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Information about sitting professional pilot exams

  • UK CAA Examinations update – 9 March 2021

    Resuming theoretical examinations - rules and policies

    The CAA has restarted examinations at Aviation House Gatwick and at a number of UK and international venues. To ensure compliance with government mandated social distancing requirements and other health and safety measures, we have had to reduce capacity and amend the schedule at our venues. We are dealing with exam sessions in date order, please be aware that your exam session time and date is subject to change. The CAA is working hard to minimise the impact of any changes and where possible these changes are being made in consultation with Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) but ultimately amendments will be at sole discretion of the CAA. Any travel and related expenses incurred by the candidate to attend any CAA examination will not be refundable by the CAA if the CAA amends an examination due to Covid-19 restrictions.

    When attending your examinations, you must adhere to all CAA policies in addition to any specific policy of the organisation in which the venue is hosted. Please ensure that you pay close attention to the required and permitted items for your examination as stated on your confirmation. Please note that a face covering must be worn at all venues and throughout your examination.

    Some venues require proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before you sit your exams. If you do not provide this, you will not be able to sit your exams.

    Please see the current policies of different ATOs below:

    • Bristol Ground School – All candidates attending Bristol Ground School (BGS) must adhere to their policies before arriving for exams, including receiving a negative COVID-19 test result. Please contact BGS directly for any COVID-19 concerns.
    • Skyborne, Gloucester – All candidate attending Skyborne Aviation Academy must adhere to their policies before arriving for exams and have completed a negative COVID-19 test result. Please contact Skyborne directly for any COVID-19 concerns.
    • CATS, Luton – All candidates attending CATS, Luton must adhere to their policies before arriving for exams.
    • L3 Harris, Crawley – Please contact L3 Harris directly for any COVID-19 concerns.
    • Ayrshire College, Ayrshire – COVID-19 policy and risk assessment to be confirmed.
    • CAE Oxford, Oxford – Please contact CAE directly for any COVID-19 concerns.
    • Rosyth Business Centre, Pathway Pilot Training – All candidates attending Rosyth Business Centre for examinations must adhere to the COVID-19 policy and risk assessment.

    Attending theoretical knowledge examinations at Aviation House, Gatwick

    You may have attended examinations at Aviation House in the past and have familiarity with the building layout and exam procedures. However, because of Covid-19 we have made significant changes to ensure the safety of candidates and our staff.

    Access to Aviation House is currently strictly controlled. Capacity limitations are in place for both CAA staff and visitors. Unauthorised access is not permitted.

    Visitors to Aviation House are asked to install the NHS Covid-19 App. Please see the NHS website for further information. You will be asked to use the in-app feature to check in to Aviation House using the QR code displayed at the entrance to the building.  You then switch your mobile phone off and store it as instructed by the invigilator.

    Access to the Building:

    • You cannot enter the building before 8.40am; if you are sitting a 9.00am exam, please stay in your vehicle until 8.35am, then make your way to the front door where the invigilator will meet you and call you into the building at 8.40am, check your ID and permitted items. Please pay close attention to the required and permitted items detailed on your exam confirmation.
    • For sessions later in the day, please wait at the front door 30 minutes before the scheduled exam start time.
    • You must leave the building immediately after you have completed your exam, you cannot stay in the building between exams. The waiting area is only to be used for a short period before each exam, there is no study/ waiting area or access to wi-fi.
    • There are no refreshments available on site except water.

    Declaration Form:

    • You must complete the Covid-19 declaration form for each day that you attend examinations. Forms will be available from the invigilator upon arrival. 

    Please do not attend your examinations if you do not meet the requirements.

    Exam requirements (as listed on your exam confirmation):

    • Only bring essential and permitted items into the building, leave coats, bags, study notes, PC's etc in your car. Lockers are not in use.
    • You must wear a plain unmarked face covering / mask for the entire time whilst in the building and throughout your exam, we recommend that this is a plain unmarked FFP2 face mask. You will be refused entry if you do not wear a face covering.
    • Candidates must provide their own writing equipment - clear plastic pen (bic biro type) and eraser tipped pencil.

    Exam procedures:

    • There will be some changes to the normal exam procedures, your invigilator will guide you through them via the briefing. Please listen carefully, even if you have sat exams with us before.

  • The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)  use the European Central Question Bank (ECQB) for professional theoretical knowledge examinations for the grant of professional flight crew licences [the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL),  the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR)] for both fixed wing and rotary. This is the common question bank as used by all European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Member States and provides a robust method of assessment of a potential pilot's knowledge in key subjects.

    The CAA uses ECQB 06, the current version required by EASA to be used by Member States.  From 01 August 2020 the CAA will be transitioning to ECQB 2020 in compliance with ED Decision 2018/001/R and which replaces the previous version ECQB 06.

    To prepare for this the CAA will start accepting bookings for ECQB 2020 exams from 4 May 2020. 

    Following further consultation with our stakeholders it has been agreed that ECQB 06 examinations will continue to be made available for first attempt examinations within a Series to be taken up until 31 December 2020.  Those candidates who have started ECQB 06 will be able to complete their examinations as per Commission Regulation (EU) 1178/2011 as amended, Annex I, FCL.025(b) and the validity period will remain as per FCL.025(c). 

    The final examinations using ECQB 06 will be no later than the 30 June 2022 and according to the examination schedule as published by the CAA. After 31st December 2020 no candidate will be permitted to commence a new Series of ECQB 06 examinations, including any candidate wishing to attempt an additional Series due to a breach of sitting rules and attempts within a prior/current Series.

    From the 30 June 2022 only ECQB 2020 examinations will be made available.

    It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the successful completion of all required ECQB 06 examinations within a Series and prior to cessation of ECQB 06 exams on the 30 June 2022.  Failure to so do will result in the  Series being recorded as incomplete and the candidate will be required to restart all examinations (and associated training) in a new Series and using ECQB 2020.  No cross crediting of examinations between ECQB 06 and ECQB 2020 are permitted and no exceptions will be provided by the CAA.

  • If you have any queries relating to examinations, please email:  FCL-EExams@caa.co.uk

    Please see below for details of the exam format and question styles.

    Supplied, approved and prohibited items

    There are strict rules about what you can take into an exam.

    You will be supplied with the following items:

    • Rough working paper
    • Workbooks

    Depending on the specific exam you are taking, you may be allowed to bring the following approved items:

    • Clear plastic ruler
    • Approved calculators (the approved models are: Casio FX 83/85/300 series; Sharp EL-W531/531 series; Citizen SR-260 series; Texas Instruments TI-30X/XB/XS)
    • Approved flight computers – CRP-1; CRP-5/CR-3/CR-6; ARC-2; E6B:
    • Jeppesen General Student Pilot Route Manual – GSPRM
    • Protractor / plotter
    • Compass and dividers (without case)
    • Fine tip marker

    You are not allowed to bring the following prohibited items into the exam:

    • Pencil case (please note you will have to bring your own writing equipment as per booking confirmation)
    • Mobile phone
    • Watch
    • Recording or communication equipment/devices

    Technical review requests

    Candidates and Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) may raise concerns or challenge the accuracy and effectiveness of an examination question or supporting materials. The CAA thoroughly reviews all such instances via the following two protocols and results may be amended where genuine issues are identified.

  • Examination Performance Management Programme

    To maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the examination content.

    This includes:

    • routine review of all presented questions;
    • statistical analysis;
    • trend monitoring of question results;
    • a review of all candidate comments.

    Candidates are able to make comments during an examination.

    Entering a comment during the examination does not constitute a Full Review but every comment is reviewed by the CAA.

    Full Review

    A candidate can request a Full Review which is a comprehensive investigation into the accuracy and integrity of examination content and materials delivered to the candidate during a specific test.

    • The Full Review must be formally instructed by the candidate by requesting a "Review" in their results portal page;
    • It must be requested within 14 calendar days of the examination in question.

    The full examination review fee should be paid by the candidate at the time of request, which is fully refundable if an error is found and the candidate marks are adjusted accordingly.

    The CAA endeavours to complete this service within 10 workings days of receipt of the request. A message notification, explaining the findings and closing actions will be added to the 'User Messages' area in the candidate e-Exam portal.