Self studying for IFR Written

Bonchie

Bonchie

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Bonchie
I'm about to start studying for the IFR written. I used Gleim (along with their online practice tests) and passed my private easily. I plan to use them again.

With my private I was nearly done with my training when I went and passed my written and I actually left ground school early to do so because I was moving at such a fast pace. With the IFR I'd like to get the written knocked out first and already have that knowledge in place (preferably studying over the next month and starting training in December).

Is that possible or will most instructors not sign you off to go take the test without extensive training first?

(Yes, I realize I could ask an instructor, but I'm looking at several instructors right now and want a sense of what to expect from my requests).

How did some of you guys go about it as far as schedule of the written + your dual training?
 
I would show your instructor some practice tests showing that you get some decent scores. For me I got my Instrument and Commercial knocked out before I started training. It helped that my dad is a CFI and was able to sign me off.
 
Took my written before the training. Of the writtens I've taken so far, the IR was the least applicable to what I eventually learned in training. My advice (which is worth exactly what you paid for it) is to study for and take/pass the written. Then forget everything* you learned for that aspect of this adventure and get to learning the real stuff with your instructor (on the ground and in the plane).

*OK, maybe not everything... but much of that written just seemed so far out there compared to the "real" learning I did during instrument training.
 
Gliem once had a sign off sheet ,with their course materials for a home study sign off.
 
It's possible, but not everyone is good at it. If you come to me for the sign-off, I'll require that you do at least three complete 60-question tests with something like the Gleim test system and get at least 85 on each test, and then I'll go over a) any areas that you repeatedly miss, and b) a couple of spot checks on other areas before signing the endorsement. That could take as little as an hour or two, or as much as a couple of days, depending on how much knowledge you actually have developed on your own. But there's no way I sign someone off merely because they show me a bunch of books they claim to have read and tell me they think they're ready.
 
I did the sportys and thought it was good. I like the Ipad courses with videos.
 
I just went through the Gleim and when I came across things I struggled with I would look them up in other materials. I passed with a 90... did the same for my Commercial and got a 96. Only took me about a week to study both times. A lot of flight schools will have you take a mock test before signing you off (at least that's what I've been told) I had a slightly different experience. I took my IFR written in the middle of my training, and my Commercial before I started. Good luck!!
 
If you are doing their full IFR course, both Gleim and King...and I would imagine others as well should provide a sign off at the end of the program to take the test. I did Gleim for my PPL and King for my IFR and was signed off and written test completed before I ever even met my CFI.
 
As said in another thread, King Videos, then Gardner texts, and Ron Levy coaching got me a solid foundation of the knowledge things for IA. Add in a splash of Dogan and Machado for variety.

SheppardAir.com got me throught he written exam.

There is no one set recipe for certain success. It's left to the individual airman to determine which product(s) suits him or her the best.
 
frfly172 said:
Gliem once had a sign off sheet ,with their course materials for a home study sign off.
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I forgot about that. I used the Gleim books and got an instructor sign off. He wanted me to get it out of the way towards the beginning. I took several tests and read the explanations, not just memorized answers.
 
Its frustrating that the test material is so ancient.

Study hard, get through the test, then go learn what you really need to learn.
 
sheppardair.com is the way to go. I used them before I started my IR training. In 2 weeks from the start of sheppardair I passed. Once you are scoring in the 90's I believe they will give you the sign off for the test. Follow there program and you will pass.
 
Buy the asa instrument knowledge book and study the material. I didn't purchase any specific online course and passed.
 
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I used kimg schools for my ppl amd gleim for my ir and cpl. gleim helps you pass the test i scored 90 and 95 respectively on my last two writtens. however, they are only good study materials to help you perform on the test. knowledge-wise i took my time to read the jeppesens book, faa handbooks, far/aim, everything explained for the comercial pilot, and learn from my flight imstructors and fellow pilots. The asa oral exam guides are also good reads. Being a good and safe pilot involves on going learning.
 
simtech said:
sheppardair.com is the way to go. I used them before I started my IR training. In 2 weeks from the start of sheppardair I passed. Once you are scoring in the 90's I believe they will give you the sign off for the test. Follow there program and you will pass.
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I can confirm they will provide the test sign off via email once you send them screen shots showing you passed their practice exams by 90 or better a few times.

The memory aid chart from them was very useful. I took a day to memorize and practice recreating on a blank sheet of paper. When proctor said start the exam, I ignored the computer for the first five minutes while I memory dumped the aid sheet on to the supplied paper. 12-15 of my questions came straight from there.
 
AggieMike88 said:
I can confirm they will provide the test sign off via email once you send them screen shots showing you passed their practice exams by 90 or better a few times.
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I guess he difference between me and them is I won't give you the endorsement based on practice test scores until we've gone over the items you missed on the practice tests to make sure you've now got them right.
 
I started watching the Sporty's 7 DVD IR set this week. My plan is to go through these, mess with procedures on my non FAA approved Flight Sim and then maybe in 6 months do Shepards Air for the written... and then I'll get with an instructor and make a run at the rating. I just got my ticket last week so want to fly quite a bit before I get back into training mode.
 
OkieAviator said:
I started watching the Sporty's 7 DVD IR set this week. My plan is to go through these, mess with procedures on my non FAA approved Flight Sim and then maybe in 6 months do Shepards Air for the written... and then I'll get with an instructor and make a run at the rating. I just got my ticket last week so want to fly quite a bit before I get back into training mode.
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My advice is not to mess with procedures on the flight sim unless you've worked with a CFII. Bad habits can be hard to break. Get some lessons with a CFII first and then work on the sim. Just my two cents.....
 
I've taken the written several times before I got around to doing the flying. One time I got the sign off as part of a formal groundschool. One time I convinced a CFI that I had self studied enough. Another time, Irwin Gleim printed a completion certificate out of my computer after I took the online test.
 
asgcpa said:
My advice is not to mess with procedures on the flight sim unless you've worked with a CFII. Bad habits can be hard to break. Get some lessons with a CFII first and then work on the sim. Just my two cents.....
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Good advice... I'll watch the videos, get a few lessons and then practice.
 
asgcpa said:
My advice is not to mess with procedures on the flight sim unless you've worked with a CFII. Bad habits can be hard to break. Get some lessons with a CFII first and then work on the sim. Just my two cents.....
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Concur completely....just my 8 years working as an instrument-specialist instructor (which may or may not be worth more or less than CPA's two cents ;)).
 
If you buy the ASA Instrument rating test prep DVD which I did then once you score above 85 or 90% on the practice tests it will generate a letter to present for taking the actual written test. I used ASA for my private pilot written test and using this for IR.
 
I've got to give another plug for Sheppard Air. I shut myself in my bedroom for a weekend and passed my IR. Studied for a cumulative 2hrs and passed my Commercial. Spent a couple evenings and passed my FOI, and working on my FIA now. Great stuff, almost everyone here uses it with excellent results.
 
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