ATPL Performance (Australian CASA Pilot Theory Exams) exam-day guide
ATPL Performance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo identification named in your booking confirmation. The name must match your booking exactly. Acceptable document types and any secondary-ID requirement vary by authority and test centre, so confirm with the provider before travelling.
Admission or booking confirmation
Carry a printed or offline-accessible copy of your appointment confirmation showing date, time, and centre address. Do not rely on mobile signal at the venue.
Approved calculator
Performance questions involve take-off and landing distance, climb gradient, and conversion work. Use only a calculator type permitted by the examining authority, and confirm the permitted list with the provider, since non-programmable and memory-cleared requirements differ.
Current charts and reference data
If the sitting is open-book for tabular data, bring only the chart pages, tabulation extracts, or reference sheets the provider permits. Confirm the exact permitted set with the provider; unapproved inserts can be treated as unauthorised material.
Writing materials
Bring two pens or pencils and an eraser. Some centres supply everything and prohibit personal stationery, so check the provider's stationery policy.
Watches and devices
Wear a plain analogue or basic digital watch if a clock is not guaranteed in the room. Phones, smart watches, and any device with communication or storage capability are normally surrendered or banned; confirm the provider's device rule.
Route and arrival plan
Reconnoitre the test centre location in advance and plan to arrive with margin for security screening and registration. Late arrival can mean refused admission with no refund; confirm the provider's cut-off time.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Performance papers are calculation-heavy and reward sustained concentration. Plan a normal night's sleep, a light meal before the sitting, and water for any scheduled break.
Medical or access adjustments
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other reasonable adjustment, request it well before the test date and obtain written confirmation. Arrangements cannot usually be made on the day.
Review plan for weak topics
Bring a short one-page summary of your own weak areas, such as gradient-to-rate conversion, wind correction to ground roll, or mass-and-balance limits. Use it only before entering the test room, not during the paper.
Knowledge of the paper format
Confirm with the provider the number of questions, time allowed, pass mark, and whether the paper is multiple-choice or calculation-based, so you can pace yourself from the first minute.
Timekeeping during the paper
Know your per-question allowance before you start, and decide in advance how you will flag and return to difficult calculations.
Plan the day
Re-read the syllabus and your own error log. Spend the time on recurring mistakes rather than new material: unit conversions, pressure-altitude corrections, and the correct use of the performance charts or tables you are permitted to use. Do two or three timed mixed sets under exam conditions, then mark them and record the cause of each error.
Verify logistics: confirm the date, time, and address with the provider; check the ID you intend to present is valid and matches your booking name; confirm which calculator and reference materials are permitted; and confirm any access arrangement in writing.
Do one light review of formulae and definitions only, then stop. Prepare your bag with ID, confirmation, calculator, stationery, and permitted charts. Check travel arrangements and set two alarms. Avoid heavy study or late-night cramming, as fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic gains.
Eat and sleep normally. If you feel underprepared, resist the urge to learn a new chart type overnight; consolidate what you already know.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the centre with generous margin. Leave phones and smart devices secured as instructed. Glance at your one-page summary only until you enter the registration area, then put it away.
Read the instructions and check the question count and time allowed. Work in passes: answer the straightforward questions first, flag long calculations, and return to them. Write units on every calculation and sanity-check the answer against the order of magnitude you expect. Keep an eye on elapsed time and reserve the last few minutes to confirm no question is left blank, since unanswered questions normally score zero.
Rules to check
Present the original photo ID named in your booking. The name must match; a mismatch can result in refused admission, so confirm the provider's ID and name-change policy in advance.
Bring only permitted items into the test room. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised reference material are normally prohibited; place them in the designated storage and confirm the provider's rules on devices and personal belongings.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on starting, stopping, and communicating. Do not talk to other candidates during the paper, and raise a hand if you need assistance; any irregularity can lead to invalidation.
Confirm the provider's policy on breaks and leaving the room, including whether the clock stops during a break and whether any supervised rest break is allowed. Do not assume a break will be granted.
Ask about permitted reference material and calculator use before the day. Using an unapproved aid can void your result, and the permitted list differs between authorities.
Understand the scoring before you sit: confirm the pass mark, whether all questions carry equal weight, and whether wrong answers are penalised. If there is no penalty, never leave a question blank.
If you believe there is a fault with equipment, a misprinted question, or a disturbance, report it to the invigilator immediately and note the time. Follow the provider's process for lodging a comment or appeal after the sitting.
Results are issued under the examining authority's procedures and timelines. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released, and keep your confirmation and any receipts until the result is confirmed.