Class 2 Drone (Japan) exam-day guide
Class 2 Drone (Japan) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification (valid, original)
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with (for example a driver's licence, My Number card, or passport). The name must match your application exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a copy is allowed - do not assume.
Examination admission slip / candidate number
Print or download whatever admission document the testing body issues after your application is accepted, and note your candidate number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a screen display is acceptable.
Application confirmation and fee payment record
Keep proof that your application was accepted and the fee paid, in case of a records mismatch on the day. Confirm with the provider what proof it recognises.
Route and arrival plan to the venue
Check the venue address on your admission document, not on an old email. Plan to arrive with a comfortable margin before the reporting time; Japanese test venues are often some distance from the nearest station. Confirm the reporting time and the late-entry cut-off with the provider.
Written-test study materials for the waiting period
Bring a compact summary of airspace categories, flight-prohibited zones, and the rules on flights over people and beyond visual line of sight. Leave the materials in a bag or locker if the venue prohibits items at the desk.
Practical-flight preparation: aircraft and battery condition
If your examination includes a flight assessment using your own aircraft, confirm with the provider whether you bring it or the venue supplies one, and what airframe and battery state is required. Charge and inspect batteries, propellers and firmware beforehand.
Logbook and aircraft registration documents
If you fly your own aircraft, carry the registration record and your flight log. Confirm with the provider whether these are inspected during the practical assessment.
Simple clothing and footwear for outdoor flight
The practical portion may be held outdoors in sun, wind or cold. Wear clothing that does not flap loose near propellers, and shoes suitable for standing on uneven ground. Confirm with the provider whether the flight portion proceeds in rain.
No smart devices at the desk
Phones, smartwatches and earbuds usually must be off and stowed. Confirm with the provider whether they may be kept in a bag at your seat or must be left outside the room.
Punctuality buffer and contact number
Save the provider's contact number so you can call immediately if transport is disrupted. Whether a delayed candidate is admitted is a provider decision - confirm the policy in advance rather than relying on goodwill.
Rest and hydration the night before
The written test rewards recall of specific numeric limits and categories; fatigue costs marks. Sleep properly, eat before you travel, and carry water if the venue has no shop nearby.
Read the current official syllabus
Requirements and question scope can change between sittings. Download the latest syllabus and candidate guidance from the official source shortly before the exam rather than studying from an old copy.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate guidance and syllabus for the sitting: reporting time, venue access, permitted items, ID requirements, and whether the practical portion uses your aircraft or the venue's. Resolve every uncertainty by contacting the provider now, not on the day.
Do a full timed mock written test under exam conditions, then review only your wrong answers. Focus revision on the areas that carry the most marks: airspace and prohibited zones, flight categories, weather minimums, and pre-flight and emergency procedures.
If you will fly your own aircraft, inspect it end to end: propellers, motors, firmware and battery health, controller calibration, and return-to-home settings. Replace anything marginal. Confirm the venue's rules on batteries and charging.
Walk or map the route to the venue. Note the exit, the building entrance, and where you can wait. Identify a fallback train or bus in case of disruption.
Lay out ID, admission document, payment record, logbook and registration papers in one bag. Charge every device you will carry, and pack a spare battery for the controller if the flight portion allows it.
Do a light revision pass only: airspace categories, the numeric limits you keep confusing, and the sequence of a standard pre-flight check. Stop early enough to sleep properly.
Eat a normal meal, dress for the weather forecast at the venue, and leave with enough margin to arrive well before the reporting time. Re-check the provider's website for any cancellation or venue-change notice.
Follow staff instructions for registration and seating. Present your ID and admission document when asked, keep your phone off and stowed, and use the waiting time for calm review rather than last-minute cramming of new material.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet before starting, confirm the number of questions and the time limit, and answer the questions you know first. Mark doubtful items and return to them; do not leave blanks if the scoring penalises omissions.
Listen to the examiner's briefing in full before touching the controls. Perform the pre-flight checks aloud and in order, keep the aircraft within the briefed area, and state your actions and intentions clearly. If something goes wrong, prioritise safety over completing the manoeuvre.
Note which topics you found uncertain while they are fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the procedure is if you need to resit.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID you registered with and present it on request. A name mismatch or an unacceptable ID type can bar you from the examination; confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before the day.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late admission is at the provider's discretion, so treat the reporting time as a hard deadline rather than a suggestion.
Keep phones, smartwatches and earbuds switched off and stowed as instructed. Unauthorised devices at the desk may be treated as misconduct.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and do not share answers. Follow the invigilator's instructions on raising a hand for questions or to leave the room.
Ask the invigilator before leaving for a break; breaks during the written test are usually restricted, and the time limit generally continues to run. Confirm the break policy with the provider.
For the flight portion, follow the examiner's briefing and the venue's safety rules exactly: keep clear of propellers, stay within the assigned area, and stop flying immediately if instructed.
Scoring and the pass mark are set by the examining body and are not negotiable at the venue. Confirm the current pass criteria and the resit procedure with the provider rather than relying on second-hand reports.
Report any accident, damage or near miss during the practical assessment to the examiner immediately. Concealing an incident is worse than the incident itself.