CAA NZ AME Instruments exam-day guide
CAA NZ AME Instruments · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your enrolment name
Bring the same form of identification you used when booking. If your name appears differently on your ID and your booking (for example a maiden name or a shortened first name), contact the provider before test day to correct it; do not assume staff can amend records at the desk.
Appointment confirmation and provider instructions
Re-read the confirmation email or letter the day before. It will state the venue, arrival time, and any items the provider prohibits. Arrival time is often earlier than the start time for identity and enrolment checks. If you cannot find it, confirm details with the provider rather than guessing.
Approved calculator - confirm the model with the provider
Many aviation technical exams restrict calculators to non-programmable, non-graphing types. Do not assume your usual engineering or programmable calculator is permitted. Ask the provider which models are accepted and whether one is supplied at the workstation. Bring a spare battery if the calculator uses one.
Writing materials permitted by the provider
Some centres supply pens, pencils, and rough paper; others require you to bring your own. Confirm which applies and whether any notes, formula sheets, or reference material may be brought in. Assume nothing written on loose paper can enter the test room unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Knowledge of the instrument topics in the syllabus
The practical assessment examines applied instrument knowledge - reading and interpreting instrument indications, understanding pitot-static and gyroscopic systems, and recognising failure indications. Revise from the current CAA NZ syllabus and the provider's published topic list, not from memory of older material. Confirm the current syllabus version with the provider.
Personal medication and any access arrangements
If you need medication during the session, or have an approved adjustment such as extra time or a separate room, confirm the arrangements with the provider in advance and bring the documentation they require. Access arrangements are rarely granted on the day.
Directions, parking, and travel contingency
Check the route and parking or public transport options the day before, and allow a buffer for traffic. Arriving late may mean you are refused entry or your session is shortened; the exact cut-off is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance.
Water and a light snack for before or after the test
Confirm whether food and drink are allowed in the test room; in many centres they are not, so eat and hydrate beforehand. Keep any snack in a bag outside the room unless staff say otherwise.
Leave valuables and unauthorised devices at home or secured
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices are typically not permitted in the test room. Confirm the provider's storage arrangements; if none are offered, plan to leave such items in your vehicle or at home.
A plan for the result and next step
Know in advance how and when results are issued and what happens if you need to resit. Confirm the result timeframe and any resit or appeal process with the provider; do not rely on second-hand accounts.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's confirmation for venue, arrival time, and prohibited items. Confirm any open questions - calculator model, permitted materials, access arrangements - with the provider now, while there is time for a reply. Do a final review of weak syllabus topics rather than starting new material; consolidate instrument-system knowledge you already understand.
Pack your ID, confirmation, calculator, and permitted writing materials in one bag. Check travel arrangements and set two alarms. Get a normal night's sleep rather than cramming late; fatigue affects the interpretation and reasoning the practical assessment rewards. Avoid last-minute study of conflicting sources.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate, since you may not be able to take food or drink into the room. Leave earlier than the route requires. Arrive at the stated arrival time, not the start time, and present your ID as directed. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed before entering the test room.
Read each question or task fully before answering, especially where an instrument indication or failure scenario is described. Answer the questions you are confident about first, then return to the harder ones. If rough paper is permitted, show your working for calculations so you can check it. Watch the clock and leave time to review. If equipment or instructions are unclear, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than guessing at procedure.
Rules to check
Bring identification that matches your enrolment exactly and present it when asked. If your documents do not match, staff may refuse entry; the provider's identification policy governs, so confirm acceptable forms in advance.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, or other unauthorised electronic devices into the test room. Follow the provider's storage instructions; if storage is not offered, leave such items at home or secured elsewhere.
Only use calculators and reference materials the provider permits. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask before the session begins rather than risk a conduct issue.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting, and stopping. Writing after the instruction to stop, or communicating with other candidates during the session, is typically treated as misconduct; the exact consequences are set by the provider.
If you need to leave the room - for example for a toilet break - raise your hand and wait to be escorted. Whether breaks are permitted and whether the clock stops is provider-specific, so confirm the arrangement in advance if you expect to need one.
If you feel unwell or something disrupts the session, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Reporting afterwards may be too late to affect how your result is treated; confirm the provider's process for disruptions.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the provider and the CAA NZ framework, not by the invigilator. Do not ask staff to interpret your performance on the day; direct result and appeal queries to the provider's published contact.
Results, resit eligibility, and appeal windows are governed by the provider's policy. Confirm these before test day so you know what to expect and what to do if the outcome is not what you hoped.