The CASA RPL exam, without the guesswork.
One closed-book exam stands between you and your Recreational Pilot Licence. Here's exactly what it covers — and how to walk in ready.
What the RPL theory exam actually is
Unlike the CPL's seven separate subject exams, RPL theory is a single closed-book, multiple-choice exam: around 50 questions, 2 hours to complete, and a 70% pass mark. It's issued by category, so you sit RPLA if you're training in aeroplanes or RPLH for helicopters — same structure, different aircraft knowledge.
One paper sounds easier than seven. In practice it means the exam can reach into any corner of the syllabus — a met question, then an engine question, then air law — so patchy knowledge gets found out. Every question you miss also generates a Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) that follows you to the flight test, so a scrape-through pass still creates work later.
The content is drawn from the aeronautical knowledge standards in the Part 61 Manual of Standards, Schedule 3 — which is exactly where PilotIQ's question bank is grounded.
The nine knowledge areas
The exam samples across nine working knowledge areas at recreational depth. None of them is optional — a 70% pass mark leaves little room to write off a whole subject.
How PilotIQ gets you ready
Practice questions, every area
1,400+ practice questions across RPL and PPL, covering every knowledge area for aeroplane and helicopter — and every question comes with a worked explanation, so a wrong answer teaches you something instead of just costing a mark.
Timed mock exams
Sit full mock exams in the real exam format — 50 questions against the clock — so the pacing, the question mix and the pressure are familiar before exam day.
Readiness tracking
See your performance by knowledge area and watch it climb. You'll know when you're consistently clear of 70% — and exactly which areas still need work.
Theory library included
Plain-English notes and diagrams across the syllabus, so when an explanation points at a gap, the material to fix it is one click away.
Full RPL access is $65 AUD for 6 months — no 3-month expiry, no re-buying access because life got busy — and it includes the Core logbook. Moving on to the PPL afterwards? The PPL exam prep track picks up where the RPL leaves off, and you can browse the whole question bank to see what's inside.
RPL exam FAQs
How many questions are in the CASA RPL exam?
The CASA RPL theory exam (RPLA for aeroplane, RPLH for helicopter) is a single closed-book, multiple-choice exam of around 50 questions, with 2 hours to complete it.
What is the RPL exam pass mark?
The pass mark is 70%. Any question you get wrong generates a Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) that your instructor or examiner reviews with you before the flight test.
How should I study for the RPL theory exam?
Work through each of the nine knowledge areas rather than cramming a single subject, practise questions with worked explanations so you understand the why behind each answer, and finish with timed mock exams in the real exam format so the 2-hour, 50-question paper holds no surprises.
Can I sit the RPL exam for helicopters?
Yes. The RPL is issued by category — RPL(A) for aeroplanes and RPL(H) for helicopters — and each has its own exam (RPLA or RPLH). PilotIQ covers both, with helicopter-specific practice questions, not just relabelled aeroplane ones.
How much does PilotIQ RPL prep cost?
PilotIQ's RPL track is $65 AUD for 6 months of full access — practice questions with explanations, timed mock exams, the theory library and readiness tracking, plus the Core logbook included. No 3-month expiry.
Start your RPL theory today
Create a free account, try the practice questions, and unlock the full RPL track — $65 AUD for 6 months, aeroplane or helicopter.
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