Best time to take written for instrument rating

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Blueangel

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Scott
I'm wondering what is best time during instrument training to take and pass the written exam. I've heard it's good to take it toward the end before the check ride and others say before starting training.
 
I passed mine in the beginning, but I doubt it matters much. If you get it done early you can focus on flying since you have it out of the way, but I suppose if you take it later it may help you also prep for the oral portion of the checkride.
 
Before the checkride.

Doesn't really matter that much
 
Took it just after starting the flying part of the course. Helps you understand what is actually happening as you fly the procedures.
 
I took mine before I started flight training for the instrument.
 
I'd say it depends on your plan to knock out the rating. If you plan on hitting it hard in a set amount of time, it might make sense to get it out of the way earlier. On the other hand, if you're planning on fitting in training in your spare time and it might drag a bit, take the written toward the end. That way, you're less likely to time out on the two year window.
 
IMHO, its as soon as possible after the moment you feel confident that you can score 90% or better on it. Don't wait!
 
I passed mine 1.5 years before starting my instrument training. I had some instrument upgrades I wanted done before starting the training - mainly the GTN 750.

I reviewed for the check ride, nbd. I do think it should be done before the flight training starts. My school strongly recommended that.
 
I favor waiting until you have some instrument training hours logged. It's tough to answer a question about a situation you have never experienced.

Bob Gardner
 
bobmrg said:
I favor waiting until you have some instrument training hours logged. It's tough to answer a question about a situation you have never experienced.

Bob Gardner
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With the new emphasis on icing, it's fairly likely that unless you are training in a bird with boots, there will be at least one or two questions about a situation you have never experienced.

That said, I agree that it's better to wait until you have a good intuitive feel for instrument interpretation, since otherwise it can be a grind.

And too early can easily mean that your written times out before you get to the checkride, as mine did. :(
 
With the Private knowledge test, I recommend getting about 1/2 way through.

With the instrument, I'm OK with folks self studying before even starting the training. As a PP, Instrument concepts are not entirely foreign, and what is will be well covered in a study program like King, Gleim, Sportys, etc.
 
Thanks for the advice I will study now and take it after I have few hours of instrument training done. Since I will be living in San Diego the Kings are nearby and it would be fun to meet them.
 
bobmrg said:
I favor waiting until you have some instrument training hours logged. It's tough to answer a question about a situation you have never experienced.

Bob Gardner
Click to expand...

I was about 10-15 hours in before I took it. I spent 4 days studying, 1 day was about 12 hours worth...
 
Blueangel said:
I'm wondering what is best time during instrument training to take and pass the written exam. I've heard it's good to take it toward the end before the check ride and others say before starting training.
Click to expand...

I took a weekend course through American Fliers and took the test at the end. Next day, Monday, started training in the 172, next Sunday completed my IR check ride with a non precision (VOR) Partial Panel Approach in actual. What's your schedule like? A big part of the IR is learning all the rules and procedures, so knowing most of the test will help in the plane.
 
I'd say early during your flight training. It'll force you to learn and apply a lot of important information.
 
As early in the training cycle as reasonable. And Bob's suggestion of having some hours of instruction down will definitely help in grokking the foundational info the exam covers.
 
Blueangel said:
I'm wondering what is best time during instrument training to take and pass the written exam. I've heard it's good to take it toward the end before the check ride and others say before starting training.
Click to expand...

Before you start or early on.

I did my PPL written two weeks before my checkride. But for the IFR, I was happy to get it over with and not have to worry about it. There's enough to learn in the plane.
 
There's a lot to be said for having an exposure flight before starting the written material, as well as having the written material before flying. I would suggest go with your CFII and do a 2-3 hour IFR exposure flight where you work through the fundamentals if flight by instruments and then proceed on an IFR flight to another airport, shoot the approach and go missed, then complete the approach coming home. Now study for a week and take the test and get it done. If you want to do another lesson in that week, go for it.
 
I did the IR written as my "entrance exam" knowing I had 2 years to get the real training/learning done.

Well... 2 years wasn't as long as I thought it was and when I had 1 month to go I scheduled 3 days of fly every day and knock this thing out.

Then life called again and I didn't get 'er done.

Now I need to retake the written.

So, in hindsight, 1/2 through might have served me better.

YMMV.
 
If you are doing it with a 430 or some advanced system, make sure you know the box reasonably well before you get in the plane. Everything has simulators you can download and decent instructional material available. Don't waste a lot of attention learning to work the radios while trying to learn the rest of IFR at the same time.
 
I agree with Scott...take it when it's fresh from study and bust ass to finish your flight training within the next two years (don't do what I did and take it three times and let it expire).
 
Blueangel said:
I'm wondering what is best time during instrument training to take and pass the written exam. I've heard it's good to take it toward the end before the check ride and others say before starting training.
Click to expand...

You live in Sacramento, so it doesn't matter. Where I live it's hard to fly regularly in winter, so that's when I did the written.
 
Put me in the "it doesn't matter" camp.

There are advantages to doing it early and getting it out of the way. There are advantages to doing it once you have some level of training experience under your belt and have a bit of context for most of the questions. There are advantages to waiting until the end and using it as an additional indicator of being prepared for the knowledge portion of the checkride.

Which is better for you depends more on you and the way you learn and retain information than anything else.
 
Got it thanks for the kind replies and pros/cons on when to take the IR written. Since I am doing it over several months I will keep studying and take it half way through.
 
I would study the material ASAP, but don't actually go take the test until you are sure you are going to make it to the checkride. Life happens, it may take you longer than you're anticipating to get your flight time done.
 
Blueangel said:
Actually I'm moving to San Diego but have options.
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San Diego is perfect for instrument training. SoCal Marine Layer is the most benign IMC there is and is great for training, especially in SD where you have the ability to get inland and in the clear pretty easily. Thing about Sac and that whole valley is Tulle Fog. Sometimes it's a long way to get somewhere to land. Rarely does the Marine Layer slip beneath minimums.
 
San Diego also has Plus One Flyers which is one of the last good variety of rental abilities in the country. They even have a PA-46.
 
I knocked it out before any flying. A lot of it is esoteric and just test knowledge. It seems a fair number of CFIIs prefer that students have already gotten it out of the way.

You've got 2 years so if you're sure you'll be going through with the rating might as well get it out of the way.
 
Started the study today and will get it done using ASA, Dauntless and Gleim study materials.
 
Also investigate www.SheppardAir.com

I used their product and was very satisfied with ease of use and end results. The interface is very sparse and "80-s old school", but the learning technique works just fine.

During the use, I had a need to reach out to the company to ask a question. Their CSR I spoke to was very knowledgeable and very helpful.

A definite recommend from me.
 
I think the new 2016 ASA test prep books comes out sometime next month based on the Aug publish date for the 2015 book.
 
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