Maybe I've just taken a bunch of tests in my life so I'm jaded, but you know where you need help, if any...and if you don't then your CFI has failed you.
I had a great CFI and appreciated flying with him because of his experience. He was a 30k hour ATP and A&P who flew anything with or without wings (he got his hot air balloon ticket while he was instructing me). I wanted a CFI to teach me how to fly and how to save my ass if/when the time comes. He's a busy guy who didn't take many students and I assured him that I would be the easiest student he ever had. I labored over subjects that I initially had trouble with and read everything I could, watched youtube videos explaining topics and used this board to expand my knowledge in areas that were initially hard for me truly understand (ie; TAS vs IAS, etc...).
I didn't do a mock oral...at all. But, as I studied material that I KNEW would be asked (because it's on the PTS) I acted as if I were teaching it to someone else. If you really want to know if you know something - try teaching it. My CFI knew I was ready just based on the conversations we would have pre/post flight. He'd throw questions out during lessons and along the way that was his barometer to determine if I was ready or not.
The oral exam is one of the easiest you'll ever take - you have a copy of exactly what the examiner is going to ask you. Verbatim.
I'd say spend your valuable time making sure you really understand topics that you know you are fuzzy with instead of someone asking you the same questions over and over that you already know.
You are going to do a lot better once you're in there and you get the first few questions under your belt. I'm sure your examiner, like most, will be very conversational and will prod you from time to time as well. They know when you're on the right track and will push you along from time to time vs someone who they can tell has no clue.
My examiner told me that he can tell within the first 10 minutes if someone is going to make it through the oral.
Just grab the PTS and go through it with a fine tooth comb. (your examiner will have a copy of it in front of him/her during the oral as they are checking topics off the list...it's like cheating!!
) If there's anything on there that you can't talk about conversationally or better yet explain it or teach the concept to someone else then that's where you need to be spending your time.
Good luck - you'll do fine.
