I passed the FEB4th class and knowing what I know now I would have NEVER went through it, this is coming from some one who already had completed another ground school at another regional. It was miserable. In the end, because there are still 4 or 5 guys finishing sim, it will be more than a 50% washout rate. Still it was surprising because pretty much everybody was a CFI with good flight time and unlike the other airline ground school where we turned the whole hotel floor into a dorm, it didn't seem like a party kind of class I guess it's because we were spread out at different hotels. Anyways The fail rate I think could only be explained because of the SIM but also because the class was too big and the instructor(s) weren't prepared. It kind of felt like those 500+ seat college style classes where guys were there just to listen and as soon as they stepped out of class all knowledge was out of their head. Airline ground schools especially need to be intimate and preferably one on one like some of the majors do. In the end though it was passable so I don't blame TSA, just the odds were not in your favor....

threegreen, and others going into training, the only tips I can give you is to know the memory items and limitations COLD. The DVDs? Sorry SF, You can through those away, useless, well actually they're good if you want to fall asleep fast. The first two weeks are laid back, it's just Indoc, no brainier stuff. Focus on systems, I think they give you the big black binder of systems first day of ground school. READ it WELL before systems class if you read the binder Chapter to Chapter at least once or twice it's a guaranteed pass on the oral. It's not a hard read too because not much text and a lot of pictures. You can read the whole thing in about 6 hours but understand it. As far as the SIM, sorry to say, is really hit or miss and it depends on who you get as a Flight Saftey instructor, who you get on training if you have to do extra sessions and how fast you're able to adapt to style of flying. There were guys that failed that I would have never believed would so in the end I conluded that TSA training is hit or miss. SIM is tough and most went over the regular sessions. TSA knows their failure rate and they provide mentors and a lot of ways to help you take advantage of that. Good luck.