Iran CAO CPL Theory exam-day guide
Iran CAO CPL Theory · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission slip and confirmed subject list
Print or save the confirmation showing which papers (Aircraft General Knowledge, Air Law, Flight Performance and Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Navigation, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, Communications) you are sitting and in which session. The exact format of the admission document is set by CAO.IRI and your flight school - needs_review: confirm with the provider whether a printed slip is mandatory or whether your name simply appears on the centre roster.
Original photo ID
Bring the original document you registered with - national ID card (kart-e melli) and/or passport. Name spelling and ID number must match the registration record exactly; a mismatch is the most common reason a candidate is turned away. needs_review: confirm with the provider which documents the invigilator will actually accept, and whether a second form of ID is required.
Licence, medical and logbook
Carry your student pilot licence (or current licence), valid medical certificate and logbook in case eligibility is checked at the door. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether these are inspected on exam day or only at registration, since requirements differ between CAO.IRI centres and delegated flight-school centres.
Non-programmable calculator
A basic scientific calculator with fresh batteries - no graphing models, no alphanumeric keypads, no stored formulas, no phone calculator. Clear the memory before entering and carry a spare battery or a second simple unit.
Flight computer and navigation tools
Take a manual circular flight computer (CRP-5 type) or E6-B, plus plotter, protractor and a clear ruler if you are sitting Navigation or Flight Performance and Planning. needs_review: confirm with the provider that these are permitted in your specific session, because some centres restrict aids for certain papers.
Writing kit
Two sharpened pencils, eraser, sharpener, and a blue or black ballpoint. Answer sheets that are machine-read or require ink may not accept pencil - use whatever medium the instructions on the paper specify.
Analogue wristwatch
A simple non-smart watch so you can pace yourself without relying on the room clock. Smart watches must be left outside the hall and are treated as prohibited electronic devices.
Fee payment evidence
Bring the receipt or reference number for the exam fee for the session. needs_review: confirm with the provider whether payment is settled through the flight school, a bank reference, or a portal before the day, and what proof is accepted.
Water, snack and a warm layer
Sessions can run long and halls are often cold or overheated. Take water in a clear bottle and a quiet snack for the interval between papers; keep it in your bag if the invigilator restricts items on the desk.
One-page personal summary sheet
For the final minutes before entry only - key constants, unit conversions, V-speeds definitions, METAR/TAF decode reminders, altimetry and triangle-of-velocities steps. It must go into your bag before you enter the hall; it is a revision aid, not an allowed reference.
Language and dictionary confirmation
Papers may be issued in Persian, with some technical subjects available in English for certain candidates. needs_review: confirm with the provider which language your paper will be in and whether a printed bilingual dictionary is allowed, since word-for-word technical translation changes question meaning.
Route and timing plan
Know the exact centre address, entry gate, and travel time with a 45–60 minute buffer. Tehran traffic and security checks at the gate are the two most common causes of late arrival; do a dry run the day before if the centre is unfamiliar.
Plan the day
Lock down logistics: reconfirm centre, date, session times and subject order with your school or the CAO.IRI contact you registered through; verify your ID is valid and unexpired; check whether any document needs_review. Then sit one full timed mock for each remaining subject under exam conditions - same duration, no notes, calculator only - and mark them honestly. Use the results to rank subjects by risk rather than by how much you enjoy studying them.
Work only on the two weakest subjects and on recalled material: regulation numbers and definitions, altimetry, weight-and-balance, mass-and-balance limits, fuel planning, met decode, radio failure and interception procedures. Drill numerical question types by hand so the calculator sequence is automatic. Do not start any new topic - new material this late raises anxiety and displaces what you already hold.
Light review of your one-page summary only, then stop. Pack the bag from the checklist, lay out ID and admission documents, charge nothing that needs charging, and set two alarms. Confirm start time and travel plan one final time. Eat normally, avoid late caffeine, and sleep at your normal hour - a full night's sleep outperforms three extra hours of revision.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive 45–60 minutes early, and do not open a textbook in the waiting area. Use the time to confirm your seat and subject order, check calculator batteries, and settle your breathing. If papers are sat in blocks, note the interval timing so you return to your seat before the second session begins.
Read the invigilator's instructions, check that the paper matches your registered subject, count the pages, and scan the whole paper before writing. Note the mark allocation - if a section carries more marks per question, budget time accordingly rather than answering strictly in order.
Work at roughly one minute per question as a first pass, answering everything you can do immediately and flagging the rest. Return to flagged questions with the remaining time. On numerical questions check the unit and the sign, and sanity-check the answer against a rough estimate - most errors on navigation and flight-planning papers are unit slips, not conceptual ones. Reserve the final 10 minutes to transfer answers, confirm every line is filled, and check that your name and candidate number are on every sheet.
Rules to check
Identity checks are strict: present the original ID you registered with, and expect your name, ID number and photograph to be matched against the roster. Photocopies, expired documents and digital copies on a phone are commonly refused. needs_review: confirm with the provider which exact documents are accepted and whether a second ID is required.
All electronic devices - phones, smart watches, earbuds, tablets, programmable calculators - must be switched off and stored outside the desk, not merely silenced. Possession of a phone during a paper is typically treated as misconduct regardless of whether it was used. Confirm with the provider where devices are stored.
Only approved items may be on the desk: writing kit, calculator, flight computer and plotting tools where allowed, ID, and the question paper. Bags, notes, textbooks and personal summary sheets stay at the back of the hall. Sharing any item with another candidate is treated as misconduct for both parties.
Timing and late-arrival rules are set by the centre, not by the candidate's travel problems. Assume no admission after the paper has started and no extra time for latecomers; confirm with the provider how much grace, if any, is given before the hall closes.
Breaks are usually not permitted within a single paper; leaving the room requires an escort and may not stop your clock. If you have a medical need for a break, arrange it with the provider before exam day rather than raising it in the hall - needs_review on the formal accommodation process.
Scoring is per subject, with a published minimum pass mark for each paper rather than a single aggregate. needs_review: confirm the current pass mark, the number of questions and duration for each subject, and how long a passed subject remains valid toward the licence, directly with CAO.IRI or your school, because these values change with regulation revisions.
If a question looks wrong or ambiguous, ask the invigilator only to clarify wording or a misprint - never for the answer or a hint. Write your interpretation in the margin if you must guess, and raise the issue with your school afterwards; formal review or appeal windows are limited and short, so confirm the deadline with the provider on results day.