knowledge test results coming back to haunt you

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

My dad who is at about the same place as me in training (he is only
doing it as recreation) keeps drilling to me that it is EXTREMELY
important to do as best as I can on these tests, because he is sure that
if I get a bad grade, then it will hurt me in the long run when it comes
time to get a job. Of course, when he took his instrument test two weeks
or so ago, he got a 100%. But then again he probably spent 15 hours a
week for 4 or 5 months studying (mildly exagerated), which I am just not
willing to do as I actually have a life. I personally haven't taken the
instrument test yet, but i got a 72 on my PAR, and when my dad found out
about my score, he (typically) threw a fit.

I personally feel that if the test results indeed do effect me in the
long run, it shouldn't. Even though I got a barely passing grade on my
private knowledge test, that doesn't;t necessarily mean I only know 72%
there needs to know about being a private pilot. If I was to retake the
test now, I guarantee I'd get at least a 90. That is to say I learned a
lot during my training, as I *did* afterall pass my checkride.

So does it really matter, or is my dad just being a over-achiever?

In article , chris priest
wrote:

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

how will anyone find out? Can you prove that you got a 100 or a
72? Does the FAA provide transcripts? I couldn't find my
written test scores even if my life depended on it. All I
can prove is that I got at least the minimum (otherwise I wouldn't
have my ASEL and my instrument rating).

--
Bob Noel
Seen on Kerry's campaign airplane: "the real deal"
oh yeah baby.

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article , chris priest
wrote:

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

how will anyone find out? Can you prove that you got a 100 or a
72? Does the FAA provide transcripts? I couldn't find my
written test scores even if my life depended on it. All I
can prove is that I got at least the minimum (otherwise I wouldn't
have my ASEL and my instrument rating).

The score is printed on the result sheet.

CB wrote:

The score is printed on the result sheet.

I expect that Bob no longer has that sheet. I'm in the same boat. I wouldn't know how
to go about finding out what I scored back then. It wouldn't surprise me to find that
the FAA keeps a record of it, but do other people have access to it?

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.

chris priest wrote:

So does it really matter, or is my dad just being a over-achiever?

I think that both you and your Dad are looking at the wrong target.
Consider: You're a pilot, true. Do you want to be the worst pilot or the
best?

No, of course the score on your written exams isn't an absolute measure of
your quality as a pilot. But why not shoot for perfection? Why not be the
best possible, even if it involves actually working hard?

Yes, you learned a lot afterwards. But that happens. Why not start from
the best position possible?

One of the CFIIs with whom I did my complex checkout and with whom I've been
working on my commercial reminded me of this in a way. He pointed out that
every landing was an opportunity to put it down precisely at my chosen
point. Every flight is an opportunity to practice planning and control.

There are plenty of opportunities where we could settle for less than our
best, but why bother?

- Andrew

Chris,
Once the rating has been obtained very few will care. At my first
interview for a flying job. They never asked. They only asked for copies
of my certificates. Your score on the written will affect how long your
oral will be, the lower the score the longer your oral. Once all of the
information for your rating makes it to the FAA it essentially
dis-appears forever. It maybe possible to get a copy of the test results
after the rating is obtained but the FAA will want to know why.
Michelle

chris priest wrote:

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on
pursuing a career in aviation, whether that be in the military,
corporate, regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor.
Now when it comes down to hiring, will the results of my private,
instrument, commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

My dad who is at about the same place as me in training (he is only
doing it as recreation) keeps drilling to me that it is EXTREMELY
important to do as best as I can on these tests, because he is sure
that if I get a bad grade, then it will hurt me in the long run when
it comes time to get a job. Of course, when he took his instrument
test two weeks or so ago, he got a 100%. But then again he probably
spent 15 hours a week for 4 or 5 months studying (mildly exagerated),
which I am just not willing to do as I actually have a life. I
personally haven't taken the instrument test yet, but i got a 72 on my
PAR, and when my dad found out about my score, he (typically) threw a
fit.

I personally feel that if the test results indeed do effect me in the
long run, it shouldn't. Even though I got a barely passing grade on my
private knowledge test, that doesn't;t necessarily mean I only know
72% there needs to know about being a private pilot. If I was to
retake the test now, I guarantee I'd get at least a 90. That is to say
I learned a lot during my training, as I *did* afterall pass my
checkride.

So does it really matter, or is my dad just being a over-achiever?


--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

I doubt any employer will be able to obtain the scores from teh FAA,
assuming that the FAA even keeps those things.

What I would be worried about is the 72% score. True, it is a passing
score, but just barely. While not all questions on the written exam are
critical to safe flying, some of them are. You may be able to score 90%
now, but sometime between now and then you were probably flying with a
weaker than average knowledge, and that could be a cause for concern.





chris priest wrote in
:

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on
pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

My dad who is at about the same place as me in training (he is only
doing it as recreation) keeps drilling to me that it is EXTREMELY
important to do as best as I can on these tests, because he is sure
that
if I get a bad grade, then it will hurt me in the long run when it
comes
time to get a job. Of course, when he took his instrument test two
weeks
or so ago, he got a 100%. But then again he probably spent 15 hours a
week for 4 or 5 months studying (mildly exagerated), which I am just
not
willing to do as I actually have a life. I personally haven't taken
the
instrument test yet, but i got a 72 on my PAR, and when my dad found
out
about my score, he (typically) threw a fit.

I personally feel that if the test results indeed do effect me in the
long run, it shouldn't. Even though I got a barely passing grade on my
private knowledge test, that doesn't;t necessarily mean I only know
72%
there needs to know about being a private pilot. If I was to retake
the
test now, I guarantee I'd get at least a 90. That is to say I learned
a
lot during my training, as I *did* afterall pass my checkride.

So does it really matter, or is my dad just being a over-achiever?

FAA does keep records of your test scores and they are available, presumably
to anyone who has a need to know. I got mine from 35 years ago. It was
painless.

Rod
"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article , chris priest
wrote:

This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

how will anyone find out? Can you prove that you got a 100 or a
72? Does the FAA provide transcripts? I couldn't find my
written test scores even if my life depended on it. All I
can prove is that I got at least the minimum (otherwise I wouldn't
have my ASEL and my instrument rating).

--
Bob Noel
Seen on Kerry's campaign airplane: "the real deal"
oh yeah baby.

I once invested $10 in getting a copy of my complete airman certification
record, from my first medical/student pilot certificate to my last CFI
renewal. It included my written test scores.

Having said that, I do not believe that a prospective employer or any third
party could have access to your pilot record by simply asking for it (and
paying the $10). I don't think it is worth worrying about.

Bob Gardner

"chris priest" wrote in
message ...
This has been on my mind for a long time now. I am planning on pursuing
a career in aviation, whether that be in the military, corporate,
regional, the airlines, or possibly as just an instructor. Now when it
comes down to hiring, will the results of my private, instrument,
commercial etc. knowledge tests come in as a factor?

My dad who is at about the same place as me in training (he is only
doing it as recreation) keeps drilling to me that it is EXTREMELY
important to do as best as I can on these tests, because he is sure that
if I get a bad grade, then it will hurt me in the long run when it comes
time to get a job. Of course, when he took his instrument test two weeks
or so ago, he got a 100%. But then again he probably spent 15 hours a
week for 4 or 5 months studying (mildly exagerated), which I am just not
willing to do as I actually have a life. I personally haven't taken the
instrument test yet, but i got a 72 on my PAR, and when my dad found out
about my score, he (typically) threw a fit.

I personally feel that if the test results indeed do effect me in the
long run, it shouldn't. Even though I got a barely passing grade on my
private knowledge test, that doesn't;t necessarily mean I only know 72%
there needs to know about being a private pilot. If I was to retake the
test now, I guarantee I'd get at least a 90. That is to say I learned a
lot during my training, as I *did* afterall pass my checkride.

So does it really matter, or is my dad just being a over-achiever?

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote:

I doubt any employer will be able to obtain the scores from the FAA,

The Privacy Act of 1974 prevents FAA or any gov't agency from release
of this kind of info for the purpose here. Although, an employer can
ask you to sign a release authorizing the FAA to disclose it, or
simpler yet, ask you to get it from FAA yourself.

F--