EASA ATPL Theory: The 14 Subjects, Exam Basics and a 12-Week Study Plan

The 14 ATPL(A) subjects

• 010 Air Law
• 021 Aircraft General Knowledge: airframe, systems and powerplant
• 022 Instrumentation
• 031 Mass and Balance
• 032 Performance
• 033 Flight Planning and Monitoring
• 040 Human Performance
• 050 Meteorology
• 061 General Navigation
• 062 Radio Navigation
• 070 Operational Procedures
• 081 Principles of Flight
• 091 VFR Communications
• 092 IFR Communications

Exam basics

Exams are multiple choice and are run by the competent authority (in Turkey, SHGM) or through approved arrangements. EASA rules set a minimum pass mark per subject (currently 75 percent) and limit the number of attempts and the period in which all subjects must be passed. Requirements are updated from time to time, so confirm the current rules with your authority and your approved training organisation before you plan your exam dates.

A 12-week study plan

This plan assumes about 10 to 15 hours of study per week alongside other commitments. Adjust the order to your strengths.

• Weeks 1 and 2: Air Law and Human Performance (heavy on memory, good for building a daily routine)
• Weeks 3 and 4: Aircraft General Knowledge and Instrumentation
• Weeks 5 and 6: Principles of Flight, Performance, Mass and Balance
• Week 7 and 8: Meteorology (large syllabus, give it two full weeks)
• Weeks 9 and 10: General Navigation, Radio Navigation, Flight Planning and Monitoring
• Week 11: Operational Procedures, VFR and IFR Communications
• Week 12: timed mock exams in every subject, then review the weakest topics again

How to study effectively

• Work topic by topic: read or watch the explanation, then answer questions on that topic straight away
• Read the explanation of every wrong answer and note the rule behind it
• Use spaced repetition for facts such as limits, definitions and regulations
• Do timed mock exams in the real format before the official exam
• Track weak topics and revisit them weekly instead of once at the end

What a study tool can and cannot do

A question bank and explanations are study aids. They do not replace an approved training organisation where your national rules require one, and they do not replace the official exams.

How many subjects are in the ATPL theory exams?

There are 14 subjects in the EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge syllabus.

What is the pass mark?

Under EASA rules the pass mark is 75 percent per subject. Always confirm the current rules with your competent authority.

Can I study ATPL theory online?

Many candidates study with online courses and question banks, but the rules for approved training and exam registration depend on your country. Check requirements with your authority and approved training organisation first.