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ATPL(A) theory exams: the EASA rules.

Thirteen papers, one per subject.
75% of the marks to pass each one.
Every rule below is quoted from the EASA texts.

  1. 010Air Law44 questions1 h
  2. 021Airframe, Systems, Powerplant80 questions2 h
  3. 022Instrumentation60 questions1 h 30
  4. 031Mass & Balance25 questions1 h 15
  5. 032Performance45 questions2 h
  6. 033Flight Planning & Monitoring42 questions2 h
  7. 040Human Performance48 questions1 h 30
  8. 050Meteorology84 questions2 h
  9. 061General Navigation55 questions2 h 15
  10. 062Radio Navigation66 questions1 h 30
  11. 070Operational Procedures42 questions1 h 15
  12. 081Principles of Flight46 questions1 h 30
  13. 090Communications34 questions1 h

671 questions, 20 h 45 of exams in all.
Subjects: FCL.515(b). Questions and time: AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b).Ten free questions per subject

Passing the papers

  • Pass mark. You pass a paper with at least 75% of the marks allocated to it. No penalty marking is applied.FCL.025(b)(1)
  • 18 months for the whole set. You must pass all the papers within 18 months, counted from the end of the calendar month in which you first attempted an examination.FCL.025(b)(2)
  • Four attempts per paper. Fail one paper four times and you retake the complete set of papers.FCL.025(b)(3)
  • Six sittings. Pass all the papers within six sittings and within the 18 months. Miss either limit and you retake the complete set.FCL.025(b)(3)
  • What a sitting is. A period set by your competent authority, which should not exceed 10 consecutive days. One attempt at each paper per sitting.GM1 FCL.025(e)
  • Before a retake. Before retaking the complete set, you undertake further training at an ATO or a DTO. The organisation decides its extent and scope.FCL.025(b)(5)

Before and after the exams

  • Your ATO recommends you. You sit the exams only when recommended by the ATO or DTO responsible for your training. The recommendation is valid for 12 months.FCL.025(a)(2) and (a)(3)
  • One authority. You take the entire set under the responsibility of the same Member State's competent authority.FCL.025(a)(1)
  • Area 100 KSA. Before your ATO recommends you for the final paper at the first attempt, you should have successfully completed the Area 100 KSA assessments and the mental maths test at the ATO.AMC1 FCL.025(a)(2)
  • Valid seven years for the ATPL. Your ATPL theory pass stays valid for the issue of an ATPL for seven years from the last validity date of an instrument rating entered in your licence.FCL.025(c)(2)
  • 36 months for a CPL or an IR. For the issue of a CPL, an MPL or an IR, a theory pass is valid for 36 months from the day you successfully complete the theoretical knowledge examination.FCL.025(c)(1)(ii)

On exam day

  • Questions from the ECQB. Your competent authority selects the questions from the European Central Question Bank (ECQB), a database of multiple-choice questions held by EASA, so that each paper covers the whole syllabus of its subject.ARA.FCL.300(b)(2)
  • Written or on a computer. The exams are done in written or computer-based form. Communications may be examined separately from the other subjects.ARA.FCL.300(b)(1) and (b)(3)
  • What you may use. A scientific, non-programmable, non-alphanumeric calculator without aviation functions, a mechanical navigation slide rule (DR calculator), a protractor, a ruler, compasses and dividers. A translation dictionary only if your authority allows it. No other electronic equipment.AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(g) to (i)
  • Languages. Your competent authority tells you which languages the exams are available in.ARA.FCL.300(c)
  • Cheating. An applicant proven to be cheating is banned from any further examination for at least 12 months.ARA.FCL.300(f)

Our practice questions are written on the same syllabus. They are not ECQB questions.

Sources

Checked on 19 October 2026 against the Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011), revision from October 2026, published by EASA. Page numbers refer to its PDF.

EASA states that the Easy Access Rules are not an official publication: the binding texts are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

  • FCL.515(b) ATPL: training course and theoretical knowledge examinations.Regulation (EU) 2018/1974, PDF p. 878
  • FCL.025 Theoretical knowledge examinations for the issue of licences and ratings.Regulation (EU) 2025/134, PDF p. 93 to 94
  • GM1 FCL.025 Terminology: examination paper, attempt, sitting.ED Decision 2025/002/R, PDF p. 94 to 95
  • AMC1 FCL.025(a)(2) Completion of the Area 100 KSA assessment before the final examination.ED Decision 2018/001/R, PDF p. 95
  • ARA.FCL.300 Examination procedures.Regulation (EU) 2024/2076, PDF p. 1745
  • AMC1 ARA.FCL.300 Examination procedures: general.ED Decision 2019/017/R, PDF p. 1745 to 1746
  • AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b) Exam length, total number of questions and distribution of questions.ED Decision 2025/002/R, PDF p. 1746 to 1755

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