CAA NZ AME Piston Engines exam-day guide
CAA NZ AME Piston Engines · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring current government-issued photo ID. Confirm with the provider which forms it accepts and whether the name must match your enrolment exactly.
Admission or confirmation letter
Bring the enrolment confirmation or admission notice the provider issues, printed if the provider requires it. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Approved calculator
A basic non-programmable calculator is useful for engine calculations such as displacement, compression ratio, power and fuel-flow figures. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether programmable or graphing models are banned.
Writing materials
Bring several pens and pencils, an eraser and a small ruler. Confirm with the provider whether answer sheets require pen rather than pencil.
Syllabus and reference list
Re-read the published syllabus and the list of permitted reference material. Confirm with the provider whether any handbooks, charts or formula sheets may be taken into the room or are supplied at the desk.
Logbook and evidence of practical experience
If the assessment includes a practical or oral component, bring your maintenance logbook or record of experience in the form the provider specifies. Confirm with the provider exactly what evidence is required and whether photocopies are acceptable.
Personal tools
For a practical component, bring the basic hand tools the provider lists. Do not assume a full toolbox is supplied. Confirm with the provider which tools and test equipment are provided at the venue.
Venue, time and travel plan
Confirm the venue, reporting time and arrival instructions with the provider, and plan to arrive with margin for traffic, parking and security screening.
Clothing and safety equipment
For practical sessions, wear closed footwear and clothing that meets the venue's workshop safety rules. Confirm with the provider whether eye and hearing protection are supplied or must be brought.
Medical and access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room or other adjustment, confirm the application deadline and approval process with the provider well before the test date.
Leave prohibited items at home
Phones, smart watches and other electronic devices are normally prohibited in the test room. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored during the test.
Rest and logistics
Arrange transport, meals and sleep so you arrive fresh. Practical engine assessments involve sustained attention and safe handling of tools and components.
Plan the day
Work through the syllabus topic by topic and list any area where you cannot explain the principle in your own words. Spend the remaining time on those gaps rather than re-reading material you already know. Review the four-stroke cycle, valve timing, ignition and carburettor or fuel-injection fundamentals, cooling and lubrication, propeller reduction drives, and the meaning of common maintenance and airworthiness terms. Confirm with the provider the exact format, duration, pass mark and whether the test has written, oral and practical parts.
Rehearse calculations you are likely to meet: engine displacement from bore and stroke, compression ratio from swept and clearance volumes, and simple power and specific fuel consumption figures. Check that your calculator is the permitted type and that you can use it confidently under time pressure.
If a practical component is included, practise the specified tasks under realistic conditions, such as checking and gapping spark plugs, reading a micrometer or vernier, torquing to a stated figure, and identifying components on an engine mock-up. Practise explaining each step aloud, because oral questioning often follows a practical task.
Prepare your documents: check the ID name matches your enrolment, print any confirmation the provider requires, and assemble your logbook or experience records. Resolve any missing paperwork now, not on the day. Confirm with the provider whether originals or certified copies are needed.
Do a light review only: key definitions, safety precautions and the sequence of common maintenance procedures. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, calculator, pens and any permitted reference material, and check the venue address, reporting time and travel route.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the venue with time to spare, and follow the reporting instructions. Keep phones and smart watches switched off and stored as directed. Listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing on timing, breaks and permitted materials, and ask about anything unclear before the test begins.
Read each question fully and answer the ones you know first, then return to harder items. For calculations, show your working where space allows, keep units consistent, and sanity-check results against expected magnitudes. For practical tasks, state your safety checks and follow the specified procedure in order rather than rushing to the end result.
Watch the clock and reserve time to review answers, check that every question is attempted, and confirm your name and candidate details are correct on all answer sheets. If you believe a question is ambiguous or you were given the wrong paper, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than after the test.
Rules to check
Bring the identification the provider requires and present it at check-in. If your ID does not match your enrolment details, raise it with the provider before the test date, because admission may be refused. Confirm the accepted ID forms with the provider.
Arrive at the reporting time stated in your admission instructions. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted or that you receive less than the full test time. Confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Electronic devices, notes and unauthorised reference material are normally prohibited in the test room. Store them as directed by the invigilator and do not access them until you have left the test area. Confirm the provider's rules on permitted items.
Follow all safety instructions during any practical component, including eye and hearing protection, safe handling of tools and components, and isolation of ignition or other energy sources before work begins. Unsafe conduct can lead to removal from the assessment.
Ask the invigilator before the test starts about scheduled breaks, toilet access and what to do if you need to leave the room. Do not assume you may leave and return freely during timed sections; confirm the provider's break rules.
Scoring and the pass mark are set by the provider. Ask what the pass criteria are and whether sections are scored separately or combined, and check how and when results are issued. Do not rely on second-hand claims about marking.
Work only from the materials supplied or expressly permitted. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask the invigilator before using it rather than risking a misconduct finding.
If you have a disability, medical condition or other need requiring an adjustment, apply through the provider's published process before the deadline. Adjustments are usually not arranged on the day.