.

 

[FlyinFife]

I agree with Amish: use the Gleim test-prep software. The ability to do practice test in a format resembling the format you will actually use is very helpful.

The best thing you can do is set a date to take the test. Keep this date as a hard date that you cannot change. This will force you to study. Depending on how much free time you have, do a practice test or two every day.

Probably the only complaint I have about the Gleim software was that the practice tests were not random enough: you start running into the same questions or groups of questions after a handful of practice tests.

Good Luck!

 

[Morettis]

If you really want a good score without spending that much time, use the program they sell at http://sheppardair.com/ I spent about 10 hours going over the questions in the program and reviewing their cheat sheet they give you and got a 94% Best 75 bucks I ever spent.

 

[shamrock]

I shouldn't walk into a perspective employer with a lousy 75 or less and say I passed. That just doesn't cut it.

Pass the test, go get your ATP, and nobody will ever care what you score was.

Do employers actually look at test scores?