ATPL Aircraft General Knowledge exam-day guide
ATPL Aircraft General Knowledge · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the exact identity document the examination centre requires - typically a current passport or national photo ID. The name must match your examination booking. Confirm the accepted ID types and any second-document rule with the provider before travelling, since centres differ.
Admission confirmation / candidate number
Carry a printed or offline-accessible copy of your booking confirmation and candidate/ATP number. Mobile signal at test centres can be poor, so do not rely solely on a live web page.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator if the provider permits one. Check the permitted-model list and whether memory or programmable functions are banned. If in doubt about a model, confirm with the provider and bring a simple spare.
Writing implements and any permitted materials
Bring pens/pencils and an eraser as directed. The provider may supply all stationery and forbid personal items at the desk; confirm the rule so you are not caught out.
Know the syllabus and question format
Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK) is examined as a set of subject areas - typically airframes/systems, powerplant, instruments, and mass and balance/performance depending on the authority. Confirm the exact subject breakdown, number of questions, time allowed and pass mark for your authority with the provider.
Revise to current data
Use current, authority-approved reference material. AGK questions can depend on definitions and values from the applicable regulations and type data; do not rely on memory of outdated figures.
Plan the journey and arrival time
Arrive with a margin before the scheduled start. Check the centre's arrival/registration window and late-arrival policy with the provider; candidates arriving after the cut-off may be refused entry.
Rest and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the last two nights and eat normally. Avoid heavy caffeine loading on the day if you are not used to it. Fatigue is a major cause of avoidable errors on long multiple-choice papers.
Know the break and leaving rules
Ask in advance whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and whether you must be escorted. Rules vary by centre; confirm with the provider.
Personal items plan
Expect to store bags, phones and smart watches away from the desk. Leave valuables at home. Confirm what may be kept at the desk (e.g. water, medication) with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do a focused review of your weak AGK areas using your own notes and current approved references. Work through a timed practice paper under exam conditions to calibrate pacing - roughly the time allowed divided by the number of questions gives your per-question budget. Confirm your booking, centre address, start time, ID requirements and permitted equipment with the provider.
Review high-yield definitions and relationships rather than isolated facts: for systems, know purpose, principle of operation, indications and common failure modes; for instruments, know the sensing principle, display and errors/limitations; for powerplant, know the cycle, controls and limitations; for mass and balance, practise the moment/arm calculations and limits. Re-read your error log from practice papers and note the traps you keep falling into.
Do a light review only - a short pass over summary sheets and formulae. Prepare and lay out ID, confirmation and permitted equipment. Check travel arrangements and the weather/transport situation. Set two alarms. Avoid alcohol and late screen use; aim for a normal night's sleep. Do not attempt a full mock exam the evening before.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Leave phones and smart watches switched off and stored as instructed. At registration, present your ID and confirmation, listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing, and check the workstation and any on-screen instructions before starting.
Read each question fully, including qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'primary' or 'not'. Answer the questions you know first if the system allows navigation, and flag uncertain ones to return to. Watch the clock against your per-question budget; do not let one calculation consume the paper. For calculation questions, write down the given values and units before computing, and sanity-check the answer against the magnitude you expect. If a question seems to have no correct option, re-read it for a misread qualifier before guessing.
Ensure no question is left unanswered unless the scoring penalises wrong answers - confirm the marking rule with the provider. Review flagged questions only if time permits, and be cautious about changing answers without a clear reason. Submit as instructed and confirm with the invigilator that your submission has been accepted.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document specified by the provider and ensure the name matches your booking exactly; if you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Unauthorised materials, phones, smart watches or notes at the desk are typically treated as misconduct; confirm the centre's permitted-items list with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test. If you need assistance, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator.
Ask in advance whether breaks are permitted, whether the examination clock stops, and what supervision applies; these arrangements vary and should be confirmed with the provider.
Check the scoring rule before you sit: confirm whether unanswered or incorrect answers are penalised, and what the pass mark and any subject-area minimum requirements are, with the provider.
If equipment fails or you believe a question is defective, report it to the invigilator immediately rather than attempting to resolve it yourself.
Results and any retake or appeal process are governed by the provider and the relevant authority; confirm the timelines and procedure with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.