Air Law, Aircraft General Knowledge, Flight Performance & Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Navigation, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, and Communications (VFR). Each is a separate multiple-choice computer-based exam. All 9 must be passed within 18 months of first attempt.
Moderate difficulty with dedicated study. Navigation and Meteorology are generally hardest. Air Law is detail-heavy. Human Performance and Communications are easiest. With a good question bank and 80-150 hours total study, most pass all 9. First-time pass rates: 85-95% per subject.
75% for each exam individually. No combined score — each subject must independently reach 75%. Question count varies by subject (12-40 questions). Results are usually available immediately or within days.
All must be passed within 18 months of first sitting. Once all passed, results are valid 24 months for taking the skill test. Strategy: some students sit all 9 in one intensive session; others spread across months.
Maximum 6 attempts per exam (some states limit to 4). No mandatory waiting period between attempts. All attempts count within the 18-month window. If you exhaust attempts, additional training is required before further attempts. Targeted revision of weak areas usually sufficient for narrow fails.
Question banks: Aviationexam (most popular, EUR40-80/yr), BGS Online, CATS. Textbooks: Air Pilot's Manual (Trevor Thom), Padpilot (Apple Books), Oxford Aviation Academy. A question bank subscription is practically essential — success comes from practising questions.
Both options available. Distance/online courses satisfy EASA requirements. No regulatory requirement for classroom attendance for PPL theory — you need enrolment with an ATO/DTO that issues a training completion certificate. Most self-motivated students do well with online courses plus a question bank.
Hardest: Navigation (calculations), Meteorology (broad syllabus), Flight Performance (charts/calculations). Medium: Principles of Flight (conceptual), Aircraft General Knowledge (memorisation), Air Law (detail-heavy). Easiest: Human Performance, Operational Procedures, Communications. Allocate study time accordingly.
