These two books will help to know what to expect and prepare for. Learning something new or just going over something that is already known will help memorize most of the information. If it is not being used then it will disappear and be replaced by something else. Aviation is all about repetitiveness.
With one of my previous posts, I recommended acquiring the ACS and FAR/AIM books to guide and layout a sense of organization during the training. An online ground school should be provided to help with the ground portion of the course. This should go through everything that will be expected to be known. It is important to be ahead of what is being taught with your instructor during the sessions. The online ground school is there to provide familiarization with the information before the flights take place.
My Personal Training Experience
I started pilot training when I moved to Edwards AFB being so excited to have an Aero Club here on base, I started training as soon as I could. I was very busy and I definitely learned how to manage my time being active duty in the military and taking 4 classes every semester. I was very busy, but I always managed to find time to finish everything as best as I could. Going to work on the weekdays while doing homework then turning in everything on the weekend; at the same time getting some flying time in and studying.
It is imperative to stay ahead and never get behind on training. It is easier to pull ahead than to fall behind and try to catch up. This same principle applies when flying; to always stay ahead of the aircraft and know what to get done before it needs to be done usually at this time it is too late.
Always learning
If not already a student should learn something every day either from watching videos on YouTube or reading in the FAR/AIM. In the front of that book, there is a list of recommended references for each rating. Find the Private Pilot rating page and go down the line finding the references and writing a short description next to the reference. Then on the page where the reference was found highlight it, so if the book was randomly opened it is easy to see some important information without having to spend too much time. Staying organized is important knowing where to find important information as a student pilot.
