![In ground school, student pilots learn important skills such as how to access and interpret weather, calculate aircraft performance, and use a checklist. [Credit: Adobe Stock]](https://tbh.express/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/How-Do-I-Keep-My-Ground-School-Students-Focused.jpg "How Do I Keep My Ground School Students Focused?")
Question: I’ve just started teaching a Part 141 private pilot ground school at a community college. It’s the first time I’ve taught ground school. Most of the students are fresh out of high school. The most frequently asked question is “Will this be on the test?” On the first day I told them, if it’s on the syllabus, it will be on the test, but they keep asking. Any tips on getting the class to focus?
Answer: I have been teaching private pilot ground school for 25 years, and when asked that same question, I reply, “on the test and in the airplane.” To drive this point home, write the four levels of learning vertically on the whiteboard—rote, understanding, application, and correlation. Instruct the class to write it down.
