RmTrice

Hey guys. Just felt like posting to let you all know that my lifelong dream is about to become true. I'll take my checkride this friday, January 9th, and, pending the results, i will recieve my pilots license! I'm very excited, yet I cant help but feel nervous.

Just a quick question, but does the score on a PPL exam mean anything? Ive heard everything from "if its a low score, your checkride examiner is gonna make your exam hell" to "a 70 is as good as a 100 and a 69 is as good as a 0." I'm embarassed because I just passed with a 75. If the test wasnt 100 bucks I probably would have tried to take it a week later... I was having a HORRIBLE day when i took it.

Here's hoping all is well. Ive been studying like mad the past few days! Not to mention flying every day for the past week as well!

Cubdriver

Your written score will almost certainly affect how your examiner responds and evaulates you. A score much below 90 will make him or her want to see if the missed-question codes on your printout appear to aggregate in any one subject area. If you had a bad day on the test, which happens sometimes and is nothing to be ashamed about, then I would suggest taking it over again.

I advise my students to really buckle down and study for their written and not take it lightly. 90+ is the only really desirable score. If they ace the written then all we have to do to send them to their checkride is maneuvers. Lower than 90 means we will have to spend time making sure they really understand things which is a waste of time for both of us because they could do it on their own. Study a few weeks then go and take it again because $85 will not seem like much if you do not pass your oral exam.

Edit- I see you already scheduled it. Just spend some time concentrating on the things you missed on the code list the most.

jban642

Good luck. I don't thinks that score is all that bad. Yes the DEP might quiz you a little more on the oral, but some times we just have a bad day and the test did not go your way. If you can I would take it over again. However if the checkride is already scheduled then go for it. Just remember to have fun first and foremost. I still think my PPL was my favorite check ride to date. Remember the DEP is not there to fail you he is there to give you a licence.

RmTrice

Thanks guys. Yea, I was sort of aiming for a 90... but things happen. I already have the checkride scheduled for 1pm tommorow, so theres nothing I can do about that. I spent a good 5 hours studying everything last night, I'll review a bit more today before spending the night relaxing, and then tommorow at 9am I'll meet with my CFI for a 2 hour review prior to our XC flight to where ill take my checkride at. I did a XC today while practicing maneuvers and airwork on the way and did very good. The flying part I should ace no problem.. Im sure ill pass the oral as well.

rickair7777

The PPL written is not that big a deal...but shoot for 95%+ on all the rest if you go for more ratings..

Since the question bank is readily available, there is no excuse for a professional pilot to get a low score.

PearlPilot

All the best on your checkride. Sounds to me like you are ready and confident. You will be fine... Good luck!! Can't wait to get there myself, although right now I feel like I have a long long way to go with 20 some hours.

RmTrice

Well, i passed the checkride with no problems at all. I'm officially a pilot. 19 years and $7,000 after I first had the dream lol. At 20 hours I felt like I could never be ready in time. It was tough for me to see that hourly I was halfway through the minimum time to prepare for my checkride, but by my 46th hour I felt confident enough. It's suprising how quickly your mind learns and soaks this knowledge up the week of your checkride. lol

USMCFLYR

Congrats RmTrice! Welcome to world of the pilot. Enjoy, learn, and be safe.
Maybe you could post a recap of you experience here that might be use to others like Pearl coming up the ranks.

USMCFLYR

UCLAbruins

Congratulations RmTrice, welcome aboard. Yes now your officially a pilot, but you become a pilot the day you did your first solo.

Is this a hobbie, or are you going for the whole enchilada (inst/comm/multi/ATP)??? again congrats

RmTrice

Yea, i guess technically my first solo would count as becoming a pilot. As far as where im going? My plan is to go all the way to ATP via the usual multi, instrument, and CFI (CFII, CFIME as well) ratings. My origional goal was the airlines, but after seeing how rough the industry is (i work in it and so does my father), my focus has shifted more towards corporate/business aviation. Everything has its ups and downs, but I feel that, once I shake the nerves of bein a rookie, as long as I'm flying for a decent living, ill be happy. We'll see where life takes me. So far im not in debt!! haha