Definition
An assessment of student performance that the instructor prepares in writing rather than delivering verbally, allowing the student to read, re-read, and reflect on the comments after the lesson or activity has ended.
Plain English
Instead of telling the student how they did out loud, the instructor writes their feedback down so the student can read it, keep it, and look at it again later.
Context Anchor
Used in flight training and ground training when an instructor records feedback after a lesson, maneuver, discussion, or training activity.
Derivation
Critique comes through French from a Greek word meaning “able to judge or decide.” That helps here because a critique is not just a complaint; it is a careful judgment of performance meant to help the learner improve.
Why Pilots Care
Creates a lasting record students can reread to track progress and avoid repeating errors before the next lesson.
Intuition Check
Do not read “critique” as “criticism” only. In this training context, a written critique should include useful judgment of both good performance and areas needing improvement.
Example Sentence 1
After the cross-country flight, the instructor handed the student a written critique covering navigation, radio work, and fuel planning.
Example Sentence 2
The student reviewed the written critique the night before the next lesson and came prepared with questions about the suggested corrections.