zondaracer

Hey guys, today a CATS test proctor told me that beginning 1 Jan the FAA is going to start administering new tests with brand new questions and they won't release the test bank like in the past. She told me this is because they figured out that test takers memorized the questions and were finishing in forty minutes. Anyone else hear of this?

Riverside

That is funny, good thing I finished all of my tests.

Brendan

I haven't heard anything.

Probably a good idea in theory...I just took the ATP written today and got a 100 in 20 minutes. Sheppard Air is the best thing going!

UpThere

The answers are out there because of the Freedom of Information Act, if my memory serves me correct. It will be interesting to see if this really is true.

woodfinx

something makes me seriously doubt this, but you never know with the FAA

Outlaw2097

Actually this is the story Ive always heard...guys would sell a prep course for the written...to get the material they would wait outside for other guys that took the written and would just get the answers from them since theyre all from a test bank. Since the FAA didnt like the idea of someone else making a profit off their materials, the just released the test bank to everyone.

Same thing is going to happen...because lets face it, if you had a guy willing to pay for a fraction of your test so he can get some of the questions that were on the test, you would go for it.

Throw in the amount of technology nowadays...it sounds like a feeble attempt to make the written a 'legitimate' part of flight training.

If this is true, I give it 6 months at most before they realize the questions are out and the answers are known.

rickair7777

This is correct. The FOIA does not apply to info which the government has a legit need to keep private. This includes classified defense, diplomatic, and law enforcement info, personally sensitive info (employee/taxpayer data), and things like test questions. Otherwise mobsters would just FOIA the FBI's wire-tap list, etc, etc.

I agree that the new questions will become known, but it's going to blow for the first people who have to take the new tests...especially the ATP, unless they really rationalize it. Currently, the ATP written is a recall-memory test. Perhaps they could make it more knowledge oriented, and less memory/interpretation oriented.

They could do the flight plan problems so as to allow partial credit for each step, and eliminate the trick questions which are based on interpretation of poorly worded regs.

Also, if they are smart they will setup the flight plan problems in a random manner...the numbers used in the calculations would be randomly generated, and unique to each test taker...no way to memorize that.

Photon

second that

sellener

well this sucks if its true....recently bought 300$ worth of king commercial CD/ground school stuff, along with GLEIM CFI and FOI materials for the written exams. Wasnt anticipating taking the exams prior to Jan 1. have expidited my learning and have been getting 83 to 90 on practice exams. Might have to take the exams soon huh.

awacs94

I don't think anyone can prove this a fact. I wouldn't believe it until we know for sure.