The exam format
PPL aeronautical knowledge is covered by a single CASA exam — PPLA for aeroplane, PPLH for helicopter. It's closed-book, multiple choice, around 60 questions with 3.5 hours to complete, and a 70% pass mark. You must pass it before your flight test, and every missed question generates a Knowledge Deficiency Report (KDR) the examiner closes out around the test.
The paper is drawn from the Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 knowledge units — one combined exam, not one per unit. That's the standard PilotIQ's question bank is grounded in.
How it differs from the RPL exam
If you've sat the RPL exam, the PPL paper will feel familiar in shape but deeper in three places — because the licence itself goes further:
Navigation & flight planning
The PPL removes the RPL's 25 nm area restriction, so real cross-country navigation — planning, wind triangles, fuel, alternates, chart work — carries far more weight.
Meteorology depth
Longer flights mean weather decisions matter more. Expect deeper met theory and applied forecast interpretation than the RPL asked of you.
Controlled airspace & operations
PPL privileges include controlled airspace and controlled aerodromes, so procedures, clearances and airspace knowledge step up accordingly.
A study approach that works
The single-paper format rewards breadth first, depth second. Work through the theory area by area rather than living in your favourite subject, and practise questions as you go — with PilotIQ, every question is explained, so each wrong answer points you at the exact piece of theory to revisit instead of leaving you guessing.
Once your per-area readiness is consistently above the pass mark, switch to timed mock exams in the real exam format — 60 questions against the clock. Pacing is a skill of its own over 3.5 hours, and it's much better learned at your desk than in the exam room.
The PilotIQ PPL track is $95 AUD for 6 months' access — no 3-month expiry — with 1,400+ practice questions across RPL and PPL, aeroplane and helicopter, the theory library, readiness tracking and the Core logbook included. See what's in the question bank.
PPL exam FAQs
How hard is the CASA PPL exam?
It's a genuine step up from the RPL: 60 questions over 3.5 hours, closed-book, with a 70% pass mark. The difficulty comes less from any single question than from breadth — one paper reaches across navigation, meteorology, air law, performance and more, so patchy knowledge gets found out. With structured practice across every knowledge area it is very passable.
How long should I study for the PPL theory exam?
It varies with your background, but most candidates spend several weeks to a few months of steady study. A good pattern is to work through the theory area by area, practise questions with explanations as you go, and only sit timed mock exams once your per-area scores are consistently above the 70% pass mark.
What topics are in the PPL exam?
The paper is drawn from the Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 knowledge units and samples across the working knowledge areas — air law, meteorology, navigation and flight planning, aircraft general knowledge, aerodynamics, human factors, performance and loading, operations and radio — with noticeably more depth in navigation, meteorology and flight planning than the RPL.
Is the theory different for aeroplane and helicopter PPL?
The structure is the same — one exam, 60 questions, 3.5 hours, 70% — but you sit the paper for your category: PPLA for aeroplanes or PPLH for helicopters. The aircraft-specific content differs, so helicopter candidates need genuinely rotary questions. PilotIQ covers both categories with their own question sets.
What does PilotIQ PPL prep include?
The PPL track is $95 AUD for 6 months and includes practice questions with worked explanations across every knowledge area, timed mock exams in the real exam format, the plain-English theory library, readiness tracking by area, and the Core logbook. No 3-month expiry.
Get PPL-ready
Create a free account and unlock the full PPL track — $95 AUD for 6 months, aeroplane or helicopter.
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