As I am HGFA registered TWMPFISCHR is their acronym. It means, Throttle.Tyres, Wind.Wires, Mixture.choke, Pins, Fuel, Instruments.temps.pressures, Switches, Controls, Helmet.Harness, Radio.Runway and we add a T for Traffic.
We operate at an uncontrolled regional airport, and the aerodrome traffic circuit as of 3/6/2010 says that slower aircraft (microlights, ultralights), fly at 500ft, GA (cessnas, pipers etc) at 1000ft, Jets and RPT at 1500ft.
See this - pg.13: http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/pilots/download/nta_booklet.pdf
I'd love to know how your instructor would respond to this?