Air Law and ATC Procedures
Air Law questions reward precise recall of definitions, applicability and limits rather than general aviation sense. Anchor yourself in the structure of ICAO Annexes (Annex 1 Licensing, 2 Rules of the Air, 6 Operations, 8 Airworthiness, 11 ATS, 14 Aerodromes) and in the way the Chicago Convention delegates rule-making to the Council. Know the difference between Standards (binding, with notified differences) and Recommended Practices. Understand airspace classification (A to G) and the service and clearance each provides, semicircular cruising levels, transition altitude/level, and the reading of NOTAM and AIP material.
ATC procedure questions test phraseology, separation minima, and readback requirements. Learn which clearances must be read back in full (route, altitude, level changes, runway-in-use, conditional clearances), SSR code allocation, and the meaning of urgency (PAN PAN) versus distress (MAYDAY).
Traps to expect: confusing transition altitude with transition level; assuming a clearance implies terrain separation; mixing QFE/QNH/QNE definitions; and questions on the validity of medical certificates and licence privileges where the class of medical limits the privileges.
Worked rule of thumb: if a question asks what happens when no ATC clearance can be obtained before entering controlled airspace in IMC, the answer is not to proceed - remain outside and advise; in VFR, remain clear and request clearance. For cruising levels, remember that magnetic track 000–179 uses odd thousands, 180–359 uses even thousands, above the transition level.