CAA NZ ATPL Theory - Flight Navigation General exam-day guide
CAA NZ ATPL Theory - Flight Navigation General · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring current, valid photo identification. The exact accepted forms (passport, driver licence, etc.) and whether a signature is required should be confirmed with your examination provider or CAA before test day.
Admission or booking confirmation
Carry the booking confirmation or candidate number issued when you scheduled the sitting. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or an electronic version is acceptable.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator you are familiar with. Check with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether the venue supplies one; do not assume a programmable or graphing model is allowed.
Writing implements and basic stationery
Pens, pencils, eraser and a sharpener. Confirm with the provider whether paper, a plotting tool or a navigation computer is supplied or must be brought, and whether any of these are prohibited.
Knowledge of permitted reference material
Most ATPL theory sittings are closed-book. Confirm with the provider exactly what, if anything, may be taken to the desk (for example a supplied formula sheet) and whether personal notes are barred.
Arrival time and venue details
Know the exact address, room and reporting time, and allow for traffic and security screening. Verify the arrival requirement with the provider; late arrival rules vary and may result in refused admission.
Syllabus and subject scope confirmed
Re-read the Flight Navigation General syllabus and confirm the topic list and the number of questions and time allowed with the provider, so your final revision matches the actual paper.
Rest and hydration plan
Plan a normal night's sleep and a light meal before the sitting. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material on the morning; consolidate familiar content instead.
Personal medication and accessibility arrangements
If you need medication, extra time, a separate room or other adjustments, confirm approval with the provider well in advance; such arrangements are rarely granted on the day.
Contact details for the provider
Save the provider's phone number and email so you can report an emergency or a delay. Confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling and no-shows.
Plan the day
Finish new learning and switch to consolidation. Work through the Flight Navigation General topics: dead reckoning, wind triangle and drift, heading and track conversions, time zones and UTC, magnetic variation and deviation, chart reading, and flight-planning arithmetic. Do timed practice sets under exam conditions and review every error to find the underlying rule, not just the right answer.
Confirm logistics: venue, reporting time, ID, calculator policy and any permitted materials with the provider. Check travel arrangements and prepare everything you need to bring so the last day is stress-free.
Do a light review only: key formulas, sign conventions for variation and deviation, and units. Stop studying early, eat well, and sleep. Avoid learning new content that could undermine confidence.
Eat a proper breakfast, re-check ID, confirmation and calculator, and arrive with margin. Do not attempt heavy revision in the waiting area; a brief skim of formulas is enough.
Read the instructions and note the time allowed. Work steadily, do easier questions first if the paper allows navigation, and flag anything uncertain. Show your working for calculations so errors are easier to catch. Watch units (minutes versus hours, degrees versus radians, UTC versus local time) and check sign conventions on wind and drift. Leave time to transfer answers correctly and review flagged items.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID and your booking confirmation; confirm with the provider which forms of identification are accepted and whether a printed copy is required.
Arrive at the reporting time stated by the provider. Late admission is at the provider's discretion, so confirm the cut-off before test day.
Assume the paper is closed-book unless the provider states otherwise. Confirm what reference material, if any, is permitted and leave prohibited items such as phones and smart watches outside the room.
Only use a calculator model approved by the provider. Confirm the policy in advance; programmable or graphing calculators are commonly restricted.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates during the sitting; raise your hand if you need assistance.
Confirm the provider's policy on breaks, leaving the room and returning, and on access to water or medication during the sitting.
Understand the scoring and pass rules before you sit: confirm with the provider whether there is a pass mark per subject, whether questions are equally weighted, and whether there is negative marking.
If you feel unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as soon as possible. Confirm the rules on illness, deferral and refunds in advance rather than assuming.