I don't think it matters what you scored on your tests so long as you passed
them without a whole bunch of retries.

For example, you could take a weekend course where you're guaranteed to pass
or you get your money back (you take the test on Sunday afternoon, right
there in the hotel conference room/classroom) and you'll do really well. A
week later, you'll remember half of it. Or, you could take a term-long
course at a community college or university that teaches you well, and you
might not do so well on your score but you're more likely to retain that
which you have learned.

If you failed your checkride half a dozen times, it'll appear in your
logbook, and you may have to explain yourself, but I'm not aware of any
situation where an interviewer will say "Well, you only scored 73% on your
private knowledge exam which you took 15 years and 500 hours ago when you
were 17, so I'm afraid we can't hire you."

-c


"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?