14-Day Instrument Rating ACS Study Outline
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
Updated: May 16
The Checkride Guide’s Study Theory
When preparing for the oral portion of a Checkride, equally important to the information you are learning is how you’re learning it. When preparing for a Checkride there are a few important pillars to success.
Covering all ACS topics - if you miss some topics in your study you leave detrimental gaps in your knowledge that could lead to an unsatisfactory outcome regardless of how prepared you were on other topics.
Depth of knowledge - it is important to move past the rote memorization level of knowledge to a level of understanding where you are able to apply your knowledge to various scenarios. Studying every topic everyday or cramming is not necessarily an effective method to learn and understand the various complex topics because time only allows for a very surface level study this way.
Consistency and repetition - consistently studying bite-sized topics everyday and reviewing what you have learned in the following days can lead to better results than trying to study everything in one day. It is important to learn a topic in depth and then repeatedly review that topic to maintain the knowledge acquired and contribute to expand on it.
More Study Tips
Keep distractions away. Put your phone on do not disturb and somewhere out of reach while you’re studying. You can learn a lot more in less time this way.
Take notes and write down questions you can’t figure out as you study to review with your CFI.
When a topic doesn’t make sense don’t move on. Stay on that topic and reference other resources available on the topic. It is important to emphasize learning the topics that you find most challenging rather than skipping past them. Overlooking topics most challenging to you can lead to unsatisfactory checkride outcomes.
Use a timer: Study for 30-60 minutes, take a 10-15 minute break, then repeat. The amount of information you retain decays exponentially if you do not take breaks making the time you spend ineffective.
Instrument Rating 14 Day ACS Study Outline
Each day you should do a focused deep dive into one “new” topic and review topics from the previous days. Start with the new topic while you have maximum retention capacity then move onto the review topics.
Day 1
Deep dive into Pilot Qualifications
Day 2
Deep dive into Weather Conditions
Review Pilot Qualifications
Day 3
Deep dive into the remainder of Weather topics.
Review Weather Conditions
Review Pilot Qualifications
Day 4
Deep dive into Cross Country Flight Planning (including practicing calculations and planning)
Review Weather Information
Day 5
Deep dive into Airspace
Review Cross Country Flight Planning
Day 6
Review Pilot Qualifications
Review Weather Information
Review Cross Country Flight Planning
Review Airspace
Day 7
Review the topic you feel weakest on. Deep dive into that topic again.
Review Airspace and Chart Symbology
Day 8
Deep dive into Airplane Systems Related to IFR Operations
Review Weather Information
Day 9
Deep dive into Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment
Review Airplane Systems Related to IFR Operations
Day 10
Deep dive into Holding Procedures
Review Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment
Day 11
Review Flight Instruments and Navigation Equipment
Review Airplane Systems Related to IFR Operations
Review Holding Procedures
Day 12
Deep dive into Compliance with ATC Clearances
Deep dive into Instrument Flight Deck Check
Review Holding Procedures
Day 13
Deep dive into Instrument Flight
Review Compliance with ATC Clearances
Review Instrument Flight Deck Check
Day 14
Review Instrument Flight
Review Additional Topics including but not limited to:
Wake Turbulence and Windshear
Stall and Spin Awareness
Runway Incursions
Aeronautical Decision Making (SRM, CRM)
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT)
Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)
Light Gun Signals
Runway Signs and Markings
GPS
Maintaining the knowledge:
Continue to review 2-3 topics per day in varying orders to stay proficient on all ACS topics.
When you get to a topic you feel weak on think about trying to teach it to someone you know, ask questions about it, and research it further. Videos and articles can be helpful.
The Checkride Guide breaks down all these topics with references linked to help you prepare for your Checkride more thoroughly!
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