In preparation for finally getting my instrument rating I have been taking practice written exams online.  Most of my scores have ranged from 70% to 85%.  Not bad for a guy who hasn't studied instrument stuff in 10 years.  The local instructor wants you to consistently score 80% or higher before he will sign you off to take the written, so I have a little work to do.  I hope to have my rating by this summer.

My advice.. for what it's worth, is to fly actual IMC, as often as possible. 'Under the hood', is OK, but not a whole lot more educational, than what you can drill into your subconcious practicing instrument procedures in the sim (with good hardware). It's all good, but nothing makes you put (and learn) all the knowledge to use, and commit it to instinct; from weather-stuff, to flying holds; like planning for, and flying in, unforgiving, REAL conditions.. where you cannot see past the prop, and ice CAN happen, and being IN a cloud can turn you upside down, instantly..

It gives a whole new reality to the theories tested on a written exam, and makes wrong answers stick out glaringly  ..  :)

DaveSims wrote on Mar 14^th, 2012 at 8:54pm:

In preparation for finally getting my instrument rating I have been taking practice written exams online.  Most of my scores have ranged from 70% to 85%.  Not bad for a guy who hasn't studied instrument stuff in 10 years.  The local instructor wants you to consistently score 80% or higher before he will sign you off to take the written, so I have a little work to do.  I hope to have my rating by this summer.

Your post brought back memories of my FAA written experiences. Passed the private with a 70, which was the lowest passing score back then. My commercial was an 88. After those 2 exams I did some thinking. It was clear to me my poor scores were not because I didn't know the material. Back then the FAA exams were multiple choice so I studied several sample exams. What I found was the first answer choice was usually, not always, wrong but it was the one which seemed the most correct for the question - but it wasn't. Armed with this 'discovery' I  maxed the instrument written. The secret? Read the question carefully, very carefully and choose your answer the same way. You'll kill the test!

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My advice.. for what it's worth, is to fly actual IMC, as often as possible.

Gotta agree 110-percent. Just stay outta the thunder-bumpers you guys can get over the corn-fields. Or are you in the soy-bean part of the state?

Fortunately I have all of the required hours for the instrument rating, all I need to do is brush up enough to pass the written and check ride.

Passed the written this morning, 85%.  Wasn't really planning on taking it this morning, peer pressure made me do it.