EASA 031 Mass & Balance exam-day guide
EASA 031 Mass & Balance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used when booking. The name must match your booking exactly; if you have recently changed your name or your ID is expired, contact the examination provider before test day to confirm what alternative evidence they accept. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted at your specific test centre.
Admission confirmation / appointment letter
Print or save the confirmation e-mail showing your candidate number, test centre address, date, start time and the exam code (EASA 031 Mass & Balance). Some centres ask to see it at reception; others do not, but carrying it costs nothing and resolves any booking discrepancy quickly.
Approved calculator
Mass & Balance questions involve index arithmetic, CG shifts, unit conversions and percentage mean aerodynamic chord calculations. Bring a non-programmable calculator with a working battery (or a spare). Confirm with the provider whether programmable or graphical calculators are permitted; many aviation examination providers restrict them, so a simple scientific model is the safe choice.
Spare batteries or a second calculator
A dead calculator on a calculation-heavy paper is avoidable stress. Carry spare batteries of the correct type, or a second identical permitted calculator. If your calculator is not permitted at the desk, the invigilator will tell you; ask before the paper starts, not during it.
Analogue watch or a watch you can wear
Many centres do not allow phones in the test room, and some rooms have no visible clock. A simple wristwatch lets you pace the paper. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches are prohibited (they usually are).
Transparent water bottle, if permitted
Hydration helps concentration on a long sitting. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk and whether the bottle must be transparent and label-free. If in doubt, leave it in the waiting area.
Knowledge of the permitted reference material
Ask the provider in advance whether any formula sheet, load sheet template, or unit conversion table is supplied with the paper, or whether everything must be memorised. Do not assume; the answer changes how you revise in the final week. Mark this as needs_review until you have written confirmation.
A revision summary you can review in the waiting room
One or two pages only: CG formula, index formula, unit conversions (1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 lb = 0.4536 kg, 1 US gal AVGAS = 6 lb, 1 IMP gal = 8 lb, 1 l AVGAS = 0.72 kg), mean aerodynamic chord definitions, and the sign conventions for index arms. Leave it outside the test room.
Route and arrival plan
Check the test centre address, transport disruptions and parking the day before. Aim to arrive with margin; most providers require candidates to report well before the start time for ID checks and seating. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and what happens if you are late.
Empty pockets plan
Expect to empty pockets into a locker: phone off, notes, smart devices, and any loose paper stay outside the room. Decide in advance where your valuables will go. Confirm with the provider whether lockers are provided or whether you should travel light.
Review of the exam format with the provider
Confirm the number of questions, time allowed, pass mark, and whether the paper is on paper or computer-based. EASA mass and balance syllabi are typically examined as multiple-choice questions, but the exact count and pass standard are set by the provider, so verify rather than rely on rumour. Mark as needs_review.
Rest and a normal meal
Do not revise new material on the morning of the test. A normal breakfast, normal caffeine intake, and a full night's sleep are worth more than one more past paper. Avoid heavy meals that make you drowsy during a calculation-heavy sitting.
Plan the day
Finish learning, switch to testing. Work through full sets of mass and balance questions under timed conditions, then mark and analyse every error by topic: CG position, index methods, load sheet completion, fuel density, unit conversion, structural limits. For each error, write the correct method in your own words on one sheet. Stop introducing new topics after this point; consolidation beats coverage.
Drill the arithmetic that costs marks under pressure: converting litres to kilograms using density, pounds to kilograms, inches to millimetres, and computing a new CG after adding or removing a load. Practise the lever equation (mass times arm equals moment) until it is automatic, and practise computing CG as total moment divided by total mass with consistent units and consistent datum.
Re-read the definitions you will be tested on: datum, arm, moment, centre of gravity, mean aerodynamic chord and percentage MAC, basic empty mass, dry operating mass, take-off mass, landing mass, traffic load, useful load, maximum zero-fuel mass. Be able to state each in one sentence and to explain why a limit exists (structural, aerodynamic, or performance).
Do one full mock under realistic conditions: same time of day as your test, no phone, permitted calculator only, strict timing, no notes. Mark it honestly. Identify the two or three question types that cost you the most marks and spend the remaining time on those only.
Light review only. Read your one-page summary and your error sheet. Confirm the test centre address, reporting time, and travel plan. Prepare your bag: ID, confirmation, calculator, spare battery, watch, water if permitted. Check the calculator works and the battery is fresh.
Confirm with the provider anything still open: permitted calculator type, whether formula sheets are supplied, exact reporting time, late-arrival policy, and locker availability. Do this by e-mail or phone during business hours, not on the morning of the test.
Stop studying early. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, set two alarms, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt to learn a new method the night before; a half-learned method is worse than a well-rehearsed one.
Eat a normal breakfast and keep caffeine at your usual level. Glance at the one-page summary for ten minutes, then put it away. Leave with enough margin to arrive early; traffic and parking are the most common cause of avoidable stress.
Report at the stated time with ID and confirmation. Follow the invigilator's instructions on phones, lockers, and permitted items. Ask the invigilator, before the paper starts, any question about calculator permission or supplied materials. Use the washroom before you are seated.
Read the instructions and note the time allowed and question count. Work through the paper answering the questions you can do quickly and confidently, and flag anything long or ambiguous. Do not let a single multi-step CG question consume a disproportionate share of the time; every question is worth the same.
For every calculation, write the given values, state the units, state the datum and sign convention, then compute. Check the reasonableness of the answer: a CG outside the permitted range, a negative mass, or a take-off mass below the zero-fuel mass signals an arithmetic or unit error. Recompute with a different route (for example, compute the CG shift rather than the absolute CG) before changing an answer.
Return to flagged questions. Answer every question; there is normally no penalty for a wrong answer in multiple-choice aviation papers, but confirm the provider's scoring rule. Only change an answer if you can identify a concrete error, not on a hunch. Check that your answer sheet or on-screen selections match your intended answers before submitting.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your booking and present it when asked. Without acceptable ID you may be refused entry and lose the fee; if your ID situation is unusual, confirm with the provider well before test day what alternatives are accepted.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on prohibited items. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorised calculators normally stay outside the test room; possession of a prohibited device during the paper can lead to invalidation regardless of intent. Confirm with the provider the exact list and whether lockers are available.
Use only the calculator and reference material the provider permits. If a formula sheet is not supplied, do not bring your own into the room. If you are unsure whether your calculator model is allowed, ask before the paper begins and accept the invigilator's decision.
Breaks are usually not permitted during the test, and leaving the room may end your sitting. Use the washroom beforehand and confirm with the provider whether any supervised break is allowed for the duration of your paper.
Scoring is normally criterion-based: you need to reach the provider's pass mark, not beat other candidates. Confirm the number of questions, time allowed, and pass standard with the provider rather than relying on second-hand reports.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the paper, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or reconstruct questions afterwards. Such conduct can lead to invalidation and may affect future sittings.
If equipment fails or you feel unwell, raise your hand immediately and tell the invigilator. Report any disruption before you leave the centre; complaints raised later are much harder to substantiate.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late arrival may mean refused entry at the provider's discretion; confirm the late-arrival policy in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.