It seems every pilot and CFI out there has a different philosophy about when to take the FAA knowledge exam during training. Many sources recommend completing ground school and taking the test before getting into an airplane, to have the background knowledge in hand and the milestone checked off the list before you start the practical side of training.
I made a conscious decision to begin training concurrently with studying for my exam, and to delay taking the knowledge test until after I began cross-country training. While I can learn by reading and memorizing, my most effective learning mode is kinesthetic. Things just stick better after I use them, and I want my aeronautical knowledge to stick. To ensure the best retention and depth of understanding, I wanted to have practical experience with activities like reading aeronautical charts, calculating takeoff distances and fuel burn, and navigating airspace to supplement what I’d read in my books and give me a physical memory source.
