CAA NZ CPL Flight Navigation General exam-day guide
CAA NZ CPL Flight Navigation General · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring a current, valid photo ID (passport or driver licence is typical). Confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept and whether it must be the same ID used at booking, since this is a provider-specific requirement.
Admission or booking confirmation
Carry your exam booking confirmation, candidate number, or admission letter if one was issued. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether a digital copy on your phone is acceptable.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator with fresh batteries. Navigation general papers involve time, distance, fuel, and wind-triangle arithmetic. Confirm with the provider whether any calculator models are prohibited and whether a spare is allowed.
Navigation tools
Bring the plotting tools you normally use: protractor, plotter, dividers, and a straight edge. Confirm with the provider whether these are permitted in the exam room or supplied at the desk.
Pens and pencils
Bring at least two dark pens and a couple of pencils plus an eraser. Confirm with the provider whether answers must be in pen and whether pencil is allowed for working.
Reference material and formula sheet
Check whether the exam provides a formula sheet, conversion table, or extracts, or whether you must memorise them. Do not assume any reference material is supplied; confirm with the provider before the day.
Watch or timing device
Bring a simple wristwatch if the room clock is not visible from your seat. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches and phones must be switched off and stored away.
Logistics plan
Confirm the test centre address, arrival time, and reporting instructions with the provider. Plan travel with a buffer so a delay does not cost you the sitting.
Rest and hydration
Sleep properly the night before and eat a normal meal beforehand. Bring water only if the provider permits it in the room; confirm this rule with them.
Prepared revision summary
Bring a one-page summary of formulas, conversions, and your weak spots to review in the final hour before entry, then store it away as instructed. Confirm with the provider where personal items must be left.
Needs-review: exam-day contact details
Record the provider's contact number so you can call immediately if you are delayed or unwell. The exact notification procedure is provider-specific; confirm with the provider.
Needs-review: medical or special-condition arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, confirm the approved arrangement in writing with the provider well before the sitting. Do not assume it has been applied.
Plan the day
Confirm the booking, test centre location, arrival time, and ID requirements with the provider. Re-read the syllabus topics for Flight Navigation General and list the areas you are least confident in, such as wind-triangle drift, fuel planning, or chart reading. Spend these days on worked practice problems rather than re-reading notes, and time yourself so you get used to the pace.
Do one full-length practice paper under exam conditions, then mark it and write down every error with its cause: misread question, wrong formula, arithmetic slip, or a genuine knowledge gap. Fix the knowledge gaps first because they cost the most marks.
Do light revision only: formula sheet, unit conversions, and your error list. Pack your ID, calculator, plotting tools, pens, and confirmation in one bag. Confirm your travel route and set an alarm. Avoid learning new material and avoid late-night cramming, because fatigue hurts arithmetic accuracy more than one extra topic helps.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the centre with time to spare, and review only your one-page summary. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed. Use the waiting time to settle your breathing and read the instructions calmly rather than trying to cram.
Read the front-page instructions, check the number of questions and the time allowed, and note where the time checkpoints fall. Scan the paper for the question style, then start with questions you can answer confidently to build momentum.
Work in passes: answer the straightforward questions first, flag the long calculations, and return to them. Show your working for multi-step problems so a slip is easy to catch. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the last few minutes to check that every question has an answer and that units and rounding match what is asked.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted items into the exam room. Phones, smartwatches, and notes must be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider which items are allowed at your desk.
Present your photo ID on request and sign in as instructed. If your ID does not match the booking, you may be refused entry, so confirm the accepted ID forms with the provider beforehand.
Follow the supervisor's instructions on starting, stopping, and leaving the room. Do not begin writing until told to start and stop immediately when time is called.
If you need to leave the room for a break, raise your hand and wait for the supervisor. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed and whether exam time is paused; do not assume either.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the sitting, and do not share or copy answers. Any suspected misconduct should be treated as a serious matter, and the exact procedure is provider-specific, so confirm it with them.
If equipment fails or you are disrupted, tell the supervisor immediately and ask for the incident to be recorded. Report it to the provider afterwards as well, because the remedy process is provider-specific.
Check the pass mark and the scoring method with the provider before the day. Do not assume a particular pass mark or whether wrong answers are penalised; confirm both with the provider.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about withdrawal, deferral, or rebooking. The rules and any fees are provider-specific, so confirm them rather than guessing.