How to Structure Your ATPL Theory Exams

When approaching the ATPL theory exams, planning your study path wisely can make a huge difference, not just in your performance, but in your confidence and stress levels as well.

One detail many students overlook is that the 18-month completion clock only starts ticking
from the date of your first official exam sitting. This gives you valuable flexibility at the start,
especially when tackling the more complex subjects. So, we recommend starting with the
bigger subjects first, before booking your first exams.

Some subjects share overlapping concepts, making them ideal to study and sit together. These
combinations allow you to reduce study fatigue:

• Flight Planning + General Navigation
• Performance + Mass & Balance
• Air Law + Operating Procedures
• Instrumentation + Radio Navigation

We have put together a suggested exam sequence that many students find manageable and
logical:

1st Sitting:
Start with the bigger subjects first

• Meteorology
• Principles of Flight
• Communications

2nd Sitting:
Follow up with regulatory and human factors

• Air Law
• Operating Procedures
• Human Performance

3rd Sitting:
More demanding planning subjects

• General Navigation
• Flight Planning

4th Sitting:
Continue with aircraft systems and performance

• Performance
• Mass & Balance
• Aircraft General Knowledge

5th Sitting:
Finish with the technical and navigation systems

• Instrumentation
• Radio Navigation

Although you are allowed up to six sittings, aim to complete everything in five. This gives you
one spare sitting as a buffer in case anything unexpected arises.

All the above is of course just a recommendation, not a one size fits all solution, at the end you
will have to decide, and since we offer a modular course you are free to choose any order you
prefer.