Posted by Mike Porter @ 12:05 PM, February 05    
I also studied my butt off for the SP written. I also loved the ASA book you are using. I also read through the relevant FAR's about 50 times. Test I got had 61 questions and I felt so prepared it felt easy! I scored 100%. I had two instructors and learned much from both. I am now studying to become a SP CFI.

Posted by Douglas @ 02:43 PM, February 05    
I found the biggest problem to be the way some of the questions on the "written" (computerized) exam were stated. If your interpretation of the meaning of the question is incorrect, it's difficult to get the correct answer. Make sure you know what they're asking for!

Also, you never know what questions you'll get. My exam had THREE questions on ADFs(!), and NONE on chart navigation! Hopefully they're getting rid of the ADF questions by now.

I still managed a 93%, so no need to be overly concerned.

Good luck to you!

Posted by David @ 07:23 PM, February 05    
I got my private pilot's license back in April '08 (a couple days after my 17th birthday). I bought the Gleim Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Test book three days before I took the exam. It provides all of the questions in the FAA's "question bank" along with explanations for each of the answers. I just went through that for a couple days straight, and I came out with a 90%. If you are interested, here is the Sport Pilot version of the Gleim book: http://www.gleim.com/products/productdetails.php?proID=6825

And Brady, you are doing great! I have thoroughly enjoyed following your blog, and I have encouraged other people interested in flight training to check it out!

Posted by Brian Meyette @ 08:19 PM, February 05    
Some advice regarding the written test:

After you take your written test make sure you SAVE THE RESULTS. You can't take the practical test without them. When I did my practical, I found out at the last minute that I'd need the results from the written. I hadn't realized that, and had no idea what had happened to my results sheet. Rather than wait months to get a copy of them from the FAA, I rushed out and took the test again, with no studying. I didn't do nearly as well the second time as I had the first, but I still passed, then took my practical exam.

It sounds like you're fully prepared for the written, so just relax & take it.

It's good advice to do at least some training & review with a second instructor.

Posted by brent stahelin @ 09:06 PM, February 05    
Take your exam as close to your checkride as possible so you won't have to study it all over again.

Sporty's had free online practice exams that were great.

Good luck.

Posted by Brian Eberle @ 08:06 AM, February 06    
I have to agree with Brent. I took my PPL written at 10 hours, now that I'm at 40 hours and ready for the checkride, I find myself studying all over again! You are preparing the right way, you won't have any problems. However, as I hit the books more, I'm understanding the point that we are getting a 'license to learn' ,-)
Good luck!
Brian

Posted by Dennis Moellman @ 11:11 AM, February 06    
Take the damn test, already! Quit stalling.

Posted by Paul Aseltine @ 12:20 PM, February 06    
Hi Brady, it looks like you are doing all the right things torward success. Keep in mind that all the questions you are practicing will be also covered in the oral exam when you will go for your final check ride to get your pilot's license. It is a cool feeling to getting closer, but stay focused because the learning never stops. Great job!!!

Posted by Michael McMahon @ 01:14 PM, February 06    
A high-school math teacher had us answer all the test questions twice, go through the exam once, answer all the questions (I think I wrote my answers on paper) and then go through the whole test again. You will have plenty of time. Then compare the two sets of answers. It sounds obsessive compulsive, but it's worked for me for many years. I feel like it takes of some of the pressure to give yourself two looks at a question.

Good luck, you're well prepared and will have no problem passing.

Posted by Tyler @ 08:19 PM, February 06    
Did any of you guys take a ground school class, or did you just learn from the books and questions?Brady, are you taking ground instruction at all?

I'm wondering weather to take my exam directly after the end of the class, it will be more fresh. Will i forget all the material if my checkride is too long after?

Thanks

Posted by Dennis Kirk @ 08:29 PM, February 06    
If you feel you are absolutely ready for the written, you prabably are not. The really cool thing about aviation is that there are no boundaries! When I took my written, the questions seemed to be a breeze! I only scored 95 and I thought to myself, which question(s)did I miss? My conclusion was that I had second thoughts about an answer and changed it! Another is that I did not interpret the question correctly. The fact I am making is to trust your instructor! Ask him about things you are not 100% sure of and he will be glad you are asking! Pilots want to know they are flying in the sky with other knowledgable pilots! Be a pilot that ask the questions on the ground before you take-off__- it makes your flight so much more enjoyable! Remember__you alredyy know the answer to the test questions, think about the right answer and mark it! GOOD LUCK! Dennis Kirk

Posted by Chris @ 03:38 PM, February 09    
Hi Brady,

I too am from Oshkosh, now living in Chicago. I just earned my PPL after 60 hours and three months of intense training and studying. I know what you mean, eat, sleep, study. This flying thing gets addictive, only because you have to really stay on top of it to get it done. My advice is to just take the test. You don't want to appear too "book smart" on the practical anyway. If your already scoring a 99% on the practice tests, you're ready. My payoff was flying into OSH two weekends ago, keying up the mic to say "Good afternoon, Oshkosh tower...." What a feeling!! Good luck!

Posted by Chad @ 07:28 PM, February 16    
Make sure you review ALL the material very thoroughly before taking the exam, not just the sample questions. The FAA doesn't publish all the questions. I thought I'd breeze through it since I took maybe 20 practice tests and scored 100 on all of them, but the actual test had many questions on it I had never seen. I was able to figure out most of them by drawing on my training and reasoning them out, but I missed a couple and ended up with a 95. The proctor told me the FAA only publishes 50% of the questions, so I'll sure remember that when I go on to my private.

Good luck with your exam.

Posted by Evan Lynch @ 10:19 PM, February 22    
Whoo way to go!!! I really started viewing your blog a few weeks ago, now I am all caught up and hooked. I have been coming onto the site and checking daily to see if you have made any new video entries. I am an A&P and long time EAA, AirVenturest. I did in fact get to go flying today on a test fight. It was just about 3 or 4 touch and goes around the pattern but what a rush. I have been a hobby Flight Sim X pilot, but now after becoming a viewer and a fan of your quest for test PPL. The flying bug is really biting now. So Thanks and keep up the good work.
A&P E.

Posted by dj willis @ 05:28 PM, February 24    
hi brady i have wathed most of your videos, and i am 13 and play fsx and i really want to become a piot. i live in canada and im in air cadets so when im 16 i can sign up for a camp and go through some tests and interviews and if i get accepted i can get my licence for free. thats just a private licence though i think. i have studied a lot on planes, so do you have any suggestions on what kinds of things i should get familiar with or study so my knoledge on avaition can grow! thanks

Posted by Brady Lane @ 02:04 PM, February 26    
Hi DJ: Well you’ve already taken a good first step - joining the Air Cadets. By the way, the Air Cadet League http://www.aircadetleague.com is similar to the Civil Air Patrol in the states. That’s an important first step.

Have you gone on a Young Eagles flight yet? Find out more here: http://www.youngeagles.org Best of all it is free!

From there we’d suggest getting your hands on as much information as you can. There are many books that deal with learning to fly. One of the favorites is called “Stick and Rudder.” Many pilots consider it a classic. The web is also a great resource. Since you live in Canada, some of the regulations are different than they are here in the states, so I’d suggest checking with Transport Canada. Their web site has a good deal of information that will help. Also try here: http://www.airfun.org/bap/index.html The more you can learn about the “how” and “why” of flight before you start flight training the better.

I’d also suggest checking with your leaders in the Air Cadet League. Remember in Canada, you can solo a powered airplane at age 14, so you are getting close!

Brady

Posted by Brian @ 05:27 AM, February 27    
Congrats on passing the written Brady. I've heard the opposite, the worse you do on the written, the tougher the DPE is on the oral exam. At least I hope so, I'm taking my check ride Monday ,-)

Posted by travis @ 07:17 PM, March 11    
Good job. I too took my test recently on the 2/23/09 to be exact(90%). Yes I felt prepared as I have a great instructor.( Paul Hamilton, he wrights and collaberates with ASA). Hope to have my certificate by May 1, as I am leaving the Reno area and would hate to be with another instructor.

Posted by Michael kalugin @ 04:22 AM, July 05    
Brady, I know I've missed the section of which courses from which companies you used in studying. My instructor like the John and Martha King series, as they think the video helps student remember both the tests on the written test, but also concepts a bit broader than reading just text. Your candid thoughts, please? Sounds like you have done really well throghout.