Making revision work for you - Summer School
PPL Ground School: Making Revision Work for You
By Angela Donnelly (Pooleys Ambassador)
One minute you're learning the different classes of UK airspace, the next it's engine failure procedures, Class B fires, the anatomy of the ear, radio procedures or flight planning calculations. Then someone hands you a CRP-5 and expects you to know exactly what to do with it! It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed, and if you've ever questioned whether you'll remember it all, you're certainly not alone.
The irony isn't lost on me that, hidden somewhere within the Human Performance & Limitations syllabus, we're actually taught how memory works, somewhere within 500-plus pages of content! That subject in particular helped me realise that effective revision isn't about reading the same page over and over again. It's about understanding how your brain learns, why some revision techniques work better than others, and how memories become stronger each time you retrieve and revisit information.
These are some of the techniques I've found genuinely useful throughout my own studies, both as a student and now as a ground instructor.
Study when you're at your best
One of the biggest differences I noticed wasn't how I studied, but when I studied. For me, mornings are when my concentration is at its lowest, so that's not when I tackle the more demanding subjects. If you're naturally more productive in the evening, embrace it. There's nothing wrong with tackling Principles of Flight after dinner if that's when your brain is switched on. The important thing is recognising when your brain is most receptive, rather than forcing yourself to revise because you think you should. When I was studying music, a senior member of the orchestra once gave me a piece of advice I've never forgotten: "Practise when both your heart and your mind are present." I've realised exactly the same applies to Ground School.
Use a timer
I rarely study for hours on end. Instead, I'll set a timer for around 30 to 45 minutes before taking a proper break. Once my concentration starts drifting, I stop. I've learnt that an hour of focused revision is worth far more than three hours of reading the same paragraph without taking anything in.
Resist the temptation to write everything down
One mistake I made early on was trying to copy every slide word for word. It certainly looked productive, but in reality I was spending more time writing than actually thinking about what I was learning. How often do we ever read those ten pages of notes we furiously scribbled down during a lesson?
These days my notes are much simpler. I write concise bullet points, highlight key concepts and place a star beside anything I know I'll want to revisit later. If something genuinely needs to be memorised exactly as written, I'll label it MEMORY ITEM, always using the same coloured pen. Those visual cues make it much easier to spot important information when I come back to revise.
Test yourself instead of re-reading
One of the most effective revision techniques I've discovered is active recall.
At the end of a page or chapter I'll close the book and try to explain the topic in my own words. If I can't explain carburettor icing, controlled airspace or a TAF to somebody with absolutely no aviation knowledge, then I probably haven't understood it properly yet. Recognising information on a page can give us a false sense of confidence.
There's a huge difference between recognising information on a page and genuinely understanding it well enough to explain it yourself.
Use repetition to your advantage
Flashcards have become one of my favourite revision tools because they encourage regular retrieval of information rather than passive reading.
They're particularly useful for topics such as airspace dimensions, light signals, emergency procedures, aircraft systems and those awkward memory items that simply require repetition. Revision doesn't always have to mean sitting at a desk for hours. Five minutes while waiting for the kettle to boil soon adds up over the course of a week.
Learn from the questions you get wrong
I've stopped seeing incorrect answers as failures.
Every question I get wrong goes into a notebook, and that notebook becomes my revision list later that day. Rather than repeatedly covering topics I already know, I'm focusing my time on the areas that genuinely need more work. Looking back, those incorrect answers have probably taught me more than the correct ones ever did.
Use question banks at the right time
Question banks are brilliant, but only after you've learnt the topic.
It's very easy to begin recognising answers instead of understanding concepts. Change one word in the question and suddenly you're no longer sure which option is correct.
I've also found that many aviation examinations test your reading as much as your aviation knowledge. Slow down, read every word carefully and ask yourself why the answer is correct rather than simply remembering that it's option C. Resist the temptation to memorise the answers.
Find a revision routine that suits you
There isn't a single "correct" way to revise.
Some people prefer mind maps, others draw diagrams, some like talking through a lesson aloud and others learn best by writing notes or using flashcards. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find a
revision routine that suits you. Revision is far more effective when it works with your brain rather than against it.
Make sure you're studying the correct syllabus
Whether you're studying for a UK CAA PPL or an EASA licence, make sure you're using the correct training material. Although many of the subjects overlap, there are differences in terminology and regulations that can easily cause confusion if you're revising from the wrong syllabus.
Your body, mind and wellbeing
Something that resonated with me recently was the idea that every day should include one thing for your body, one thing for your mind and one thing for your wellbeing.
- For your body, that might be going to the gym, getting out for a walk or simply eating a proper meal instead of grabbing whatever's easiest between revision sessions.
- For your mind, give your full attention to your studying for a defined period of time, then allow yourself to walk away without feeling guilty.
- For your wellbeing, find something that genuinely helps you switch off. For me, that's playing the clarinet (yes, I'm proudly admitting to being a clarinet nerd).
When exam season arrives it's easy to convince yourself that every spare minute should be spent revising, but I've found the opposite is often true. Looking after yourself makes you far more productive when you do sit down to study. It's easy to feel guilty for taking time away from your books, but switching off isn't wasted time. Often it's exactly what your brain needs before it can concentrate properly again.
Most importantly, remember that one bad day doesn't define your progress. If today's revision session didn't go to plan, don't catastrophise or convince yourself you're falling behind. Close the books, get a good night's sleep and start again tomorrow. Sleep is when many of the memories you've built throughout the day are consolidated, so try not to underestimate what a good night's rest can do for tomorrow's revision. Consistency over weeks and months will always beat one perfect day of revision.
Final thoughts
Be kind to yourself. Ground School is demanding because you're learning an enormous amount of completely new information in a relatively short period of time. Every pilot has experienced that feeling of information overload, and it doesn't mean you're not capable of succeeding.
Keep showing up, trust the process and celebrate the small wins along the way.
One day you'll put the flashcards away, pick up a checklist instead, and realise those evenings spent revising were quietly preparing you for the part you were looking forward to all along…
The flying.
