The 13 ATPL Exams Explained: What You Will Study and How to Pass Them

For many future pilots, the ATPL theory exams are the part of training that feels most intimidating. Thirteen subjects, strict time limits and a 75% pass mark can sound like a mountain to climb. The good news is that thousands of student pilots pass them every year, and with the right structure and study habits they are very manageable. Here is what the exams actually involve.

What are the ATPL theory exams?

To hold an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) in Europe, you need to pass the EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge exams. You sit them during your training, usually after a period of ground school, and passing all of them is part of reaching a “frozen” ATPL. The exams are set by EASA rules and taken with a national aviation authority. For students training in Portugal, that is usually ANAC.

The 13 subjects at a glance

• 010 Air Law: international and European aviation rules, licensing and air traffic procedures.
• 021 Airframes, Systems and Power Plant: how an aircraft is built and how its engines, hydraulics, electrics and other systems work.
• 022 Instrumentation: flight instruments, autopilots, flight management systems and warning systems.
• 031 Mass and Balance: loading an aircraft safely and calculating its centre of gravity.
• 032 Performance: take-off, climb, cruise and landing performance, and how weight, weather and runways affect them.
• 033 Flight Planning and Monitoring: fuel planning, route planning and flight plans.
• 040 Human Performance and Limitations: physiology, psychology, fatigue, decision-making and teamwork.
• 050 Meteorology: the atmosphere, weather systems, forecasts and how weather affects flight.
• 061 General Navigation: charts, time, direction and dead reckoning.
• 062 Radio Navigation: radio aids, GNSS, radar and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN).
• 070 Operational Procedures: how airlines operate safely, including special procedures and emergencies.
• 081 Principles of Flight: the aerodynamics behind lift, drag, stability and control.
• 090 Communications: radio telephony procedures for visual and instrument flight.

Alongside these, the current EASA syllabus includes an assessment of Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA), which is carried out by the training organisation rather than in an authority exam.

How the exams work

• Format: computer-based, multiple-choice questions.
• Pass mark: 75% in each subject.
• Time frame: all subjects must be passed within 18 months, counted from the end of the month of your first exam attempt.
• Sittings: a maximum of six exam sittings.
• Attempts: up to four attempts per subject.

If these limits are not met, the full set of exams has to be taken again, so planning your exam sessions matters.

Are they really that hard?

The exams are demanding, but the challenge is more about volume and discipline than about any single subject being impossible. Students often find Performance, Flight Planning, General Navigation and Principles of Flight the most calculation-heavy, while Air Law and Operational Procedures reward good memory. Meteorology and Human Performance are often among the most interesting, because they connect directly to real flying.

What makes the difference is a steady routine, good teaching and plenty of practice questions.

How to prepare well

• Study in blocks. Group related subjects together and sit them in planned exam sessions instead of trying to cover everything at once.
• Practise with question banks, but focus on understanding the answers rather than memorising them.
• Use your instructors. Theory instructors can explain difficult topics in ways a book cannot.
• Take mock and school exams before the official ones to check you are ready.
• Look after yourself. Sleep, breaks and exercise help long-term memory more than all-night study sessions.

On an integrated course, ground school is structured around these exams from day one, with progress checks along the way. At Sevenair Academy, the theory phase of the Integrated ATPL(A) runs in the first part of the course, before flight training.

What happens after you pass?

Once you have passed all 13 subjects, your theory credit can be used for the issue of your CPL and Instrument Rating, and later your full ATPL. Theory credit has validity periods, so it is worth understanding them; our guide on what a frozen ATPL is and how to unfreeze it explains how this works.

Frequently asked questions

How many ATPL exams are there?

There are 13 EASA ATPL(A) theory subjects, from Air Law to Communications, each with its own exam.

What is the pass mark for the ATPL exams?

75% in each subject.

How long do I have to pass all the ATPL exams?

18 months from the end of the month of your first attempt, within a maximum of six sittings and four attempts per subject.

Can I study for the ATPL exams without any flying experience?

Yes. On an integrated course, you start the theory with little or no flying experience, and the ground school is designed for that.

Which ATPL exam is the hardest?

It depends on the student. Many find the calculation-heavy subjects, such as Performance, Flight Planning and General Navigation, the most demanding.

Sources

• EASA – Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Part-FCL)
• Icelandic Transport Authority – ATPL syllabus (subject list under the current EASA syllabus)
• Aviationexam – EASA ATPL exams overview

This article is for general information only. Exam rules are set by EASA and national authorities and can change; always confirm current requirements with your training organisation and licensing authority.