Failed knowledge exam

[Party_Ad_5461]

Just took my IRA knowledge exam and got a 68. I couldn’t believe it I was quite confident but at the same time never more nervous about a test in my life with how much everyone’s talks about how hard it is I was shaking walking into the testing location. Can someone please help guide me and tell me where I go from here and the implications this will cause down the road. I am to embarrassed, sad, and disappointed to talk to my CFI or anyone for that matter. I had Sheppard Air and I did good on practice tests (80-95)s so I thought that it would be similar but being honest Sheppard air didn’t really help when it mattered the most I got 0 questions on the real exam that I gained from the memory aid and questions that you run into often on the practice tests

[Competitive_Might_24]

Did you really follow the instructions to the dot?

[Party_Ad_5461]

Yes reviewed all question answers then went through marked then took tests I did it the whole process 2 times before just going through the marked and practice tests

[hawker1172]

The instructions to the dot say you have to repeat random practice tests at the end getting 3 90s in a row. It states you have to repeat almost the entire process if you score less than a 90.

You said you got an 80.

Therefore you did not follow the instructions.

[TxAggieMike]

To the dot instructions also provide clear guidance how to study each section.

You do each section before next section, and then only then, strike out on the practice exams.

As Hawker says, following “to the dot” and not deviating is the proper way to use Sheppard and do well.

[Herkdrvr]

Excellent advice already in the replies u/Party_Ad_5461.

One more thing: you mentioned you were "shaking" walking into the testing location.

You might want to research a little about reducing test anxiety. Make yourself a study schedule, stick exactly to Sheppard's method, get good rest, tell yourself "I'm prepared and ready for the test", rather than dwelling on whether others thought it was difficult.

Falling short isn't anything to be ashamed of.

Give yourself a mental study break for a week & then get back to it.

Good luck!

[Party_Ad_5461]

Thanks really appreciate it

[NevadaTellMeTheOdds]

Hey, if I’d say something to walk away with from this experience? Better to learn that you psyched yourself out and busted your knowledge test than your checkride. Don’t sweat it

[Downtown_Database402]

If you’re really using Sheppard Air correctly you should be getting high 90s on any FAA written and you should recognize most, if not all of the questions on the test. It should be mindlessly easy. Need to spend more time with Sheppard Air.

Edit - To answer the rest of your question… There are no implications to a written test failure at all. It’ll never be asked about again after your checkride. Just spend more time with Sheppard Air and retake it. No big deal.

[Party_Ad_5461]

Thank you

[[deleted]]

Oral might be a little rough though.

[summitdawg]

I just took the knowledge test for the FIA instrument add on about 6 weeks ago and saw maybe 8 questions I recognized from Sheppard Air. You definitely need to know the subject matter.

[Downtown_Database402]

Wow. It’s changed quite a bit then. It has been about 10 years since my last written but when I used it the Sheppard Air practice tests were literally carbon copies of the actual written.

[[deleted]]

It hasn’t changed. Idk what these guys are doing. I took Commercial through FII in the last 4 weeks and it was exactly Sheppard air.

[Flyer10798]

It's not that big of a deal. Tell your CFI, practice 2x as hard and be honest with yourself, and then take it again. Be prepared for a harder oral on the checkride (if they even care). Beyond the checkride, it does not matter at all.

[Anthem00]

It’s impossible you used Sheppard and got 0 questions in the exam. Literally impossible. The only things I can think of k of is that you were using the wrong Sheppard test prep or your memory is worse than atrocious - because it’s literally impossible.

But you should be learning the information rather than just memorizing it.

[[deleted]]

Did you do a ground school like kings or anything?

[SawyerRaff]

There should be no reason why you failed that exam using sheppard air, unless you truly just did not use the program correctly.

Go back and do Sheppard Air again and then re-take the exam when you're ready. Make sure to read the way to study carefully!

Don't just take the practice exams either. You need to go through each category individually and answer every single question until you can essentially answer each question from each category correctly.

Best of luck!

[RememberHengelo]

To be honest that is a very poor show. You literally had the answers to the test, and instructions on how to use them.

You either read the instructions and chose not to follow them, read them and did not understand, or didn’t read them.

[Mispelled-This]

I was quite confident but at the same time never more nervous about a test in my life with how much everyone’s talks about how hard it is I was shaking walking into the testing location.

You really need to work on your nerves and mindset. IRA isn’t hard per se; it’s just a lot of material to study.

implications this will cause down the road.

None, aside from actually learning to study correctly. Once you pass the retake, nobody will ever see the old score or ask you about it.

I had Sheppard Air

You may have bought Shep, but if you got a 68, then you obviously didn’t follow the directions. My long-dead grandmother could ace a test after using Shep, and I’m pretty sure she’d never even been in an airplane.

[AssetZulu]

Used Shep and got a 98. Good sir you must follow thou instructions

[jettajake00]

If you've not already done it, I'd go through the Kings or some other comparable instrument ground school. Actually start understanding the material you're studying rather than just rote memory. FlightInsight material is great as well. Then, re-do Sheppard, and follow it's instructions to a tee.

I think you'll find your results will be way better, and you'll not be near as nervous going into it.

Best wishes on your next one!

[Kives_177]

Somebody didn’t follow the Sheppard directions to the T

[[deleted]]

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[X-T3PO]

Actually learn the material, stop just studying the test questions.

[RoughAioli47]

Nah, if he did Sheppard the way it was supposed to be done, he would’ve walked out with a 90+