Best strategy to cram and slam for passing IR written?

B

Blueangel

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Scott
Hi folks,

I'm looking for a quick way to knock out the IR written exam in 1-2 weeks. Looking for best test prep materials for this.

Thanks,
Scott
 
I'm familiar with gleim and sheppard. Both are fine for passing the test. Don't expect much residual learning from the process though.

You can also do it by taking free practice tests from various free sources and reading the instrument flying handbook and the instrument procedures handbook (both free from the FAA online) from cover to cover.
 
Get a program that has practice tests. Take 100 practice tests.

I used Gleim like this. Others use Sheppard Air.

What I did with Gleim was read the E-book that covers the material. After each practice test, they have "study guides" which take those missed questions, re-ask them, and then give you the correct answer and explanation (along with why the others aren't correct).

Do that enough times, and you'll make a high score. I made a 98 a few days ago.

If you just want to memorize the questions in a few days, do Sheppard Air.
 
Brad Z said:
I'm familiar with gleim and sheppard. Both are fine for passing the test. Don't expect much residual learning from the process though.

You can also do it by taking free practice tests from various free sources and reading the instrument flying handbook and the instrument procedures handbook (both free from the FAA online) from cover to cover.
Click to expand...

I think if you do it right, you can learn the material while also memorizing most of the questions.

By using Gleim I can now read all the en-route charts, approach plates, weather charts, know different weather phenomena, how to gauge a hold entry, etc. without needing a multiple choice in front of me.

But I took a month to study and made it a point to use the study guides (created from your missed questions) after each test to make sure I understood why I got it wrong and why the right answer is what it is.

Now, if you just take Sheppard Air and memorize the answers over a few days, you won't retain stuff.
 
I like the gliem,worked well for me actually ,learned a bit also.
 
In my opinion, having tried a few different ones, Gleim has the best drill-and-kill software. They have a very usable image viewer which lets you do the questions with only your computer. No supplemental figures book is required.
 
I did some of the King stuff - I like them, but it's jarring when they mix a clip from 20 years ago (with a young Martha) with a newer one. Gleim also helped.

But hey, I only got 72 pass rate, so I'm sure there's a better way… :D
 
Blueangel said:
...I'm looking for a quick way to knock out the IR written exam in 1-2 weeks...
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with this if you're also planning to learn the material.

Unlike a test in, say, Roman history, where you can move on in confidence that you'll never have to take the test again, flying IFR might give you another test during every flight. So you need to know your stuff.

(Anticipating objections: Yes, there is stupid and unnecessary stuff on the test, but the majority of it is not stupid.)
 
Just knock out the test....Sheppard Air all the way
 
Thanks I will use Sheppard Air and order Gleim. I am flying with a CFII right now so will learn the actual practical stuff as well.
 
For cram and slam Sheppard Air. You will memorize answers but not really learn.
 
For a cram course...whatever you choose also get the Gleim audio review and download it to your phone. I listened to that over and over any time I was in the car driving and that helped me tremendously.
 
Dauntless is good.

Also, if you can invest 3 days and $450 the American Flyers weekend course has a very good pass rate.
 
I did a ground school for IR so just need to take a solid week to concentrate on study. Will do that this month. Found a CFII that is flying with me this summer to OSH so we can do training and long IFR XC there and back for real world IMC experience!
 
I passed with an 88% using Shepard Air however didn't follow their 'study strategy'. I went through all the questions once showing only the answers. Any I didn't understand I read the explanation on them. They have a memory aid but didn't use that... would rather understand how to do something than memorize that "all Block 10 questions are the highest number except 32,44,69 which are the mid answers". I ended up going through most the questions a 2nd time and marking ones I missed. Had about 150 of those questions but got to a point that I started to confuse myself... so I just went and took the test.

Knowing that there is zero correlation to how well you do on the written to how easy your oral will be I view anything over minimal passing as wasted effort. So I have an 18% waste factor, so I could of saved a few hours of study.

Edit- I also watched the Sporty's IFR course as well as had a few IR lesson flights under my belt.
 
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