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Path: utzoo!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!plb
From: plb@dcdwest.UUCP (Phil Blais)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: weekend ground schools
Message-ID: <219@dcdwest.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Nov-85 14:48:22 EST
Article-I.D.: dcdwest.219
Posted: Tue Nov 26 14:48:22 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Nov-85 22:10:34 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: ITT Defense Communications (San Diego)
Lines: 41



>Even one of the "two day wonder courses" claims that (approximate quote)
>"you will have enough knowledge to be able to pass the test IF TAKEN
>WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME".  I suspect that people who take these short
>intensive courses don't retain the material as long as others 
>(I would like to hear from people with positive comments about this
>type of course).

While working on my instrument ticket I attended a two day "wonder
course" given by King Accelerated Ground Schools. I hesitated in
making my decision to go for all the usaul reasons but figured I'd
give it a try to see what it was like and at the very least I'd
learn what was considered significant and what was less so as regards
the written test (atleast from King's prospective).

The course was given on a Sat. and Sun. and consisted of a number of
lessons covering all the basic areas. The test was taken immediately
after the course on Monday night. There were seven people in my class
and as it turns out all seven passed the test. Test scores for these
seven ranged from aprrox. 70 - 90.

Observations:
This type of study is very intense as there is alot of material 
presented in a very short time. Very little time is available for
discussion after a lesson because you'd never finish if it were,
atleast not in two days. Retention is a personal thing. Granted, you
probaly will retain more from a formal study course given over a
semester or whatever, but if you as an individual really want to learn
the material you'll study on your own anyway (in both cases) and then
I'd say retention level would be comparible. One big advantage of the
accelerated course is that it helps you zero in on the material that
is most relevent to the test. This could be called 'teaching the test'
but if the FAA considers it important enough to test on then one
should probaly assume its for a reason and learn the material well.

Course cost for me was $125 which included a study guide and a CFII
present as the course was given. All lessons are videotaped, well
organized and professionally presented. You do begin to hate the
face on the video tape after about 12 hours. (=:.